In the prologue for the Pardoner and the Monk, Chaucer satirizes both characters. The Monk is only lightly satirized for his choice of vocation, whereas the Pardoner is much more harshly satirized for his morals. As a member of the church, the Monk should devote his time to religious matters, such as copying out the Bible by hand. However, Chaucer satirizes the Monk for neglecting his duties many times in the prologue. For example, An outrider, that loved venerie. Ful many a deyntee hors hadde he in stable.” This tells us that the Monk had many horses and loved hunting, which is not a sport encouraged by the church and is, in fact, banned by them.
There is no direct criticism of the monk contained within the description of his actions. All it tells us is that Chaucer believes his priorities are confused. And when he rode, men might hear his bridle bells jingling in a clear, whistling wind, as loud as the chapel bell.” This indicates that the bells on his bridle were as attractive to him as the church bells, which were supposed to call him to prayer. This again criticizes his actions as a monk, not as a person.
The Monk is obviously an obsessed huntsman. He had greyhounds as swift as birds in flight. Of pricking and of hunting for the hare was all his lust, for no cost would he spare.” This would not be wrong for a normal man, but for a man of the cloth, it is totally the wrong thing to be interested in. He then tries to justify his priorities of hunting by claiming to be a new style of monk where the old rules do not count. “The rule of Saint Maure or of Saint Benet, because it was old and somewhat strict, this same Monk let old things pass and held after the new world the space. He gave not of that text a pulled hen.” This says that he does not follow the rules written by Saint Maur or Saint Benet, which were written as the day-to-day guide for how people should live their lives. It was a very blasphemous view for that time.
He did not take from that text a weak argument, which says that hunters are not holy men.”
This tells us that he had the finest fur-lined cuffs, which would have been expensive. He also has a gold pin fastening his hood, which is a fashion statement and not appropriate clothing for a monk. Most people, when they think of a monk, imagine a pallid-faced man with sunken cheeks due to poor eating habits. However, Chaucer describes the Monk differently: He was a lord full fat and in good point.”
