Sexuality In The Wife Of Bath's Prologue And Margery Kempe

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In the “Wife of Bath’s Prologue” and Margery Kempe women are empowered to make decisions regarding their own sexuality. This deviates from the gender constructs of the time period by allowing these women to dictate the course of their own lives: the Wife of Bath chooses to use her sexuality to acquire money and possessions, while Margery Kempe dedicates her sexuality to her spiritual beliefs. By working strategically to gain sexual independence both women move beyond the generally accepted position of a women at the time. The “Wife of Bath’s Prologue” shows that Alisoun was empowered by the ability use her sexuality. As she introduces her tale, Alisoun makes it clear that she sees marriage as a way to gain money and status, “Of fyve husbondes …show more content…

Grant me that you shall not come to my bed, and I grant you to requite your debts before I go to Jerusalem” (428, Kempe). Although this is vastly different than the tactics employed by Alisoun, Margery gains the same independence: by agreeing to this bargain, Margery’s husband gives her power over her sexuality. This empowerment allows her to fulfil her spiritual desire by giving her body to God who tells her, “take me boldly, when you are in your bed, take me as your wedded husband, as your most worthy darling, and as your sweet son” (431, …show more content…

When the Lord speaks to Margery he says “and you shall fare well, daughter, in spite of all your enemies. The more envy they have for you because of my grace, the better shall I love you” (428, Kempe). As she travels Margery becomes closer to God through her sexuality and her experiences. “And when they came upon the Mount of Calvary, she fell down so that she might not stand or kneel but walloed and twisted with her body, spreading her arms abroad, and cried with a loud voice as though her heart should have burst asunder” (429, Kempe). In this way, Margary’s power over her body gave her independence and new life meaning. Her connection with God was established through her chastity, and this allowed her to live a the life she choose, untethered by the opinions of those around her. By negotiating her own sexual independence Margary moved beyond what was expected of her as a woman and as a wife and centered her life around what mattered most to her,

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