Stereotypes In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

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The Canterbury Tales is a collection that withstands the test of time. Written in the fourteenth century, Chaucer skillfully illuminates different ranks and correlating stereotypes that existed throughout society through a storytelling competition. The competition, consisting of a prologue and tale from each character on their pilgrimage to Canterbury, offers life messages from different societal perspectives. Although the tales are memorable for many reasons—including their absurdity, nobleness, wisdom, and crudeness—one tale (and character) in particular stands out from the rest: The Wife of Bath. The Wife of Bath and her prologue and tale depict what were seen as radical and provocative ideas, the main belief being that women should have …show more content…

A knight is facing his death sentence by the Queen for raping a woman. The Queen allows the knight to search for a year and a day to figure out what women want most in the world; if he cannot find the correct answer, he will be decapitated. The knight goes on his quest for the answer, and receives different solutions from each character he meets. Some say women want money, others say love, some say sex, the list goes on. The knight is about to give up when he sees women dancing in the forest—once he approaches, the fairy-like women disappear and he is left with an old lady. The old lady promises that she has the answer that will spare his life, but in return the knight must promise to do something for her. The knight accepts and they ride to the court together to face the Queen. The knight proclaims to the Queen that women want to be in control of their husbands; the answer is accepted, and by keeping his word, the knight is forced to marry the old woman. The knight is distraught about the situation, causing the old woman to offer him the choice of her identity. The knight can choose to have her be young, beautiful, and unfaithful, or old, ugly, and faithful. The knight is so flustered that he allows his wife to choose her identity for herself; because he let the old woman decide, she chooses to become young, beautiful, and

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