Summary:
The prologue begins as the Wife of Bath establishes her authority on the topic of marriage, arguing that after five marriages since the age of twelve, she is knowledgeable enough to talk about this institution. Throughout her five marriages, the Wife of Bath has encountered much criticism as some argue that Christ is only present at one marriage. However, despite the criticism, the Wife of Bath has maintained her own views on marriage, believing that the bible provides enough evidence that there is nothing wrong with having multiple spouses. The Wife of Bath goes on to speak of sexuality, and how sexuality is her gift, and she uses it to control men. She explains that there is nothing wrong with sex, claiming, "You can be sure (sexual organs) were not made for nothing."
As the Wife of Bath is talking, the Pardoner, who is worried that his wife will use sex to control him, suddenly interrupts her. However, the Wife of Bath tells the Pardoner to have patience, for she has not finished her tale on marriage, and has not yet revealed the truth about marriage. At this point, the Wife of Bath recounts her marriages, claiming that her first three husbands were good because they were rich, old, and submissive. The Wife reveals that she enjoyed tormenting these poor men, as she would constantly accuse them of cheating on her. Also, when her husbands were drunk, she guilt them into giving her whatever she pleased. Worst of all, the Wife admits to not giving her husbands full pleasure in bed unless they promised to give her money. The Wife proudly admits that she has used her sexual and verbal skills to manipulate her husbands. When the Wife begins her description of her two bad husbands and moves onto describing herself in her youth. She and her fourth husband would dance and sing and indulge in the fact that they are young, she then explains that she is not upset about growing old and losing her beauty but she only keeps what she still has. She then confesses that she was her fourth husbands purgatory on Earth, by how she teased him and always tried to make him jealous, and how she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at his death. She talks much more about her fifth husband and how horribly in love she was with him even though all he did was beat her and abuse her, he always won her back in the bedroom though. She then explains that women always want what they cannot have and the difference between this husband and her others is she married this one out of love and not for the money. The Wife saw her fifth husband while being married to her fourth husband and him that she would marry him had she been a widow. She later makes up a story about how her fifth husband, Jankyn, enchanted her and she how she dreamed that he would kill her in her sleep, which filled her bed with blood. At her fourth husbands funeral she puts on an act about how upset she is, crying and making a scene, when she really doesn't care about his death very much since she had another husband lined up. She falls completely in love with him at her fourth husband's funeral even though he is twenty years younger than she. In the beginning she feels as though she can make up for this difference but later comes to the conclusion that she can not. He did not take her abuse but only fed her abuse. He had a book "book of wicked wives" which he read to her every night and it only read about the worst and most deceitful wives in history. One night the Wife, Alisoun, cannot handle having the book read to her so she rips out three pages of it and punches Jankyn in the face with them. He retaliates and hits her in the head causing her to lose her hearing in one ear. The stop fighting eventually and he hands over what little estate he has and is a better wife towards him. Once the tales of her marriages is finished the Wife announces that now she will begin her story and the Friar laughs at her stating that this is a long and preamble tale. The Summoner yells back at him to keep quiet and the Host quiets everyone down to allow the Wife of Bath to begin her story.
Chaucer's View:
Chaucer does not like this character, she abuses men and uses them only for sex and their money. She could be considered a whore of the time period. He does not make the character out to have any good human qualities about her. There is not a thing that anyone could like about her because she is not made out to be the type of person who would achieve anything significant in her life. Chaucer is very picky about his likes and dislikes there are not many characters he cares for and the Wife of Bath is definitely not one.
Character Analysis:
In the prologue, Chaucer describes the Wife of Bath as a "worthy" woman, who is somewhat deaf, and deserves pity. Bath in the Wife of Bath's name does not refer to a man, but rather the city of Bath. Chaucer explains the Wife of Bath's skills in clothing, as her skill in this area is undeniable. She wore the clothing that she made, and as a result her clothing was top-notch. Along with her clothing, the Wife of Bath was beautiful, and attractive. Most likely as a result of her beautiful self and clothing, the Wife of Bath had had five husbands, and married them all through the church. The Wife was also had traveled all around the world, giving her insight on the oldest of dances.
Summary:
The prologue begins as the Wife of Bath establishes her authority on the topic of marriage, arguing that after five marriages since the age of twelve, she is knowledgeable enough to talk about this institution. Throughout her five marriages, the Wife of Bath has encountered much criticism as some argue that Christ is only present at one marriage. However, despite the criticism, the Wife of Bath has maintained her own views on marriage, believing that the bible provides enough evidence that there is nothing wrong with having multiple spouses. The Wife of Bath goes on to speak of sexuality, and how sexuality is her gift, and she uses it to control men. She explains that there is nothing wrong with sex, claiming, "You can be sure (sexual organs) were not made for nothing."
As the Wife of Bath is talking, the Pardoner, who is worried that his wife will use sex to control him, suddenly interrupts her. However, the Wife of Bath tells the Pardoner to have patience, for she has not finished her tale on marriage, and has not yet revealed the truth about marriage. At this point, the Wife of Bath recounts her marriages, claiming that her first three husbands were good because they were rich, old, and submissive. The Wife reveals that she enjoyed tormenting these poor men, as she would constantly accuse them of cheating on her. Also, when her husbands were drunk, she guilt them into giving her whatever she pleased. Worst of all, the Wife admits to not giving her husbands full pleasure in bed unless they promised to give her money. The Wife proudly admits that she has used her sexual and verbal skills to manipulate her husbands. When the Wife begins her description of her two bad husbands and moves onto describing herself in her youth. She and her fourth husband would dance and sing and indulge in the fact that they are young, she then explains that she is not upset about growing old and losing her beauty but she only keeps what she still has. She then confesses that she was her fourth husbands purgatory on Earth, by how she teased him and always tried to make him jealous, and how she was on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem at his death. She talks much more about her fifth husband and how horribly in love she was with him even though all he did was beat her and abuse her, he always won her back in the bedroom though. She then explains that women always want what they cannot have and the difference between this husband and her others is she married this one out of love and not for the money. The Wife saw her fifth husband while being married to her fourth husband and him that she would marry him had she been a widow. She later makes up a story about how her fifth husband, Jankyn, enchanted her and she how she dreamed that he would kill her in her sleep, which filled her bed with blood. At her fourth husbands funeral she puts on an act about how upset she is, crying and making a scene, when she really doesn't care about his death very much since she had another husband lined up. She falls completely in love with him at her fourth husband's funeral even though he is twenty years younger than she. In the beginning she feels as though she can make up for this difference but later comes to the conclusion that she can not. He did not take her abuse but only fed her abuse. He had a book "book of wicked wives" which he read to her every night and it only read about the worst and most deceitful wives in history. One night the Wife, Alisoun, cannot handle having the book read to her so she rips out three pages of it and punches Jankyn in the face with them. He retaliates and hits her in the head causing her to lose her hearing in one ear. The stop fighting eventually and he hands over what little estate he has and is a better wife towards him. Once the tales of her marriages is finished the Wife announces that now she will begin her story and the Friar laughs at her stating that this is a long and preamble tale. The Summoner yells back at him to keep quiet and the Host quiets everyone down to allow the Wife of Bath to begin her story.
Chaucer's View:
Chaucer does not like this character, she abuses men and uses them only for sex and their money. She could be considered a whore of the time period. He does not make the character out to have any good human qualities about her. There is not a thing that anyone could like about her because she is not made out to be the type of person who would achieve anything significant in her life. Chaucer is very picky about his likes and dislikes there are not many characters he cares for and the Wife of Bath is definitely not one.
Character Analysis:
In the prologue, Chaucer describes the Wife of Bath as a "worthy" woman, who is somewhat deaf, and deserves pity. Bath in the Wife of Bath's name does not refer to a man, but rather the city of Bath. Chaucer explains the Wife of Bath's skills in clothing, as her skill in this area is undeniable. She wore the clothing that she made, and as a result her clothing was top-notch. Along with her clothing, the Wife of Bath was beautiful, and attractive. Most likely as a result of her beautiful self and clothing, the Wife of Bath had had five husbands, and married them all through the church. The Wife was also had traveled all around the world, giving her insight on the oldest of dances.