Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
Mr. Clark
Honors English 12
2/21/18
After discussing the differences between venial and deadly sins, the first deadly sin the
Parson discusses is Pride. The Parson begins to discuss the various forms of pride, “Pride
is shown in its many forms: arrogance, impudence, boasting, hypocrisy, joy in having
done harm, etc” (Chaucer 487). Essentially these forms are different ways that we can
commit the sin of pride. While these acts may seem different from each other, each fall
under the umbrella of Pride. The Parson moves onto making a distinction between
inwards and outwards pride, “Outward pride is like a tavern sign that shows that there is
wine in the cellar” (Chaucer 487). This outward pride can be shown in many different
ways. The Parson provides a few examples such as having too many or too few clothes.
The Parson also describes how sinful pride can come from our outward social behavior or
Pride surrounds us today just as much as any time in history. Just as in the time of the
attention to their wealth or by underdressing to seem more impoverished than they really
are. However, in today's world we also see examples in people who try to flaunt and
show off new cars or devices that they have. However, I think it is worth noting that pride
is not always necessarily a bad thing or sinful. It is common and natural for us to feel a
sense of pride when we finish or accomplish a difficult task. If you have pride in yourself
and this leads you to work harder or to do better work than there is nothing necessarily
wrong with this. However, pride can be sinful when it is motivated by a feeling of being
in any way superior or above others. As an example there is nothing wrong with being
proud of your nation and its history; however, if that leads you to feel that your nation or
its people are better than that of another nation than that becomes sinful. Although the
ways we express pride or the things we are proud of may have changed, the human factor
of the sin means that it is just as recognizable 500 years after the writing of The
Canterbury Tales.
After describing the sin of pride, the Parson explains how to combat pride, “The remedy
for Pride is humility or true self-knowledge” (Chaucer 487). The first part of this
solution, humility, seems quite simple. This humility means having an appropriate
understanding of our importance and not regarding ourselves too highly. Simply stated
this means being modest. The next aspect of the solution to pride the Parson describes is
including all are faults and strengths. Through self-knowledge we should naturally