The Prioress In The Canterbury Tales

The pilgrims of the Canterbury Tales who were associated with the church were an interesting lot, as they either conformed to traditional expectations of such people or deviated from them, either for virtuous or dishonorable reasons.

Both the Prioress and the Parson consciously followed the traditional roles and behaviors of one with their position, although they had different intentions in doing so. The Prioress took great care and pride in exercising proper manners and etiquette (such as table manners when eating), and it is stated that she strove to appear well-mannered so that people would think her worthy of being a prioress. Although the prioress is stated to be a kind hearted soul, she potentially only behaves as she does so that others

The Monk partook in and greatly enjoyed hunting, contradicting the common belief that monks devote their lives to peaceful prayer, study, and work. The Monk devoted himself to a hobby he loved, appeared healthy and happy, and was never said to have hurt or otherwise acted against anybody else as a result (or at all). The Monk did not live as was common among and expected of most monks, but he appeared to be virtuous nonetheless and lived a fulfilling life, so one could say he was justified in deviating from the norm. Others, however, lived differently to what one would expect not to lead a better life, but for personal gains. The Friar, the Summoner, and the Pardoner all used the powers of their occupations corruptly in order to satisfy their own greed, accepting bribes from and pardoning sinners who didn't truly repent, removing the wealthy from the consequences of their actions. The Friar was known to grant forgiveness to those who confessed to him regardless of the severity of their sin or the genuineness of their repent, provided that they paid him a generous bribe. Eventually the Friar neglected his duties of serving all the people equally and would only serve the wealthy, as they were the only ones who could afford to bribe him. He dressed gaudily and enjoyed great wealth as a result of his actions, but none would regard his behavior as virtuous. The Summoner was a sinner who behaved rowdily, was regularly unfaithful to his partner, and advised those caught in adultery that they needn't fear excommunication so long as they paid for their sin with a bribe. While it's not explicitly stated, one can assume that he amassed a considerable wealth through this process, and like the Friar, he granted many people unearned absolution. Finally, the Pardoner got along well with