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tThe Wife of Baths Tale: Summary

Lines 1-25
In King Arthurs time, the land was full of faery (magic). The elf queen often danced with her company on
green meadows. But this was hundreds of years ago: no one can see elves any more. Nowadays there are holy
friars all over the place, blessing everywhere they go, and that is why there are no fairies. Now where an elf
used to walk, there is a friar walking round instead. So it is safe now for women to go up and down: the only
incubus that is likely to molest them is a friar.
26-42
It happens that King Arthur has a vigorous young knight at his court. One day this knight meets a maiden
walking in a cornfield, and despite her screams, he rapes her. Complaints are made to King Arthur; the knight is
tried and condemned to death, as the law requires. However the Queen and other ladies appeal to the king to
show mercy. The King agrees to spare his life, and hands him over to the Queen, to save him or kill him as she
chooses.
43-56
The Queen thanks the King, and picks a suitable time to speak to the knight. She warns him that he is not yet
safe, but says she will spare his life if he can tell her what it is that women most desire. She gives him a year
and a day to come back with the answer, and sends him away, having made him give his word that he will come
back.
57-92
The knight is very sad, but he has no choice, so he sets out, hoping that God will give him the answer in time.
Everywhere he goes he tries to find out what women love most of all, but he can never find two people who
agree on the answer. Some say it is riches, some say honour, some say prettiness, some say fancy clothes, some
say a good time in bed, and being often widowed and married again, and some say it is being flattered. (The
Wife of Bath says that is near the truth, as the best way for men to win women is with flattery and making a fuss
of them). Some say that women like best to be free and do what they want, and for men not to criticize them but
to say they are wise. (The Wife of Bath agrees that women really do not like to be criticized.) Some say they
like to be considered reliable and able to keep a secret.
93-126
(The Wife of Bath says that last idea is rubbish, because women cant keep anything secret. She tells Ovids tale
of King Midas. He had asss ears, which he managed to hide so that only his wife knew about them, and he
begged her not to tell anyone. She kept the secret for a long time, but eventually she couldnt stand the strain
any more and so she told the water.We can read the rest in Ovid.)
127-148
The knight is full of sorrow that he cannot find what he is seeking, but the day comes when her has to turn and
go back. On his way he passes beside a wood, where he sees more than twenty-four ladies dancing. He
approaches them in the hope of learning something, but before he reaches the place, they vanish, and he finds
only an ugly old woman. She stands up and asks him what he is seeking, saying it might be a good idea for him
to tell her, as old people know many things.
149-166
He explains that he is as good as dead unless he can say what it is that women most desire. She says she will tell
him before the night, on condition that he promises to do whatever she asks. He promises. She assures him he is
now safe, because the Queen is sure to say the same thing as her and no woman is likely to disagree. Then she
whispers something in his ear.
167-189
They arrive at court, and he announces that he has kept his promise to return and has an answer. All the women
gather to hear what he has to say, with the Queen presiding as judge. Silence is called for so that the knight can
give his answer, which he does with a manly voice: what women most desire is to have sovereignty and mastery
over their husbands and their lovers. No woman in the whole court disagrees, and they all say his life should be
spared.

190-216
The old woman then announces that she told the knight the answer and that he promised to do the first thing
that she asks. In front of the whole court she asks him to take her as his wife. The knight admits that he
promised, but begs her to ask for something elseto take all his wealth, but let his body go. She says that even
though she is ugly, old and poor, she refuses to accept anything, except to be his wife and his true love. He
laments that he has to suffer such a dishonour, but he has no choice.
217-241
The Wife of Bath apologizes for not telling us about the great joy and feasting at their weddingbecause there
wasnt any. They were married in a private ceremony, and the knight hid for the rest of the day, because he was
so sad at having such an ugly wife. When it is time to go to bed together, he rolls around in his distress. She
teases him, asking if all King Arthurs knights are so hard to please, and complains that he is not treating her
fairly, as she has saved his life and done him no wrong. She asks him to say what she has done wrong, and says
she will put it right if she can.
242-268
The knight replies that it cannot be put right. She is ugly, and old, and of low birth, and he is so unhappy he
wishes his heart would burst. She says that she can put all this right within three days, if he will behave well
towards her. She then tells him that to value the sort of gentility that depends on coming from an old, rich
family is just worthless arrogance. The true gentleman is the person who always tries to act virtuously, alone or
in public. Christ teaches that this is the true model of gentility, a sort of gentility that cannot be inherited from
ancestors.
269-314
Similarly, Dante writes that true gentility comes from God; only material goods can be inherited from our
ancestors. And in fact everyone can see that true gentility is not connected to wealth. The son of a family of
high status can behave in a low wayas a villain or churl rather than a gentleman. True gentility comes from
God by grace, and is not inherited with together with social status. Other authorities confirm that gentility is a
matter of behaviour, not of birth.
315-362
The old woman says she may come of rude ancestors, but she can be gentle by living virtuously. As for her
poverty, Jesus, who was God, chose to live in poverty, so it cannot be bad to be poor. Ancient Roman writers
also praise contented poverty. It teaches wisdom, and shows who ones true friends are. It is certainly not
something she should be reproached for. And as for her age, even without looking for written authorities, it is
clear that honourable gentlemen say that we should respect elderly people. In addition, the fact that she is old
and ugly means that he doesnt need to fear that she will be unfaithful. However, since she knows what he really
wants, she will satisfy his worldly appetite.
363-393
She gives him a choice: to have her old and ugly, but a true and humble wife, or to have her young and
beautiful, and take the risk that other men will be flocking around her. He has to choose. The knight considers
the problem and sighs. In the end he says he will submit to her wisdom, and says he will be content with
whichever she prefers. She asks if that means that she has mastery over him. He says it does. She invites him to
kiss her and says they should no longer be angry, because she will be both. She promises that she will be both as
good and true to him as any wife ever was, and as beautiful as any lady in the world. She invites him to open
the curtain and see.
394-408
The knight sees that now she is young and beautiful. He takes her in his arms, with great joy in his heart. He
kisses her a thousand times, and she obeys all his desires. And so they live happily until the end of their lives.
(The Wife of Bath wishes that Jesus may send women husbands who are meek, young and fresh in bedand let
the women outlive their husbands. May He shorten the lives of husbands that will not be governed by their
wives, and as for those who are old and mean with their money, may God sent a plague on them.)

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