In what ways and with what effects does Chaucer present ‘maistrie’ in relationships between men and women in “The Franklin’s Prologue and Tale?”
In “The Franklin’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer, he employs the idea of gender norms to present a maistrie where the Arveragus is dominate over Dorigen in their relationship. Chaucer entails this dominance over Dorigen when Arvegaus is described that “he wrought for his lady before she was won.” The fact that Chaucer describes Dorigen as being “won over” by Arvegaus denotes the dominance he has over her. Dorigen is being won over as if she is an object or more specifically a trophy that can be owned. This is done to showcase Dorigen fulfilling the common role of the wife who listens to everything that …show more content…
One state of her despair includes her questioning God and asking, “Of such a perfectly wise and stable God, why have you created this unreasonable work?” Obviously questioning God leads the readers to believe that Dorigen has lost faith in God because she believes a perfect God would not create such evil. Questioning God is a tad bit extreme over some black rocks, but not to be outdone, her lack of faith emphasizes the effect these rocks had on her that would only serve to denote their dominance over her life. Alongside with this, Dorigen claims that these rocks pose “no benefit to man, nor bird, nor beast.” The basic idea that these rocks serve no purpose other than to kill “hundred thousand[s]” of men is a very black and white claim, which goes to show, the pure obsession that she has with these rocks. She is so blind from the truth because of her husband’s absence that she lacks the ability to see a greater purpose to these rocks. She does not even begin to believe that these rocks may have done something good, like stop raiders from destroying the village. All of this considered, it truly shows her mind and senses being dominated by these
In “The Franklin’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer, he employs the idea of gender norms to present a maistrie where the Arveragus is dominate over Dorigen in their relationship. Chaucer entails this dominance over Dorigen when Arvegaus is described that “he wrought for his lady before she was won.” The fact that Chaucer describes Dorigen as being “won over” by Arvegaus denotes the dominance he has over her. Dorigen is being won over as if she is an object or more specifically a trophy that can be owned. This is done to showcase Dorigen fulfilling the common role of the wife who listens to everything that …show more content…
One state of her despair includes her questioning God and asking, “Of such a perfectly wise and stable God, why have you created this unreasonable work?” Obviously questioning God leads the readers to believe that Dorigen has lost faith in God because she believes a perfect God would not create such evil. Questioning God is a tad bit extreme over some black rocks, but not to be outdone, her lack of faith emphasizes the effect these rocks had on her that would only serve to denote their dominance over her life. Alongside with this, Dorigen claims that these rocks pose “no benefit to man, nor bird, nor beast.” The basic idea that these rocks serve no purpose other than to kill “hundred thousand[s]” of men is a very black and white claim, which goes to show, the pure obsession that she has with these rocks. She is so blind from the truth because of her husband’s absence that she lacks the ability to see a greater purpose to these rocks. She does not even begin to believe that these rocks may have done something good, like stop raiders from destroying the village. All of this considered, it truly shows her mind and senses being dominated by these