Pardoner's Tale: Don't be Greedy

     Among the four Canterbury tales by Geoffrey Chaucer that we have been discussed, I like most the Pardoner’s Tale. I liked it because it is easier to understand and it has simple flow of story. Even it is simple, Pardoner’s Tale has useful moral lesson that I can apply in my everyday life. The names of the characters are not mentioned, so it is easy to understand and retell the tale to other people. Pardoner’s Tale is just short so I can tell it also to children.

     The part that I liked most is the climax and ending. The tale ended up with stupidity of the three drunken men. This is the climax and ending: The three men saw bars of gold under the tree. The youngest of them got food to eat while the two men planned to kill him when he came back so they can part the bars of gold into two only. The two men did not think that the youngest also planned to poison them. When the youngest came back, his two friends stabbed him. After that, they ate the food with poison and eventually, they died.

     The three men were so selfish and greedy so they got what they deserve. They chose to lose their friend/s just for wealth and because of that, all of them lose both friends and wealth.

     Though the tale was written hundreds of years ago, it is still applicable at present because many people in the world are like the three men. And yet, it happens to reality.

    I liked Pardoner’s tale because I can relate the tale easily to myself. It doesn’t mean that I can kill a person just for money or gold. What I mean is, there are some instances that I hurt other person just to get what I want; without thinking that she also needs that thing. 

One Love,Thousands We Can Do

          What is a hero? Is person can be only considered a hero if he died through firing squad like our hero Rizal? Or decapitated like the GOMBURZA? Of course not. A person to be a hero in this generation do not need to do such extra-ordinary things that only the very brave ones can do. He/she doesn’t need to save lives through amazing ways just like what other heroes did in times of conquering of Spaniards. A hero in this time shouldn’t have to shed his blood just for the good of other people.

   
          Through ordinary ways, a person can be a hero. By giving full-heartedly to the needy, she is considered as a hero. Maybe the needy has no one to get help, so she is a hero because out of so many people out there, she is the one who only lend a hand. There are so many times that I heard or witnessed scenes that a person is giving but it is not in her heart or not willing to give. It is just to show people around her that she’s kind and helpful but the real is not.

          By the way, since I am discussing about full hearted giving and people who is like that is a hero for me. I am proudly introducing to my readers: my hero- my elder sister. For additional information of her, she works abroad. In terms of giving, the first person that comes to my mind is my sister because she’s like the bread-winner of our family. Take note, she doesn’t just the bread-winner, she also the one who pays the tuition of me and my sister. Complaining is not her attitude. If we want something to buy, she automatically buys it just to make us happy; even if it costs expensive. My sister does not count the money that she releases for the needs of our family but it is her joy to help us.

          My sister is a hero for me because she does not just give us, but also a good example to me and my younger sister. One of the good examples that she practices that she wants us to imitate is to become Godly people. When she was there in abroad, my life was not the right direction- I always did worldly thing since I did not notice that I am making my steps down to hell. She explained to me the effects of being worldly so, I am very thankful that she came back here in the Philippines because I became closer to God, realized that I am a sinner and He gradually changes my life. My sister is used by God to save me from death.   

          Some people are contented when they have enough and extra income from their job; the good thing in my sister is that, she is not like that. She tries to have more income. That is the main reason why she came back here – to finish her Master’s degree so when goes back there in U.S., she can have more income and to give our family better lives. And, it is not just the reason; there is more- to reach other people who need help. So, I have the evidences to say that, my sister is a cheerful giver.

          By just going to other country, it is a big sacrifice; the tradition of the Filipinos is to be together with each other. We do not want to be separated from our family because we think that it is lonely. But I salute to her ‘coz she endured five years away from us. Before, I thought that I will study High School in a public school but because of her, we do not have to problem my tuitions in a private school. If I compute my tuition for 4 years, it worth a hundred thousand pesos! Imagine that! It’s very hard to earn that money. Then add her other so many contributions in our family, like the appliances, so the total is more than 100,000!

         A hero is not just a person who saves lives through bloodshed but a person who improves lives, and sacrifices what she have just for the sake of other people. Becoming a hero comes from the heart, not in the mind because when it comes from mind, it is limited. But if it comes from the heart, he/ she is unlimited to give. I do believe that “love is sacrifice”. He/she does not just sacrifice but also executes good manners and Godly practices like praying, reading bible, and applying it in life. God first loved us so, everyone should love our neighbors.