The Wife Of Bath's Tale Gender Roles Essay

While analyzing Chaucer and especially his Wife of Bath’s Tale, it is important to recognize the ideas of female sovereignty in marriage expressed throughout the text. These are discussed by the writer in terms of gender roles that take form of the most “radical ideas on gender theory” (Carter, p. 329). The Tale recognizes power in marriage as the furthermost desire of all women, as stated in the text: Wommen desiren to have sovereintee As wel over hir housbonde as hir love, And for to been in maistrye him above. (Chaucer, p. 245)

Often at times people can feel disconnected from themselves, from the world, or even friends and families; Therefore, causing tension in relationships. Which was displayed in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” when the knight searches all over the world to find out what women most desire in a man. Also in “One Amazing Thing” there are various stories from different characters that have had trouble with personal stories and how one gender or religious belief can be more dominate than the other.

Women should be at one with their being and be able to speak on social and psychic truths. Chaucer is an author that goes against what would be considered normal for this time period. He attempts to write as a female to represent a female perspective and enter into debate about the role of a woman. Stated in the text, “We can argue straightforwardly that women were marginalized and subordinate, that women lived and suffered under patriarchy.”(Treacher133). Women were viewed as being inferior. Are we to believe and follow the views created by men and for men? Chaucer is a man who creates a story told by a woman for woman and men. He seeks to show that women can speak up and does not need approval by men, “But that the Queen and other ladies as well implored the King to exercise his grace, so ceaselessly, he gave the Queen the case and granted her his life, and she could choose whether to show him mercy or refuse.” (Chaucer157). In the example, the King and the Queen represents at a higher power how a male and female is to be equal. It is shown that the Queen’s opinion and a woman’s opinion in general are just as important and purposeful as the King’s opinion. Chaucer uses the scenario of two powerful authority figures, the King and Queen, as an example for others to follow. The idea of the queen being able to make decisions concerning the knight, and the husband passing his power to his wife shows an equal relationship. The king and queen was used as a symbol that

Can men and women ever truly understand each other? Readers see that in “the Wife of Bath’s Tale” that a knight was sent on a year quest to find out what women actually want. In “A Vindication of the Rights of Woman” that she views that women should be treated equal but they are treated only for their beauty not their intelligence. In “The Men we Carry in Our Minds” it shows how different women and men were treated. men only having manual labor jobs and women taking care of children not much in between. (Chaucer pp.77, Sanders pp.131, Wollstonecraft pp. 114).

Before the rise of what is known today as feminism, Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” introduces an unorthodox character whom many women find relatable. The Wife embodies just about every female stereotype created, wherein her character is greatly exaggerated. Although the Wife of Bath breaks the traditional role of a submissive and obedient wife, her character illustrates and represents the stereotypes and criticisms commonly thrown at women. Seen as a representation of all women, the Wife of Bath’s deceptive and scheming nature hints at the stereotype that all women are untrustworthy. Her frank attitude and carefree acknowledgement of past deceit harbors no hint of remorse; she relishes recounting her past endeavors, reciting her despicable deeds as if they were any other fact.

After asking the old hag of what women coveted the most, he quickly went to the queen. In order for his life to be spared, the knight answers the question to what women wanted the most, he said, “My liege lady, over all this world women wish to have sovereignty as well as over her husband as her love, and to have mastery over him. This is your greatest desire, though you may slay me for this. Do as you wish; I am here at your will.” (Chaucer 1042).

In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” by Chaucer, a story is told by the Wife of Bath in an attempt to show the one “thing it is that women most desire”(911). Although the Wife of Bath uses this story as an allegory to show that men are why things do not work out between a couple and that women should hold some power in decision-making, she ironically contradicts herself throughout the tale, as well as the conclusion after the tale. Through this contradiction and irony, the Wife of Bath’s attempt to portray the benefit of mutual respect in a relationship is questioned and the virtues she associates with the actions made are then compared to her own. This tale begins with a knight that is traveling and notices a fair maiden walking by herself. The

Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” in The Canterbury Tales appears to be an illustration of feminism, one that showcases a female character’s progression in power in a primarily patriarchal society. However, beneath the simplistic plot of women’s empowerment, lies underlying themes of antifeminism in the character, Alison of Bath. Alison endorses the misogynistic role which she is fighting against with the objectification of her own body, her misinterpreted dictations of religion, and her fascination of sovereignty and dominance. Although Alison sees herself as a feminist, it is unlikely that men in the middle ages saw her the same way. She embodies the stereotypes of women in medieval literature; lustful, irrational, domineering, and a danger to a man’s salvation. Throughout the prologue and the tale, there are inconsistencies with what Alison preaches and how she behaves. That leads to the question, is Chaucer the forward-minded feminist he is often depicted as, or is Alison of Bath a mockery of the ideals of feminism and an illustration of what men thought of women at the time?

It is a well-known fact that the past has not been kind to women’s potential. With stereotypes of virtuousness and what it means to be a proper ‘lady’ still persisting today, it does not have to be imagined how strong of a code it was earlier in history. However, works such as William Shakespeare’s “Twelfth Night” and Geoffrey Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue” demonstrate the few instances of a female character standing out from the traditional mold of their time. Despite adhering to society's norms at the end of their stories, the female perspective adds credibility to the gender's portrayal while breaking down gender stereotypes. By allowing the female characters to take an active role in the patriarchal society, it enables them to show themselves as potential equals to men.

In The Canterbury tales, Chaucer uses The Wife of Bath as a representation of what it was like for Women in the Middle Ages to be striped of equality and bow to the otherwise male dominated society. For the representation of women Chaucer uses the Tales of “The Scholar”, “The Second Nun “The Reeve’s”, and “The Franklin” and many others in a very dry, pretentious manner to steer readers into the view of how a women of the Middle Ages should be as a so called “virtuous” wife or woman. The concept of marriage plays a major part in manifesting the idea of the issues of inferiority of women. The perception rendered as women having to be obedient and inferior figure to their husbands or male counter parts. Chaucer

In our group, we drew the Wife of Bath, the Reeve, and the Monk, three characters richly described as physically and morally, quite different. The Wife of Bath, whose tale is later told in its entirety, stood out as a character in that she was so brazen and bold. She was described as beautifully gap toothed, promiscuous with husbandry, and so well practiced in the arts of love and sex that her profession should very well be “wife.” She dresses richly, reflecting her true talent as a professional seamstress, and her style is unique. Most of all, she is shrewd and intelligent, using her own body to get what she wants from her many husbands. For these reasons, though mainly based on looks, we have chosen Georgia May Jagger, daughter of Mick Jagger, and better known as the British model for Rimmel London makeup products.

Throughout many different time periods and different cultures, people have had a hard time understanding one another. Geoffrey Chaucer conveys in his narrative poem, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” that it is difficult for people to understand the opposite sex. People make accusations about what others are like based off of the people they are always around. These assumptions are seen in “The Men we Carry in Our Minds.” In a news coverage, “In a Scattered Protest, Saudi Women Take the Wheel,” it shows how it is hard to understand each other because sometimes people do not know what others are going through. “The Wife of Bath’s Tale,” “The Men we Carry in Our Minds,” and “ In a scattered Protest, Saudi Women Take the Wheel,” all show the struggle

In The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer gives multiple examples in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” of Alice, The Wife, intellectually manipulating her husbands, which portray her as a rebel against female norms of her day and a trailblazer for women going forward. However, there are some incredibly conflicting aspects of the Wife of Bath’s portrayal of women. Certainly, it can be said The Wife of Bath’s Alice was far ahead of her time. In a period when men ruled and women were expected to be subservient, she was the rare exception. She contradicted all the norms of the day and even at times seemed to contradict herself.

Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath Prologue is a text which employs the female voice through an exaggerated female narrator who believes her life experience provides her the authority necessary to weigh in on the conflict that is marriage and a woman’s role within that marriage. Upon further analysis one may argue that

There are 195 countries in total all over the world, yet there are only five countries in the list that are still affiliated with communism (Rosenberg). It is amazing to believe that we have reached the Twenty-First Century and there are still countries that allow complete control over their citizens. The thought of having complete power can bring joy to some, but it can certainly bring melancholy to others. Having to follow the orders of someone at all costs can surely bring humiliation and dismay to the victim. Many people get disappointed in following orders sometimes, but they can never imagine how obeying orders used to be. The role of a woman in medieval times was purely degrading. “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” touches on the subject on how women in this time period were treated. The medieval times were full of degradation for women, unconstitutional authority from men, and lack of justice.