Arredondo 1

Giselle Arredondo

Ms. Figueroa

Senior English 1

14 December 2018

Gender Roles in the Wife of Bath’s Tale

People in the medieval time believed that every women should be oppressed by their husband’s

rules. To begin, Geffrey Chaucer born around 1343 and died 1400. He was the first recognized medieval

time author to write in English about the people for the people. He also was known as “the father of

literature.” The Wife of Bath’s Tale is told to show what women most desire. Throughout her story, the

most important values of leadership and predominance changed. In the story, it is the queen and the ladies

of the court who determine that punishment for the knight. The Wife of Bath explains why woman should

be in control of men in order for both parties to lead happy and fulfilling lives. It describes several of her

marriages and how she gained control in her relationships but lost several of her husbands. Chaucer

describes gender roles as something to be considered good wife, women should need to be humble and

obedient.

The medieval era women should be submissive to their husbands and follow their behavior rules.

A woman’s place was at home cleaning and cooking. Chaucer’s utilize women in the story and their

common activities in society make them original and memorable. His intention was to visualize a strong

women with the value of their own decisions. For instance, when the knight answered in a

comprehensible voice, “The thing that women most desire is to rule their husbands. This is their strongest

wish. I declare it even though you put me to death. I am at your mercy. Do with me as you will.”(Knight

3). This quote is a clear example of the superficial and macho side of men during medieval times, as it

was thought that man was indispensable for women and the center of attention in everything. In this last

example, Chaucer shows gender roles as something that women should accept her fate as being subject to

male authority figure without resistance.

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For instance, after the weeding, the knight was so glum and serious that the bride said, “Is this

the way King Arthur’s knights behave with their brides? I am your love and your wife, and, surely, I have

never done you a wrong. Did I not save your life? Why do you treat me so? If I have done anything

unkind to you, tell me what it is, that I make all the amends in my power.”(Bride 3) This quote shows the

little value that was given to women at that time by the fact of their appearance and social class. Chaucer

defines his tale to communicate his knowledge of women’s oppression, sharing a discussion on women’s

subjugation. The Wife of Bath shows that the man is not always the head of a marriage.

Finally, in the Wife of Bath, Chaucer exemplified his most powerful thinking on women’s

oppression. The Wife of Bath reverses its power structure by taking on the man role, where she is the one

in control and intimidator. Chaucer tried to show everyone a mirror male manipulation and oppression of

the women in the medieval time, explaining a role of power and authority, casually closed to women. In

conclusion, one thing that people can learn from this tale is that gender and poverty has nothing to do and

interior is more than someone’s appearance. Do not judge people by their appearance just like the knight

to her wife.
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Work Cited Page

Alixe Bovey.” Women in medieval society” 30 April 2015

Simon Newman. The Finer Times-Middle-Ages "Women in the Middle Ages"

Stoss, Laura R. "History Studies International Journal of History”. “The Scholarship"

http%3a%2f%2fwww.historystudies.net%2fdergi%2f%2fbirinci-dunya-savasinda-bir-

asayis-sorunu-sebinkarahisar-ermeni-isyani20181092a4a8f.pdf/ October 15, 2018

Lisa M. Bitel and Felice Lifshitz. “Gender and Christianity in Medieval Europe. “New

Perspectives. Corporate Ownership and Control.

http://www.virtusinterpress.org/THE-ROLE-OF-INSTITUTIONS-IN,4609.html- 2018