Throughout The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer employs satire extensively. The main purpose that satire serves in this case os to criticize the vices and folly of society. By using satire, Chaucer can criticize several aspects of Medieval society without being censored. An example would be the way in which Chaucer presents his religious characters. Although they claim to be pious and charitable, they are often vain, arrogant, ambitious and self-indulging.
