wife of Bath

A detailed Summary of wife of Bath

"Experience is not what happens to you , It is what you do with what happens to you "

In "The Wife of Bath prologue" the title character proves that experience , if used with vigor , can lead to one having increased authority . Meaning , that while everyone could tell of note full experiences in their lives , it is how we use them that defines how people perceive us . Somehow , through years of pragmatically going through men like toothpaste , the Wife has figured out a method of using men for what she wants from them and having complete control over them . Her argument that experience is a kind of "auctoritee" is therefore successful , however only to an extent . While she has proven that she can control men both in the bed and in relationships , her lack of morality leaves her with little respect from her fellow pilgrims. Therefore , it will be demonstrated that while the Wife of Bath is quite proficient at reigning authority over men that she gets , her attitude towards men in general make the kind of man that she ultimately wants , unattainable.

Early in the "Wife of Bath's Prologue ", there is a quotation said by the Wife of Bath supporting the idea that she uses her sexual means i

n order to achieve an authoritative end. " In wifhood wol I use myn instrument As freely as my makere hath it sent. If I be dangerous , God yive me sorwe: Myn housbonde shal it han both eve and morwe (155-158) ." This statement means that the wife of bath intends on allowing her husbands to feast on her sexual fluidity . While it seems that this would give the man authority , she swiftly follows up this acclamation by saying , " What that him list come forth and paye his dette. An housbonde wol I have , I wol nat lette, Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thral, and have his tribulacion withal . Upon his flesh whil that I am his wif . I have the power during al my life (158-164) ." Here we learn that the wife simply uses what she knows of men ( them being sex crazed foold) as a way to make them fall to her will. Not only is she guilty of this course of action , she also feels a need to publicize it to the other pilgrims . The plump and lusty women constantly goes into depth about her past with many husbands and many men. She has had five husbands that have fallen into two categories . Her experience ranged from the rich , old , sexual invalids , to those who were less wealthy but that could fulfill her sexually . The former were easier to control while the latter men were more free-spirited . Still , the experienced madame , used other methods ,such as guilt, to keep them at her whim. The wife of bath was an expert at dealing with men , and therefore had a great authority over them .

Nevertheless, even though

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1043
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English