The Wife of Bath's Tale Prologue:
The story begins with the Wife talking about her marriages with five different husbands. She felt that a woman should have control, although many people criticized her marriages. In religion, Abraham enjoyed multiple wives and so did Jacob and Soloman. So the Wife of Bath asked, "why can't she have multiple husbands?" As the Wife begins her tale, the Pardoner stops her and asks her questions about his marriage and his newly wed wife's control. The Wife continues, she claims that three of her husbands were "good" and the two were "bad". The three were wealthy so she married them. The fourth husband was very unfortunate. He had a mistress, the Wife of Bath married him while he was still young. She tried to make him jealous, but he suddenly passed away. Her fifth husband was different because she fell him love for him and not his wealth. He was twenty and she was forty, but she could not resist him. She lied to him and got him to marry her, but unlike her other submissive husbands, he was abusive and hit her at times. He once hit her so bad she when deaf in one ear, but the Wife of Bath fought back. As they call truce, the story about her husbands ends.
The Wife of Bath's Tale:
The tale begins when a knight commits a sin by raping a woman (incubus). The king and queen believe he should be given a death sentence. On the day of his death sentence, the queen offers the knight to redeem himself. Within a year and a day the knight had to answer the queen's question which was, "what do women desire the most?" The knight sighed, he begins his journey, he asked several women, they all said, money, wealth, status, and beauty. The knight did not believe that was the answer to the queen's question so he moved along. As he was about to give up, he meets an old lady. The old lady offered him a trade off, if he followed through with what she wanted, then she will give him the answer. They agree and go back to the kingdom. The queen asks, "what do women desire the most?" The old lady answers, "women desire authority over their husband and loved ones. The queen accepted the answer. Right then, the old lady says she wants the knight to marry her. He was in shock and disgust, but since she saved his life, he agreed. The get married, but the knight lays in bed upset by the fact he is married to an old, wrinkly, and ugly lady. The lady asks him if he would rather want an ugly lady who is faithful or a beautiful lady who is unfaithful. The knight is puzzled and asked for her judgement. The old lady was given the most desired from her husband, which was the authority to choose her judgment, so she became beautiful and they lived happily ever after.
Characterization:
1. The knight's action of raping a women shows indirect characterization because of his choice and action to do it. This shows that the knight was disrespectful and unworthy of a gentleman. " By force deprived her of her maidenhead."
2. The knight regrets his actions because he feels that he is only given a year to live due to his action. He becomes depressed and upset by the fact he had to leave and find an answer to the queen's question. "This knight with sorrow sighed, was full of woe."
3. The knight was not the brightest knight. He saw illusions and was confused for most part of his journey. "The dancers disappeared, he knew not where."
4. The knight has a childish point of view, he is very dependent on others when he is in trouble. "Dear mother," said the knight, "it is for sure that I am dead if I cannot secure.." this quote shows that the knight is weak which is ironic because he is supposed to be a savior and strong for his kingdom.
5. Ultimately, the knight was caring and thankful for everything his wife gave him, but his confusion and almost stupidity gave him what he wanted the most in the world, which was a beautiful wife. When he gave his wife what she wanted, he was given a happy ending. " a thousand kisses he began to kiss, and she obeyed in each and every way"
Chaucer's purpose:
Chaucer's purpose in telling the Wife of Bath was her status and authority she had over men. "and God be blest that I have married five, of which I have picked out the very best." In the old English times, wives were often given no authority or right. The difference was that in the Canterbury Tales, the Wife of Bath were able to marry five different husbands because they satisfied her need which was money and other things. Also, Chaucer made the characters seems like they were unrealistic and ironic. In the prologue, the irony of the Wife of Bath was she was abused by her fifth husband. She felt that she had all the power in the world to take control over their marriage, but once she actually fell in love, she was beaten and abused. "and with his fist he hit me in the head, and I lay on the floor the as if dead." The irony in the tale was the knight, he was shameful and not courageous which was the opposite of what a knight is supposed to be like. In the Canterbury Tale prologue, Chaucer explains that the knights were always trying to win the lady's heart and a kind gentleman, but the knight was completely different. " Dear mother, " said the knight. I do believe Chaucer was trying to put some satire in the tales. The characters (Wife of Bath and the knight) show a flaw which makes the story more comical and unrealistic.
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