The Wife of Bath’s Tale The Cure to all Love’s Ills

Quick Discussion Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: a promise should never be broken? Explain. Do you agree or disagree with the following statement: a promise should never be broken? Explain. What is more important: faithfulness or beauty? You have to pick one, explain your choice. What is more important: faithfulness or beauty? You have to pick one, explain your choice. How far would you go to save your life? How far would you go to save your life? Do the wealthy live above the law? Explain. Do the wealthy live above the law? Explain. Does the class a person comes from make a difference in their character? Explain. Does the class a person comes from make a difference in their character? Explain. What is the most important factor in a happy marriage? What is the most important factor in a happy marriage?

What do women want… most? What do women wantWhat do women want… most? Write the best response from the responses you got from those you surveyed, as you tell us the answer to such an age old question….

How does answering this question help us understand human nature? Write your answer on your paper, but leave space to revisit it later!

Frame Narrative/ Envelope structure The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer: 29 tale-telling pilgrims on their way to St. Thomas a Becket’s shrine: The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer: 29 tale-telling pilgrims on their way to St. Thomas a Becket’s shrine: Each Tale occurs within The Canterbury Tales Each Tale occurs within The Canterbury Tales “The Pardoner’s Tale” “The Pardoner’s Tale” Tale within (3 rioters) Tale within (3 rioters) “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” Tale within (the Knight’s Tale within (the Knight’scrime/punishment)

Setting Thomas Becket Murdered: 1170 Time and Place of the Story The Canterbury Tales Time and Place of the Story The Canterbury Tales Spring time; Sometime after the Murder—some say as early as between ; some say much later 1381 Spring time; Sometime after the Murder—some say as early as between ; some say much later 1381 Time and Place of the Tale “The Wife of Bath” During the reign of legend King Arthur Long before 1170

Wife of Bath An early Feminist An early Feminist Church’s anti-feminine tendencies Church’s anti-feminine tendencies Conflict between bookish male “authority” and female “experience” Conflict between bookish male “authority” and female “experience” Knowledge of books Knowledge of booksvs. Knowledge of the world Knowledge of the world

“Expert Wife” She’s been married 5 times, each time for different reasons She’s been married 5 times, each time for different reasons Final husband, Johnny, finally learned what women want most Final husband, Johnny, finally learned what women want most Knight demonstrates this idea Knight demonstrates this idea

Overview In the Prologue of her tale, the Wife tells us a little about her marriages and her views on marriage vs. virginity In the Prologue of her tale, the Wife tells us a little about her marriages and her views on marriage vs. virginity In the Tale itself, the Wife tells us of a rapist knight who must answer a riddle to save his life: What is it that women most desire? In the Tale itself, the Wife tells us of a rapist knight who must answer a riddle to save his life: What is it that women most desire?

The Church’s Hierarchy Virgins Virgins Widows who don’t remarry Widows who don’t remarry Married women Married women “It was felt that God must love virgins most and that married people came a very poor third in his affections.” GodMenWomenAnimals

There were many books written on the advantages to not marrying: There were many books written on the advantages to not marrying: 1. Wives would talk your ear off, preventing you from getting any work done. 1. Wives would talk your ear off, preventing you from getting any work done. 2. Wives would demand that you make lots of money to pay for their extravagant lifestyle. 2. Wives would demand that you make lots of money to pay for their extravagant lifestyle. 3. They would spill your 3. They would spill your secrets to anyone who happened to walk by.

What Men Say About Women (as per learned men throughout the ages) Nature has given women so much power that the law cannot afford to give her more. – Samuel Johnson Nature has given women so much power that the law cannot afford to give her more. – Samuel Johnson No trust is to be placed in women. – Homer No trust is to be placed in women. – Homer A woman, a spaniel, and a walnut tree, The more they’re beaten, the better they be. - Thomas Fuller A woman, a spaniel, and a walnut tree, The more they’re beaten, the better they be. - Thomas Fuller Can you recall a women who ever showed you with pride her library? – Benjamin Decasseres Can you recall a women who ever showed you with pride her library? – Benjamin Decasseres

Some more intelligent wisdom on ladies… Girls began to talk and to stand on their feet sooner than boys because weeds always grow up more quickly than crops. – Martin Luther Girls began to talk and to stand on their feet sooner than boys because weeds always grow up more quickly than crops. – Martin Luther A very little wit is valued in a woman, as we are pleased with few words spoken plain by a parrot. – Jonathan Swift A very little wit is valued in a woman, as we are pleased with few words spoken plain by a parrot. – Jonathan Swift

So…what do women want most? Answer this question again, now being knowledgeable about the view/role of women. Answer this question again, now being knowledgeable about the view/role of women. Reflect: Why might men have viewed women as they did? Do we still see this today? Reflect: Why might men have viewed women as they did? Do we still see this today?

How does the Knight learn this lesson? Lets the old woman choose what form to take Lets the old woman choose what form to take The old woman tells him, if she was beautiful, then he would have to worry about her faithful to him— however, being old and haggard, she will be loyal and true. Which would he rather? The old woman tells him, if she was beautiful, then he would have to worry about her faithful to him— however, being old and haggard, she will be loyal and true. Which would he rather?

Reflect 1 How does this tale reflect what we know of the wife of bath? How does this tale reflect what we know of the wife of bath?

Reflection 2 Through the telling of this tale, what can we suppose the Wife of Bath feels women want most? Through the telling of this tale, what can we suppose the Wife of Bath feels women want most? Insert clip here from bookmarks Insert clip here from bookmarks

Wife of Bath Reflection Question In today’s society, where might you find individuals who would agree with the Wife and the philosophy she illustrates with her story? Who might argue against such opinions? Answer this reflection in a 5-7 sentence paragraph.