Free Essays on Wife Of Bath

Wife of Bath as a Feminist Hero Throughout the history of the world women have been portrayed as being a sort of ally with the devil. Women then and now may look upon most of these â€Å"devilish† characteristics as desirable, strong-willed and feministic. Chaucer appears to support women and specifically these feminists by creating two very strong-willed and successful women in the Wife of Bath and the old hag in the Wife’s tale. However, through all of the tough outer attributes, on the inside are the same classic and traditional damsels in distress that require a man just like the women of that time always had. Through the original strong qualities of the two women, Chaucer provides a hopeful example and model for women of now and then. Furthermore, by giving these women some stronger, domineering and â€Å"masculine† features Chaucer is terrifically satirizing the gender roles and stereotypes of the time. Along with all of these strong feminist messages also come out anti-feminism idea ls about keeping women in a certain role, causing a lengthy and intelligent debate upon what Chaucer really meant. All of these reasons are why it is important to discuss and understand The Wife of Bath’s relation and influence on contemporary women. Chaucer’s main target of his satire and criticism throughout his Canterbury Tales is the Anglo-Saxon church. Even though in this tale he focuses more on the gender debate, his contempt of the corrupt church and its disciples is embodied in the Wife’s prologue. In the first three lines he says: â€Å"Experience, though no authority, Were in this world, were good enough for me, To speak of woe that is in all marriage.† Here Chaucer, through the eyes of a women, points out that there is far too much reliance on authority, meaning the opinions of older and perhaps ancient writers. This sort of authority was responsible for the horrible distortion of woman’s character and place in society... Free Essays on Wife Of Bath Free Essays on Wife Of Bath Wife of Bath as a Feminist Hero Throughout the history of the world women have been portrayed as being a sort of ally with the devil. Women then and now may look upon most of these â€Å"devilish† characteristics as desirable, strong-willed and feministic. Chaucer appears to support women and specifically these feminists by creating two very strong-willed and successful women in the Wife of Bath and the old hag in the Wife’s tale. However, through all of the tough outer attributes, on the inside are the same classic and traditional damsels in distress that require a man just like the women of that time always had. Through the original strong qualities of the two women, Chaucer provides a hopeful example and model for women of now and then. Furthermore, by giving these women some stronger, domineering and â€Å"masculine† features Chaucer is terrifically satirizing the gender roles and stereotypes of the time. Along with all of these strong feminist messages also come out anti-feminism idea ls about keeping women in a certain role, causing a lengthy and intelligent debate upon what Chaucer really meant. All of these reasons are why it is important to discuss and understand The Wife of Bath’s relation and influence on contemporary women. Chaucer’s main target of his satire and criticism throughout his Canterbury Tales is the Anglo-Saxon church. Even though in this tale he focuses more on the gender debate, his contempt of the corrupt church and its disciples is embodied in the Wife’s prologue. In the first three lines he says: â€Å"Experience, though no authority, Were in this world, were good enough for me, To speak of woe that is in all marriage.† Here Chaucer, through the eyes of a women, points out that there is far too much reliance on authority, meaning the opinions of older and perhaps ancient writers. This sort of authority was responsible for the horrible distortion of woman’s character and place in society... Free Essays on Wife Of Bath During the Wife of Bath’s prologue she is described rather quickly as a little deaf, quite a traveler (she has been on many pilgrimages to exotic places) and that she has had many husbands. The narrator also describes the wife as very outspoken. I am not sure if he does this in an admiring sort of way or if he is actually making fun of her or pointing out traits that he doesn’t actually like. Although in some ways I feel that he is just stating the facts. The lines that make me feel this way are the ones that describe her facial features, such as the gaps between her teeth. He does not say whether or not he admires or hates her features just that they are there. An important view that the wife holds is that religion itself is anti-feminist. She goes on by saying that the bible is written by men and because of this holds a male point of view. Many people think that the wife of bath could be the first feminist character written. However, the ideas she holds regarding controlling men with sex and jealousy don’t seem to go along with an idea that is â€Å"feminist†. This can be attributed to the fact that she pretends to be well learned when in fact she quotes readings that have nothing to do with what she is saying. This may prove that she is not as well educated as she wishes everyone to believe she is. One thing I found interesting though is something I read by a critic of Chaucer. When the wife quotes from Ovid’s story, she tells the reader to read the story to figure out the ending. Originally she explains that women are not able to keep secrets when in fact she may be luring the reader into reading the story a nd making her point that men are unable to keep secrets as well (because the barber, not the wife was in fact the keeper of the secret in this story). While she seems to be against religion, she also uses it to her advantage. She twists the words and their meanings and uses them to defend her actions....