Social Flaws In The Wife Of Bath

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Flaws in the Marriage not the Wife The world-renowned Canterbury Tales by the great Geoffrey Chaucer aims to magnify the controversial social injustices of gender roles in the medieval time period that consequently flow into today’s current modern society. One of the greatest social standing issues addressed throughout the poem includes the institution of marriage, and the particular viewpoint held by the character named the Wife of Bath. The Wife of Bath is notably shamed by her potential suitors and moralist peers, for her devious actions of taking advantage of her former husbands throughout her lengthy five marriages. However, Chaucer actually invites the audience to give a closer look at the overall flawed instuition of marriage …show more content…

However, Chaucer uses the Wife of Bath to invite us to think about the inequalities shaped in the institution of marriage that produce bad behavior. The Wife of Bath becomes a social advocate for women through her experiences. The Wife of Bath is predominantly known for controversial views and her rebellious actions towards the traditional social expectations of women regarding sex and marriage. Therefore, by Chaucer highlighting the issues of mandatory lifelong celibacy for widows and women only being able to have sex for procreation, he is inviting the audience members to embark on the bigger picture of the unfairness and repression of sexuality for women in marriage. The Wife of Bath discloses that for her first three marriages she sought out older wealthy men for sex and …show more content…

However, a divorced woman is automatically viewed as less desirable for suitors if she chooses to marry again. The unfairness of this advantage in the marriage market is presented throughout the poem. Women are viewed as objects that are meant to only serve their husbands commands. The Wife of Bath takes charge in reverses the stereotypical roles by taking charge in her first two marriages and her overall views on sex. Her carefree attitude strikes down the connation’s that women should only be limited to having sex for procreation and for her own personal pleasure. She explains how God wanted Adam and Eve to multiply and that is only possible by having sex. The Wife of Bath elaborates, “But wel I woot expres, withoute lye, God bad us for to wexe and multiplye: That gentil text can I wel understonde. “ (27-29). She uses the bible as a template to justify her actions of having sex for pleasure and procreation. As the church uses the bible to socially repress women from their sexuality. In addition, the wife of bath describes the difference in viewpoints for husbands and wives on their positions in a marriage. A woman in this time period looks at marriage as a profession where she obliges to her husband’s every command. A man looks at marriage more for pleasure and enjoyment. The wife explains the power

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