The Old Man Hamilton Analysis

In Marie Padgett Hamilton’s article, readers are told about the most mysterious and dreadful character Chaucer wrote—the Old Man. Hamilton argues that the Old Man is none other than Old Age (Elde) otherwise known as the Messenger of Death. Hamilton says the Old Man has outlived his desire for living as well as desire for money, which means he must stand for the Harbinger of Death. She also points out that the Old Man is referred to as “age” meaning Old Age four times in the “Pardoner’s Tale.” Hamilton later tells how the Pardoner selling indulgences against temporal punishment in purgatory is a reminder to the people that Death appears suddenly and is imminent so they must repent. The article then informs readers of the Three Messengers: