Character Analysis Of The Wife Of Baths Prologue Tale

The Wife of Baths Prologue Tale begins with providing a setting in which the story alludes to the past days of King Arthur. The action in this fiction begins instantly. As the knight who was referred to as a “lusty liver” (pg. 156) was riding across the river, a maiden immediately caught his attention. He continued to assault the woman, denying her of her virginity. “The act of violence made such a stir, So much petitioning to the king for her, that he condemned the knight to lose his head by course of law” (pg. 156). Once the court became aware of the act of violence the knight had committed, the only punishment that he should receive was death. This punishment is very fitting for the crime her committed, although during that time it was pretty much normal for a woman to get raped that was unnecessary just because he saw a woman he was attracted to. Throughout the summary of the Baths Tale we will realize how lucky the knight is, he receives an opportunity to spare his life and he will meet someone to help him do so.

The story, then continues clarifying how the Queen and other women demonstrated benevolence for the knight, and settled on a vastly different

Suddenly, at the margin of a wood, he saw a dace upon the leafy floor of four and twenty ladies, nay, and more. Eagerly he approached, in hope to learn some words of wisdom ere he should return; But lo! Before he came to where they were, Dancers and dance all vanished into air!” (pg. 159). The group of women who disappeared left an older woman who was ‘crouched upon the green” (pg159). The lady spoke to the knight explaining to him that there was nowhere for him to go from there, offering her assistance and then the knight proceeded to ask his question. The lady offered her assistance, yet consequently he would need to wed her and he would have to do whatever it was that she required of him. She offered her help with trade for his pledge that he would offer himself to