No New Tale to Tell

The Pardoners tale is about three men who aim to slay Death, but when they encounter a sum of gold, they forget about their original goal and are overcome by greed. In order for each man to keep the money for himself, they all plot to murder the others. Coincidentally, all of the men end up dying and are thus defeated by their original enemy, Death.

I believe there are only seven stories that have ever been told. They are the following: overcoming the monster, rags to riches, the quest, voyage and return, comedies, tragedies, and rebirth. (See http://lenwilson.us/seven-stories/) Therefore, modern day stories and literature must emulate The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer. For example, The Pardoners Tale, which demonstrates greed and corruption over material goods, is not only seen in modern literature but also in everyday life. We covet material goods and money as if without it there could be no life. The Pardoners Tale shows what happens when greed leads to corruption of the mind, and eventually combat and murder. Bank robbery, petty theft, identity theft, and most of government corruption would not be a problem if greed had lost its potency from Chaucer's times.