Chaucer's Unreflecting Characters Written to Prove a Need for Societal Reform

When read through a psychoanalytical lens, Geoffrey Chaucer's Friar and Summoner Tales offer an ironic juxtaposition between morals when considering the characters in a religious context. With the help of Freudian psychology and satire throughout, Chaucer uses these tales to highlight the stark difference in religious expectations and societal means. Highlighting the contradiction between the character's morals with the help of spiritual and societal considerations allows Chaucer to comment on a much-needed societal reform.