MAP OF MY BROTHER'S MOUSEHUNT!

SUMMARY AND REFLECTIONS ON THE PARDONER'S TALE

from http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0b/William_Blake_Pardoner_cropped.jpg

     Of the tales that I've read from the Canterbury tales, the pardoner's tale interested me the most. Not only that it is humorous and interesting, it also gives us an idea of what people do at that time: (1) the people drink beer or wine as a part of their daily lives without being called alcoholics (drinking is a part of their daily lives), and (2) a pardoner is a person who supposedly collects pardons and other stuff for a living. The tale also shows what form of writing is circulated throughout that period. The language of Canterbury tales is middle English, or chancery standard. If you will read Canterbury tales as it is( middle English language), you will certainly be challenged, but it is fun to read because of the unusual words you will encounter, and because of the difficult language you will read, you will seeketh thee thy easier version. 


This is my summary of the pardoner's tale:

     Three drunken men overheard a funeral procession and they inquire a servant about the matter. The servant said that their friend was killed by a murderer named Death. They wanted to kill the person in retaliation and traveled to the other town in pursuit. They met an old man who said that he was cursed to wander around the earth until a youth changes places with him. The old man goes on to say  that not even Death will take his life. The drunken men asked him if he had seen Death, and he replies that Death was last seen under the tree at the end of the road. The drunken men found the tree but Death was not there. Instead, they saw bags of gold, this which they decided to keep for themselves. They drew straws and the youngest was the one who is to obtain their food. While the youngest was gone, the two drunken men who were left thought that they should keep the youngest man's share of gold for themselves. They decided to stab him. The youngest, on the other hand, wants all the gold for himself. So, he poisoned the food so that when they eat it, they will die. The youngest was stabbed and he was killed, and the other two died from poison. 


My Reflections:


     I find the two drunken men who were left behind the tree very stupid. If they had escaped with all the gold, they would have the gold and they would not have died. They all died because of their greed. Also, I believe that Death was really last seen in the tree. There could have been men before them that killed each other because of greed, so Death could be last seen in the tree. 
     The old man's personality intrigues me, as he said that he is cursed to wander around the earth until a youth changes places with him. I think that he may be Death, because he lead the drunken men to kill each other. He knew that man have an unquenchable greed that they cannot control, so he lead them to the tree.
     I believe that Chaucer is very brilliant, and his insights can be seen in the tale.     

THE THINKING MIND: A PANDORA'S BOX

     From Greek mythology, the Pandora's box is a box given to Pandora by Zeus as vengeance to Prometheus who stole fire from heaven. Because Pandora was given by the gods a gift of curiosity, curiosity prompted her to open the box and this released the evils of the Earth. But at the bottom of the jar, there was the spirit of hope.

     The Pandora's box can be compared with our mind. Once it is opened to a certain topic or realization due to curiosity, it will release either good thoughts or bad thoughts. It has the ability to create or destroy. Our mind can think noble and great acts, or it can create turmoil and evil. Our mind can wonder far beyond you'll ever expect. When our ancestors looked out the vast land, they wondered what's out there and they sought to conquer it. When our ancestors saw the ocean and it's unfathomable depths, he decided to venture out into a world unknown. And now, when modern man looked up the sky he is lured to explore it, out of curiosity. What we have now should be credited to our mind(and of course God), as everything is thought of and a product of our curiosity.

     But my point is not about the said statement. It is about the minds of our leaders. I am seriously concerned about my nation's president, president Noynoy Aquino. He may have been free from corruption issues, etc., so far, but what really matters is our nation's progress. He must persuade Filipinos to love their country, and to make Filipinos think highly of his race. The Filipino must learn to sacrifice high salaries in other countries to serve in his country. The president must change the Filipino's mindset so he will strive for the country's benefit. In this way, there will be unity, then prosperity and security will come with it.

     

MODERN SOCIETY'S MODERN HERO

     Back in the olden times, heroes were celebrated throughout the world.These heroes were characterized by superhuman strength, agility, speed and other unworldly  powers. because they defeated monsters, slew dragons and destroyed the strongest of fortresses, they were called heroes.

     In a span of more than 2000 years, the characteristics that defines a hero dramatically changed. And now, in the MODERN SOCIETY, MODERN HEROES are born. Much of these 'modern' heroes are not given attention like that of the olden times and most of them are not at all recognized for their heroic deeds. These heroes work secretly,  deep in the heart of our society.

These people are modern day heroes:

Your parents: 

     Your loving parents who are willing to sacrifice their lives for their children are modern heroes. They took care for you in the past 18 years of your existence without asking for anything. They are heroes.

The doctors:

     In a doctors time span of medical practice, he has delivered so many people from sickness and death into good health.

The teachers:

     Working full-time, they do their work in school and in their homes.Though they have very little salary, their passion for their work should be paid hundredfold. Without them, civilization will collapse as intelligent people who govern and hold a society together will be scarce.Then society will fail.These people should be credited for the wealth and productiveness of a place for they provided education to people who add to a nation's wealth.

     These are just some of the modern society's modern heroes. OFW's, policemen, soldiers in hostile areas, your parents, doctors, teachers, etc., all work together to make our modern society peaceful and productive.

     But what is a MODERN SOCIETY'S MODERN HERO? he is a person who doesn't have to kill monsters and do superhuman stuff. He just need to SACRIFICE WITHOUT HESITATION, for our greater good, for a change, however small, in this nasty world.

     Just as Efren Penaflorida put it,

          "you are the change the world needs to be".