The Wife of Bath's Tale is considered by some critics to indicate that Chaucer may have been a feminist. Why might they believe this? Do you agree? Remember to cite evidence from the text or some other source.
This is a complex question to answer because of the Narrative structure in which each story is framed. Who do you believe as there are frames within frames and Chaucer the narrator should be kept separate from Chaucer the author.
I don’t believe Chaucer was a feminist however he was sympathetic to the plight of women publishing the “Legend of Good Women” to give a more literary balanced view of women prior to his “The Canterbury Tales.”
He employs a satirical agenda in the hope of reform to challenge the norms of society that men rule the world and women do as they are told. Chaucer questions the church and patriarchy being the natural order of things that has God at the top followed by Men and then Women underneath. The realities that existed in the Middle Ages was that women were the property of men with their role essentially childbearing and rearing while keeping house which meant the cleaning or supervising thereof depending on their station.
The Wife of Bath’s Tale is a romance story told by a woman, unusual at that time. She had five husbands confessing openly and proudly that she used her sexuality and deceit to get her way and manipulate her husband’s obedience. Sovereignty is still the core theme however not of kingship rather the Prologue is a confession, in which The Wife of Bath openly admits and defends her sins to illustrate her tale: The thing women most desire is complete control ("sovereignty") over their husbands.
Critics have portrayed The Wife of Bath as a feminist character. This tag could equally be applied to the ugly old woman in the Wife’s tale when the knight hands over the decision making to her, now his wife, to choose to either remain the same or become young and beautiful. This could be interpreted as female empowerment.
Chaucer was born a commoner however he had influence at the Royal Court and Government. There is no evidence to suggest he championed women’s rights to these influential circles directly.
He is a devout Catholic and it is unthinkable that he would use a sinner such as The Wife of Bath to portray his views on gender roles. I believe he wants the reader to make up their own mind on the order of things and the way women are treated.
The Tale
The Wife's story is set in the time of King Arthur. The story is of a young knight, condemned to death for rape by the King.
Comment: Controversy is immediate when the knight’s unchivalrous behaviour is conduct unbecoming for raping a maiden, a lady of social standing. Knights are supposed to protect the honour of women and treat them with upmost respect.
Queen Guenevere intercedes by saying she has a better idea. His life will be spared if he can find out, within a year, what thing women most desire. The knight agrees.
Comment: The Queen countering the Kings command is highly unlikely but highlights the theme of the wife taking control of the decision making.
The knight has failed to find the answer he seeks, when, on the day he must turn for home, he sees in the forest a group of (24) dancers who are fairies. When he approaches, all of them disappear, leaving an ugly old woman sitting alone. He tells her of his troubles, and she gives him the answer to the queen's question, but, in return he must grant her whatever she asks for, which he promises to do so.
Comment: Fairies are of the pagan belief and the forest is protected by the Goddess Diana, a feminine world, in contrast to the Royal Court which is patriarchal.
On the chosen day, the knight gives his answer before the queen and the ladies of the court: what women most desire is to have control over their husbands. All agree that the knight has answered right and deserves to keep his life, when the old woman reminds the knight of his promise: she now demands that he marry her. He is horrified but agrees.
Comment: Coupling of the loathly lady and the knight creates tension and conflict.
The knight marries the old woman privately but when his wife comes to bed, she rebukes him for his lack of enthusiasm. He replies by condemning her as ugly, old and of low birth. She retorts that she could amend all of these things but first she takes him to task for his attitude.
Comment: Complaints are normally the husband’s domain which highlights again who is in control when she chastice’s him for his unknightly behaviour. The knight must perform his husbandly duties by embracing the hag sexually to bind the marriage. This act breaks the spell and in return the hero is rewarded.
She gives her husband a choice: she can remain old and ugly, but faithful, or she can be young and beautiful, but untrustworthy. The knight allows her to choose. She tells him that, since he has given her the power to decide, she will be both loyal and beautiful after they consummate their marriage. The knight is overjoyed and the couple lives happily ever after.
Comment: This conforms to the Loathly Lady motif and Romance genre by ending the story with a marriage.
References
Mountfort, P. (2020). Literature/Desire. 4-6a.ppt [PowerPoint slide]. ENGL600¬_2020_01 (Literature/Desire(s1,2020). Retrieved from http://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/
Mountfort, P. (2020). Literature/Desire.Critical Reader. ENGL600¬_2020_01 (Literature/Desire(s1,2020). Retrieved from http://blackboard.aut.ac.nz/
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