The Summoner

While the Summoner is obviously a morally corrupt and physically repellent character, his characterization in the ‘General Prologue’ also relies upon a wide range of contemporary gossip, complaint, proverbs, and literary satire. In particular, when read in its historical context, Chaucer’s portrayal of the Summoner can be seen as not simply a satire of a corrupt individual but also as part of a widespread debate about the proper functioning of institutions and their role in society. With his idealization of the Parson, and his affection for the framing device of the pilgrimage, Chaucer clearly did not want to endorse Wycliffite attitudes towards the church and so had to be careful when he using the Summoner to prompt readers into thinking sceptically about church justice. But in raising this issue, Chaucer went beyond the moralizing conventions of estates satire to offer an institutional critique of the ecclesiastical courts.