Empowerment In The Wife Of Bath's Tale

The Wife of Bath, or simply Alyson, from Chaucer’s renowned poem The Canterbury Tales gives readers an idea of what most women were like and the role they played in 14th century England. She informs her fellow pilgrims that she proudly represents the opposite of the majority of females in medieval times. She portrays herself as a woman who is sexually experienced, had sovereignty over her past five husbands, and speaks and carries herself in a manner rarely seen in this male-dominated, patriarchal period. The Wife of Bath can be interpreted as either an empowering and capable feminist-type character or just a sarcastic, satirical collection of negative qualities women should strive to oppose. Which of these depictions was Chaucer trying to

A female dominated marriage or society would be no better than a patriarchal one. The Wife of Bath’s Tale further confuses her female empowering notions. Her tale recounts the story of a young Knight that rapes a young, virgin maiden and is then sentenced to death. Lady Guinevere takes pity on him and gives him 12 months to find out what it is that women most desire. Towards the end of the Knight’s year long quest, he finds an old hag who has the answer he seeks if he promises himself to her. The Knight goes before Lady Guinevere and her court and declares a woman wishes to have power and control over her husband. None of the women, including Lady Guinevere, can find a fault in his answer and so he is spared. Having sworn himself to the old woman, she reveals that her wish is for him to marry her for helping save his life. The Knight knows he cannot refuse her request so he reluctantly agrees. However, the Knight cannot bring himself to lay with the old woman. In his distress, the hag asks him if he would rather have an old and ugly wife that is loyal and true or a young and beautiful wife that is sure to be dishonest and unfaithful. The Knight tells the old woman the choice is hers alone. With this, the old woman turns into a gorgeous young maiden who is both beautiful and true. In the end, the woman was given the choice but it still does not change the fact that a rapist was rewarded with a happy ending. The audience is never informed of the rapist’s victim again. This contradicted the entire point of her