Geoffrey Chaucer wrote the Canterbury Tales in the late 1400s. He came up with the idea of a pilgrimage to Canterbury in which each character attempts to tell the best story. In that setting Chaucer cleverly reveals a particular social condition of England during the time. In this period, the status, role, and attitudes towards women were clearly different from that of today.

Two tales in Chaucer's collection specifically address this subject: the Miller's Tale and the Reeve's Tale. The interplay between the tales and characters further enhances the similar viewpoints these stories have towards women. In the Middle Ages, most women married and began raising children soon after reaching puberty. They remained largely indoors, having no true chance to receive a formal education or to gain any social or economic power. Husbands commonly had full control of their wives, often limiting their public lives solely to the family.

" A wife . . . must please her husband and be totally obedient to him, even when he is unjust and violent." (Blewitt, 662)

In both the Miller's and the Reeve's tales Chaucer presents the women of the household indoors in

"By Holy God I'll have you tripes for daring to dishonor my daughter . . ." Simon exclaims. (Chaucer, 118) Full of rage, he attacks Alan as to sustain his protection for his women. Immortality is discussed in the Miller and Reeve's tales in the sense that the women of both tales have no true sense of integrity. Both John and Simon show some level of restraint over Alison, Molly, and the miller's wife, for "Restraint is recommended (for women) in regard to sexual behavior." (Blewitt, 662)

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1093
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)