Final answer:
In 'The Canterbury Tales', the characters are making a pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral for spiritual and religious reasons. This reflects the medieval practice of pilgrimage, which also served as an opportunity for social interaction and experiencing life beyond one's usual environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, all the characters are going on a journey together to make a pilgrimage to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket at Canterbury Cathedral. They are not going to escape a deadly plague, seek a holy relic, attend a wedding, or find a treasure, so the correct answer would be none of the options provided.
Instead, their journey is a religious and spiritual endeavor, reflecting the widespread medieval practice of pilgrimage during the fourteenth century. This activity served many purposes such as expression of Christian devotion, seeking penance, healing, and as a unique opportunity for travel and social interaction across different classes of society.
Pilgrims often sought out relics in various churches, believing in their holy power, and the journey to Canterbury would likely involve such motives. Furthermore, the purpose of a pilgrimage in medieval times was multifaceted, sometimes serving to fulfill a religious obligation or as an act of devotion, among other personal or spiritual reasons.
Therefore answer is b) To seek a holy relic.