THE EPILOGUE

Stepping down from his imaginary pulpit, the Pardoner becomes a mere man again, back to his old tricks of passing off "relics," which his traveling companions by now know better than to believe in. Even he knows it's ironic when he calls his presence on the trip a "suretee" (insurance, and also a legal bond) for the pilgrims.

But picking on the Host gets him more than he bargained for, reminding us forcefully that the tales are made up of remarkably lifelike and conflicting personalities. Perhaps he wants to get back at the Host for suggesting at the start that he tell a joking story instead of the sermons he prides himself on. For whatever reason, he tells the Host he should make the first offering for "he is most enveloped in sin." His next suggestion, "Unbuckle thy purse" (line 617), has a sexual connotation that the Host, a burly bouncer of a guy, doesn't appreciate. The Host offers to use the Pardoner's testicles for relics, enshrined in a "hog's turd." Perhaps by calling attention to the Pardoner's physical and spiritual limitations, the Host's comments are meant to remind us of the gulf between the Pardoner's life and his tale.

It takes the Knight to restore harmony, which is fitting since he represents natural order and harmony. He makes the two kiss (another strange and hilarious sight, when you think about it) and the tale ends happily. But notice also that it's not the Pardoner, whose job it is to pardon, who forgives the Host for the crude remarks.

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