The Equality of Women in Chaucers Wife of Bath

A detailed Summary of The Equality of Women in Chaucers Wife of Bath

The Equality of Women in Chaucer's Wife of Bath

There have been many different interpretations of what Geoffrey Chaucer stood for, but

one of the most argued is that of the equality of women. As seen in several of Chaucer's works,

this is especially exhibited in the Canterbury Tales. Although some scholars debate that he was

only writing down what he saw in his present society, others insist that he was very much an

advocate for the equality of women. With his character the Wife of Bath, Chaucer is able to show

how Renaissance women lived under the submission of men before and during marriage, where

they stood after marriage, and how that they dreamed for the equality of women.

The women that lived during the Renaissance Period were principally submissive under

men. According to Margaret Hallissy, Whatever her estate, woman needs rules. She needs them

because she is fallen, fallen through Eve, whose punishment was to be subordinate to her husband,

as are all her daughters to their husbands in their turn, to the end of time (9).This statement

shows the attitude toward women during the Renaissance time period. Women were to do what

they were told and if they did not then the man could punish them just as G

Hansen, Elaine Tuttle. Chaucer and the Fictions of Gender. Berkeley: University of

that the women feel that they are being raped of their freedom by the submission under men. The

This is how the Wife of Bath claims to control her five husbands, but she does not wholly have

Knight asks the old woman what women most desire and he gives Guinevere his answer, he says,

"We don't love a man who carefully watches where we go; we want to be at large," and "Forbid

Approximate Word count = 1205
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Politics

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