An Examination of History Itself

When we were children, all we wanted was instant gratification. It can also be put that we wanted things to change our way immediately. As we grow into adults and beyond, we slowly realize that things simply cannot be changed immediately. No matter how bad something is desired, it could take years or even decades to come. History has taught us this same lesson: no matter how wrong things seem, great change cannot occur in an instant. Geoffrey Chaucer unknowingly shows an example of this in his work, “The Canterbury Tales,” when he wrote about the Pardoner and the indulgences he sells. Society has offered other examples of this change’s slow actions that include slavery, world hunger, and poverty.

When
Chaucer wrote of the Pardoner and his selling of indulgences, it is highly doubtful that he was writing for the purpose of showing society’s resistance to change (Sub). “Canterbury Tales” was written in the 1380’s and 1390’s, so Chaucer would have had no idea of what was to come almost 150 years later. In 1517 Martin Luther posted his “Ninety-five Theses on the Power of Indulgences,” thus marking the first time in the history of Europe that the sale of indulgences was protested on a large scale. What exactly is (or was) an indulgence? According to Roman Catholic theology, people who sin alienate themselves from God and his love.

In order to make up for this sin, the sinner must confess his deed and a penance (usually assigned by a priest) must be completed. An indulgence, if purchased, would remove any penance duties that were assigned, thus making up for the sin. Since many people back then were deeply religious, indulgences were very popular and brought great revenues for the church or for the people who sold them (Sub). But, there were also a large number of people against the sale of indulgences because many thought, like Luther, that they were morally and spiritually wrong.

Pope Clement IV legalized the sale of indulgences in the Bull Unigenitus, which he issued in 1343. This represents a 174-year time period where selling indulgences was lawful. The Pardoner in the late fourteenth century was valid in selling them, but it is seen even that early on that many were against them. After the Pardoner finishes his tale about the danger of avarice (VW), he tries to sell indulgences to his fellow pilgrims. He is harshly shut down by the Host when the Host says, “May the curse Of Christ descend upon me if I do [buy one]!” (318-319, Pardoner’s Tale) This reaction shows that probably many people held the opinion that indulgences were wrong.

In addition, the shady description of the Pardoner hints that Chaucer, too, thought negatively of indulgences. If indulgences were so wrong, why did it take almost two centuries to change the law? Perhaps it was heresy (VW) to the Church to say or act otherwise, as in Luther’s case; however, many were considered by the Church to be heretical in that period, so this is ruled out. The only remaining answer is that events or things in history, no matter how backwards, take lots of time to change.