Essay on Women in Chaucers Canterbury Tales - 915 Words

The only two women most significant and described in great detail in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer who provide the greatest insight into contemporary medieval society are the Wife of Bath and the Prioress. These two women appear similar in the General Prologue of the poem but, as we see through their tales, they are quite unique women and most importantly very different from one another. By examining both the Wife of Bath and the Prioresss tales, we are able to see the stark contrast between their social standards and behavior. However, in spite of the fact that these two ladies belong to two different social spheres, they surprisingly share some common characteristics. The initial similarity between these two women lies in†¦show more content†¦This means, of course, that she has been five times widowed (no divorce for women in 14th century England). This is rather surprising, but seems less so when in her prologue we learn that three of the husbands were old men. Her habit of going on pilgrimages suggests a devout woman, but her real reasons for such travel are a love of adventure, and the social opportunities these trips bring. As in the present case, most pilgrims are men and the few other women present are nuns. One of them might be the next husband for whom she is looking out. The Wife of Bath is most creatively portrayed and certainly most controversial. Alison, as she is called, is a very outspoken woman with beliefs contrary to those of her time, when a woman had little say. In her prologue, the Wife of Bath offends those who look down on her because of her beliefs, and uses various biblical and religious references to support her o pinions on chastity, sex, and marriage. The Wife of Bath, Dame Alice is quite a spiteful woman even though she desires only a few simple things in life: power and control. Through her prologue and tale, she makes mirror images of herself , which reflects the person who she really is. Chaucer describes a nun Prioress called as Madame Eglantine. She had her nose well-shaped, her eyes bright as glass, her mouth very small and soft and read, an indeed she had a fineShow MoreRelatedWomen In Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales1288 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Geoffrey Chaucer’s â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† is a collection of stories written between 1387 and 1400 about a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England) and on their way, they tell stories to each other about their lives and experiences. The stories constitute a critique of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church, while women seem to be presented in a different way than they are in other contemporary works. The aim of this essay is to presentRead More Passive Women in Chaucers Canterbury Tales? Essay1466 Words   |  6 PagesPassive Women in Chaucers Canterbury Tales? 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