Sara Brett & Spencer Wellborn
Ms. Kingsley
AP English 12
01, May 2008
The Wife of Bath is told by a woman who uses sex as a way to control. It is set during the time of King Arthur and tells the tale of a Knight on a quest. This Knight, upon seeing a beautiful young woman, rapes her and as his punishment is put to death by decapitation. Before this event occurs however the Queen steps forward and tells the Knight that if he can find out what woman want most in life he will be saved. Though he searches the countryside for an answer all the woman say different things and the Knight despairs. On the way back to court to receive his punishment he pass by a group of woman who disappear upon seeing him and leave a hag in their place. The hag promises to help him but only if he will pledge himself to her. He does so and they return to court where he tells the Queen that the only thing women desire is to have authority over their husbands. The hag agrees and the Knight is saved, but is dismayed when the hag asks for his hand in marriage. He is forced into it, and that night in bed he is miserable, so the hag asks him what he would wish for--an ugly wife that was loyal and good, or a beautiful wife who was a flirt and unfaithful? The Knight decides to let his new wife decides and because he gave her the one thing woman desire--to be rulers over their husbands--the hag turn ed into a woman who was both beautiful and good. They lived happily ever after!
The hag in the tale told by the Wife of Bath relates to her description in "The Prologue." The Wife of Bath uses sex as a way to control her husband(s) and has been married several times since her youth. Since the Wife of Bath wants to be in control of not just her life but as the authority in her relationships, the rapest in the story is executed as punishment, requested by the victim. Also the one thing that everyone woman wants is authority over their husbands and this is also the Wife of Bath's wish in life. The Wife is intelligent with commonsense and this relates with the story because in the end the hag notices that her husband is unhappy and asks about his misery. The knight roaming across the country represents the Wife of Bath's travels. She is worldly and experienced, both culturally and sexually. The hag forcing the knight into marriage is the ultimate sign of authority in a relationship and relates to the Wie of Bath in "The Prologue."
Chaucer is satirical when describing the Wife of Bath in "The Prologue." He begins by saying that "she was somewhat deaf, which was a shame" (9). Chaucer, being a male, most likely disliked the Wife of Bath and her desire to have authority over the men in her life and her being deaf was a relief so that she can not hear and therefore control everything around her. Chaucer is also satiral on page ten when he refers to the wife as having great experience in the romance field. The Wife of Bath is obviously to controling and crass to have any skill when it comes to romance, and shows this by boasting of her "knowledge" and "talents" and through her the tale she tells.
Ms. Kingsley
AP English 12
01, May 2008
The Wife of Bath is told by a woman who uses sex as a way to control. It is set during the time of King Arthur and tells the tale of a Knight on a quest. This Knight, upon seeing a beautiful young woman, rapes her and as his punishment is put to death by decapitation. Before this event occurs however the Queen steps forward and tells the Knight that if he can find out what woman want most in life he will be saved. Though he searches the countryside for an answer all the woman say different things and the Knight despairs. On the way back to court to receive his punishment he pass by a group of woman who disappear upon seeing him and leave a hag in their place. The hag promises to help him but only if he will pledge himself to her. He does so and they return to court where he tells the Queen that the only thing women desire is to have authority over their husbands. The hag agrees and the Knight is saved, but is dismayed when the hag asks for his hand in marriage. He is forced into it, and that night in bed he is miserable, so the hag asks him what he would wish for--an ugly wife that was loyal and good, or a beautiful wife who was a flirt and unfaithful? The Knight decides to let his new wife decides and because he gave her the one thing woman desire--to be rulers over their husbands--the hag turn ed into a woman who was both beautiful and good. They lived happily ever after!
The hag in the tale told by the Wife of Bath relates to her description in "The Prologue." The Wife of Bath uses sex as a way to control her husband(s) and has been married several times since her youth. Since the Wife of Bath wants to be in control of not just her life but as the authority in her relationships, the rapest in the story is executed as punishment, requested by the victim. Also the one thing that everyone woman wants is authority over their husbands and this is also the Wife of Bath's wish in life. The Wife is intelligent with commonsense and this relates with the story because in the end the hag notices that her husband is unhappy and asks about his misery. The knight roaming across the country represents the Wife of Bath's travels. She is worldly and experienced, both culturally and sexually. The hag forcing the knight into marriage is the ultimate sign of authority in a relationship and relates to the Wie of Bath in "The Prologue."
Chaucer is satirical when describing the Wife of Bath in "The Prologue." He begins by saying that "she was somewhat deaf, which was a shame" (9). Chaucer, being a male, most likely disliked the Wife of Bath and her desire to have authority over the men in her life and her being deaf was a relief so that she can not hear and therefore control everything around her. Chaucer is also satiral on page ten when he refers to the wife as having great experience in the romance field. The Wife of Bath is obviously to controling and crass to have any skill when it comes to romance, and shows this by boasting of her "knowledge" and "talents" and through her the tale she tells.
~Sara and Spencer