Final answer:
The tale of the three rioters is central to the Pardoner's role as both a moral teacher and a manipulative salesman, where he uses storytelling and the theme of greed to compel his audience to buy pardons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tale of the three rioters directly correlates with the Pardoner's role as a trickster and his sales strategy. The Pardoner admits to preaching against greed while being driven by the same vice, this irony is not lost to the audience. His tale serves to illustrate the moral that greed is the root of all evil, thereby inducing fear and guilt in his listeners. As a consequence, they are more inclined to buy his pardons and relics to achieve salvation, which is his ultimate sales goal.
The use of storytelling as a rhetorical device is powerful in impacting the reading audience. By weaving a compelling narrative that resonates with the audience's moral sensibilities, the Pardoner effectively manipulates them into doing his bidding. This strategy is reflective of how modern public speakers employ methods of persuasion, such as creating narratives, appealing to emotions, and establishing credibility, to influence their audience.
In summary, the Pardoner's tale functions as both a sermon against the sin he embodies and a cunning sales pitch that plays on the fears and desires of his audience, securing his livelihood in the process.