Geoffrey Chaucer: The Summoner

Geoffrey Chaucer: The Summoner

Overview: The Summoner is a notable character in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, introduced in the Prologue. He serves as an officer of the church, responsible for summoning sinners to ecclesiastical court. His character embodies the corruption and moral ambiguity present in the medieval Church, providing a critique of ecclesiastical authority.

Physical Description: Chaucer describes the Summoner with striking and vivid imagery:

• Appearance: He has a grotesque appearance, with a fiery red face covered in pimples and a thick beard. His physical flaws symbolize his moral failings and contribute to a sense of untrustworthiness.
• Mannerisms: He carries a rounder, reminiscent of his jolly but dishonest nature, and is often seen with a bunch of flowers to symbolize his knowledge of church lore.

Character Traits:

• Corrupt and Greedy: The Summoner is depicted as a man who abuses his position for personal gain. He often accepts bribes to ignore sins, highlighting the widespread corruption within the Church.
• Manipulative: He uses his power to intimidate others, threatening them with summons unless they pay him off. His character illustrates the darker side of clerical authority and the exploitation of fear.
• Vulgar and Dishonest: The Summoner is portrayed as a man of low morals, engaging in questionable behavior and enjoying the company of others who partake in sinful activities. His lack of integrity makes him a figure of scorn.

Critique of Society: Chaucer employs the Summoner to critique the moral decay and hypocrisy prevalent in the Church:

• Corruption of Clergy: The Summoner’s character serves as an indictment of the ecclesiastical hierarchy, emphasizing how some church officials exploited their positions rather than serving their communities.
• Reflection of Public Sentiment: By portraying a corrupt Summoner, Chaucer taps into the growing discontent among the laity regarding the abuses of power within the Church, resonating with contemporary critiques of religious authority.

The Summoner's Tale: The Summoner does not tell a tale directly after the Prologue, but he is engaged in a verbal exchange with the Friar, which reveals their mutual animosity and hypocrisy. In his own tale, the Summoner's contempt for others is evident:

• Content: The Summoner's story involves a tale of a corrupt friar who tries to cheat a wealthy parishioner, demonstrating the ongoing conflict between different ecclesiastical figures.
• Themes: The themes of greed, deception, and the nature of sin permeate his narrative, reinforcing the notion that moral failings are not confined to the laity but are rampant among the clergy as well.

Conclusion: The Summoner in The Canterbury Tales serves as a critical commentary on the corruption within the Church and the moral failings of its representatives. Chaucer’s portrayal highlights the abuses of power and the hypocrisy that characterized some ecclesiastical officials, reflecting a broader critique of the medieval social order. Through the Summoner, Chaucer emphasizes the need for reform and the importance of integrity in religious authority, making him a significant figure in the tapestry of characters within the collection.