Final answer:
In The Pardoner's Tale, hypocrisy is vividly portrayed through the character of the Pardoner who condemns greed while actively engaging in it. He sells fake relics and indulgences for personal gain, demonstrating a clear disconnect between his words and actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Pardoner's Tale, hypocrisy is vividly portrayed through the character of the Pardoner himself. The Pardoner is a religious figure who preaches about the evils of greed and materialism, yet he is guilty of the very sins he condemns. He sells fake relics and indulgences for personal gain, showing a clear disconnect between his words and actions.
One example of this hypocrisy is when the Pardoner delivers a sermon about the dangers of greed, using the story of three young men who go searching for Death. However, the Pardoner's motive for telling this story is not to educate or warn others, but to manipulate his audience into giving him money for forgiveness.
Another instance of hypocrisy is seen when the Pardoner openly admits that he only preaches for profit and does not care about the spiritual well-being of his listeners. He proudly displays his bag of fake relics and explains how he tricks unsuspecting people into purchasing them.