Analysis of The Wife of Bath

I knew I would be fascinated with the wife of bath before I even read the reading. I am very interested in how men depict female characters in their work and the way Chaucer characterizes the wife of bath is strange for a man of his time. She is sexually independent and finds confidence in her sexual power over men. I feel like this would be very threatening to most men of the time. She disputes the men's interpretation of the bible and the belief that women should remain "virgins" by stating that some old testament figures had many wives. I wonder if her feelings on sexual power and control are based on the experience of being married at 12 (when she married her first husband). Her first husband was probably far older than she was and her father most likely forced her into the union. Perhaps her views on sexual power in her adulthood are a result of the trauma she experienced as a child. Did Chaucer actually think about women that much?

While Chaucer gives her the depth and humanity of having opinions that differ from the men’s and her own sexual freedom he also demonizes her for it. She is characterized as an abusive wife who manipulates her husbands into giving her money by holding out on them sexually. In this time period I doubt that women were allowed to have much of their own money so I personally see her as intelligent for doing this. She is written as manipulative and cunning. This is a view of women many men adopt when they are threatened by them. When women are not submissive they are portrayed as “cruel manipulators of men”.

The Wife of Bath seems to be a foil to the Prioress who is characterized as compassionate and dainty.I am interested in how these characters will interact and develop as the story continues. My general thoughts on the Canterbury Tales thus far are: I’m really bad at reading middle english. I hope this gets easier as the readings continue, but I have found I am very reliant on the translations. Does anyone have any tips they could comment? How are you all enjoying the reading so far? Do you have a favorite character yet? Mine is definitely the Wife of Bath. I did not think I would see such a sexually powerful women character! I remember when we read Canterbury Tales in highschool we skipped the part that described her (I went to a very small catholic high school and any mention of virginity not being necessary was not allowed, even in english class.)