The representation of women in “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue,” “The Miller’s Tale,” and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, shows cultural anxieties, women’s sexuality, and inferior place in society. Each of these women defies society’s expectations of them. They all have sexual desires and have no shame in expressing that, whether it is with their husband or another man. The Wife of Bath is perhaps the most rebellious female character of the three.
Medieval society was very different compared to today. Society’s structure relied heavily on religious doctrine that determined gender roles. According to the Bible, the female body was created from a man’s body. Thus, this was interpreted as women being inferior to men because they were created second and from man. Moreover, a woman is also responsible for the first sin in the world; Eve offered the forbidden fruit to Adam in the Bible. Women were supposed to be silent, obedient and submissive.
“The Wife of Bath,” from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, defies the medieval role of a woman. She is not anything that the Medieval Church defines as an obedient, good woman. In fact, she is considered a wicked woman in the eyes of the church. Her actions and opinions would be that of a modern-day feminist. While women were supposed to be submissive to men, she forced her five husbands into being submissive to her. Moreover, the fact that she was married more than once, much less five times, would have been frowned upon in that time period. However, her views of religion and marriage are her own and not what the church teaches. The wife illustrates this when she refers to John 4:17, which says, “Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 1The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” She said this verse could be interpreted differently, which does not give a concrete answer to how many times a woman is acceptably allowed to be married. Although she disagrees with how many times women should be married, the Wife of Bath agrees with scripture that instructs humans to be fruitful. She uses this to justify her multiple marriages and sexuality. During Medieval times, women’s purpose was to reproduce. If a woman had pre-martial sex, this resulted in her loss of honor and place in society. A woman’s dowry made her more desirable to wealthy, eligible husbands. Families strived to marry daughters to a wealthy husband. If a woman was not a virgin, this was not always possible. The wife challenges the idea of marriage and being chaste when she says, “For hadde God commanded maidenhead, Thanne hadde he dampned wedding with the deed; And certes, if there were no seed ysowe, Virginitee, thane wherof sholde it grow?” (75-78). If women are supposed to be chaste, then the Wife of Bath said there would be no reproduction. Therefore, she thinks there is no shame in her having had five husbands. The wife finds humor in virginity and blatantly says it is not for her when she says, “Welcome the sixth whenever come he shall. Forsooth, I’ll not keep chaste for good and all…The dart is set up for virginity; catch it who can; who runs best …show more content…
Like “The Miller’s Tale,” she represents an unfaithful wife. Although she is not successful the first time, she continues to return. She requests a love token and gives Gawain her girdle because it is “magical.” The host’s wife represents a biblical reference of a temptress. When Gawain first arrives, he is in a serious mood, which quickly changes with his first sighting of the host’s wife. “Most winsome in ways of all women alive, She seemed to Sir Gawain, excelling Guinevere. To squire that splendid dame, he strode through the chance” (944-46). This is an underlying warning that although women are tempting and beautiful, that beauty is deceptive; women can lead to death. Moreover, this has a religious context to the temptress. It was Eve who offered Adam the forbidden fruit. Therefore, it is Eve that is responsible for sin, which translate into women being perceived as “evil” during the medieval
Medieval society was very different compared to today. Society’s structure relied heavily on religious doctrine that determined gender roles. According to the Bible, the female body was created from a man’s body. Thus, this was interpreted as women being inferior to men because they were created second and from man. Moreover, a woman is also responsible for the first sin in the world; Eve offered the forbidden fruit to Adam in the Bible. Women were supposed to be silent, obedient and submissive.
“The Wife of Bath,” from Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, defies the medieval role of a woman. She is not anything that the Medieval Church defines as an obedient, good woman. In fact, she is considered a wicked woman in the eyes of the church. Her actions and opinions would be that of a modern-day feminist. While women were supposed to be submissive to men, she forced her five husbands into being submissive to her. Moreover, the fact that she was married more than once, much less five times, would have been frowned upon in that time period. However, her views of religion and marriage are her own and not what the church teaches. The wife illustrates this when she refers to John 4:17, which says, “Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. 1The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.” She said this verse could be interpreted differently, which does not give a concrete answer to how many times a woman is acceptably allowed to be married. Although she disagrees with how many times women should be married, the Wife of Bath agrees with scripture that instructs humans to be fruitful. She uses this to justify her multiple marriages and sexuality. During Medieval times, women’s purpose was to reproduce. If a woman had pre-martial sex, this resulted in her loss of honor and place in society. A woman’s dowry made her more desirable to wealthy, eligible husbands. Families strived to marry daughters to a wealthy husband. If a woman was not a virgin, this was not always possible. The wife challenges the idea of marriage and being chaste when she says, “For hadde God commanded maidenhead, Thanne hadde he dampned wedding with the deed; And certes, if there were no seed ysowe, Virginitee, thane wherof sholde it grow?” (75-78). If women are supposed to be chaste, then the Wife of Bath said there would be no reproduction. Therefore, she thinks there is no shame in her having had five husbands. The wife finds humor in virginity and blatantly says it is not for her when she says, “Welcome the sixth whenever come he shall. Forsooth, I’ll not keep chaste for good and all…The dart is set up for virginity; catch it who can; who runs best …show more content…
Like “The Miller’s Tale,” she represents an unfaithful wife. Although she is not successful the first time, she continues to return. She requests a love token and gives Gawain her girdle because it is “magical.” The host’s wife represents a biblical reference of a temptress. When Gawain first arrives, he is in a serious mood, which quickly changes with his first sighting of the host’s wife. “Most winsome in ways of all women alive, She seemed to Sir Gawain, excelling Guinevere. To squire that splendid dame, he strode through the chance” (944-46). This is an underlying warning that although women are tempting and beautiful, that beauty is deceptive; women can lead to death. Moreover, this has a religious context to the temptress. It was Eve who offered Adam the forbidden fruit. Therefore, it is Eve that is responsible for sin, which translate into women being perceived as “evil” during the medieval