Chaucers the Wife of Bath - Literature review Example

XXXXXXX Number: XXXXXXX XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXX of XXXXXX The Wife of Bath by Geffrey Chaucer Chaucer’s ‘The Wife of Bath’, is an exceptional story which brings out the relationship of men and women and the different role that wives play and aspire in life. The first few verses bring out the experience of the wife and the experiences that she went through in all the past marriages. The verse reads, “That marriage is a misery and a woe; For let me say, if I may make so bold, My lords, since I was but twelve years old, Thanks be to God Eternal evermore, Five husbands have I had the church door” (Chaucer). The story – poem brings out the women’s issues and a very good aspect of this story – poem is how the ladies features have been described and discussed. A very touching phrase in this is where the author describes, “Yes, I’m gap-toothed; it suits me well I feel, It is the print of Venus and seal, So help me God I was a lusty one, Fair, young, and well-to-do, and full of fun!” (Chaucer). Although the poem – story brings out a nature of the character where she is shown to be strong and very open minded. She is shown to be a strong feminist who is focused on achieving equality and her views on various aspects of the Old Testament figures brings out her strong nature (ELF Project). The charater’s strong views are clear in the quote which states: “He knew of them more legends and more lives, Than are of good wives written in the Bible. For trust me well, it is impossible, That any cleric shall speak well of wives,(15), Unless it be of saints and holy lives, But naught for other women will they do. By God, if women had but written stories, As have these clerks within their oratories, They would have written of men more wickedness (20), Than all the race of Adam could redress. Therefore no woman by a clerk is praised. A clerk, when he is old and can naught do Of Venus’ labours worth his worn-out shoe, Then sits he down and writes, in his dotage,(25) That women cannot keep vow of marriage!” (Chaucer). She brings out an excellent point which has been brought out by various fathers of the church regarding the importance of virginity. She explains that even though it is an important aspect of every woman’s life, it is better viewed as being perfect rather than something that can be had by all. She believes that it is best to leave it to people who want to be perfect and for the rest, it is best to use their skills to be able to find the best that they can in life. She describes her skills to be the one gift which is undoubtedly the most evident for her, i.e. her sexual powers. This she explains is the instrument that she uses to control her husbands. She in a number of ways across the poem – story has brought out this nature of feminism however, her intensions are clearly more towards achieving a supremacy for the women rather than equality in terms of social, political and economic factors. This is clear from the quote, “A woman wants the self-same sovereignty, Over her husband as over her lover, And master him; he must not be above her …” (Chaucer). The intention of the character and the focus of her life are clearly being misconstrued to be a ‘whore like behavior’. She focuses on sex to a great extent and the paid a lot of attention to the physical satisfaction for herself and her husband. A line in the poem – story brings out that she would tease her husbands’ sexually and would not give them complete satisfaction until they paid her for the services (ELF Project). Also the use of verbal and sexual power that she portrays brings out the how she wanted to be able to gain total submission from the men in her life. Another major part of the poem – story that brings out that she is a whore is the fact that she describes herself to be sexually voracious however the only reason she does this is for the money. The poem – story brings out a very focused and views of one lady who has used her looks and her ability to sexually attract men with an aim of earning an extra buck and being able to be more dominant in a marriage (ELF Project). The poem – story quotes, “In company well could she laugh and carp. The remedies of love she knew, perchance, For of that art she’d learned the old, old dance” (Chaucer). There is a clear insight into how the main aim of the lady is to be able to dominate her husbands’ and men in general however her actions portray a very wrong impression of being a ‘prostitute’. The intension of the women is clearly portrayed and seen towards the end of the poem – story, which quotes, “He put the bridle reins within my hand, To have the governing of house and land; And of his tongue and of his hand, also;(100) And I made him burn his book, right then, oho! And when I had thus gathered unto me, By mastery all sovereignty, And he had said: ‘My own true wedded wife, Do as you please the term of all your life; (105), Keep your honor, and also my estate’— After that day we never had debate” (Chaucer). This clearly brings out that the only thing that she is looking for from her marriage and from men in general is the ability to take complete control over life. The crux of poem – story is brought out here and her undying need and desire to be able to have more control than the man is only seen here. The rest of the poem – story and the open mindedness and the endless words at the start of the poem make her look as a whore, prostitute who is willing to have sex for the need of money. However it is important to note that she is mainly looking for money from her husbands’ alone and is looking to be able to gain supremacy over men. The lines from the poem – story, “Some said that women all loved best riches, Some said, fair fame, and some said, prettiness; Some, rich array, some said ’twas lust abed(65) And often to be widowed and re-wed. Some said that our poor hearts are aye most eased, When we have been most flattered and thus pleased. And he went near the truth, I will not lie; A man may win us best with flattery;(70) And with attentions and with busyness We’re often limed, the greater and the less” (Chaucer), clearly brings out that the only thing that she is looking for is her supremacy and the simple pleasures of being able to be vowed by men (Chaucer and Hodgson, The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales). She is a simple woman with an undying need and desire to earn as much as she can and to demand supremacy over her men. The actions however show a very wrong intention of being a prostitute who sells herself for money (Chaucer and Hodgson, The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales). Hence it is clear from the above examples clearly bring out how she only attempts to bring out to the men, that she is not merely an object and she is the true love and a wife. The sexual behavior is a way to reach out and make the men listen and to bring out her supremacy. In conclusion, it is clear that the behavior is not as important as what the actual intension is, and this clearly brings out that the lady is more focused on her life and supremacy than men who give a lot of importance to sex (Chaucer). Works Cited Chaucer, Geoffrey and Phyllis Hodgson. The General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. New Jersey: The Athlone Press, 1999. Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales Text. 2010. 21 05 2010 . ELF Project. The Canterbury Tales. 2006. 21 05 2010 . Read More