The Clerk's Tale

Before proving my point, it is necessary to explore the plot of The Clerk’s Tale in order to understand the basis for my argument. This Tale is told by one of Chaucer’s pilgrims, the Clerk. The reader is introduced to the Marquis of a region of Italy, Walter, who is loved by his people. Walter is a bachelor which concerns his people because of his lack of an heir. They go to him and urge him to take a wife in order to ensure that he has an heir in the event of his death. Wanting to please his people and ensure the welfare of his kingdom, Walter decides to ask for the hand of a poor but beautiful common woman named Griselda, a woman beloved by the people. At first their marriage was practically perfect. However, shortly after the birth of their

For this reason, The Wife of Bath’s Tale is often praised; however, there are still glaring problems with this story and its conclusions about women. The main issue with this story is its conclusion where Chaucer uses incongruity to criticise the options society gives women in marriage. The positive and powerful message of a woman’s sovereignty over her life is contrasted and undercut by the old woman who bore the message. The end of the tale, seems to portray a man who has learned his lesson. Rather than making the choice of when his wife would be beautiful, he states, “I put myself in your wise governing;/ Choose yourself . . .” (Chaucer). The use of the word “governing” can be connected to the idea of sovereignty where the woman is the ruler of the relationship. This would suggest that the knight has heeded the woman’s lesson; however, the use of the imperative with the word “Choose” is commanding which suggests the knight still holds the power. The tone the knight uses changes from submissive to demanding within one line. Not only is this positive development of knight learning the value of a woman’s choice undercut by the tone of the knight, but it is also undercut by the ultimate decision of the Old woman. The Old woman decides to transform permanently into a beautiful and young woman. Rather than having to sacrifice anything, the Knight gets everything he wants because his will aligns with his wife’s. The reader can assume that the Knight’s choice would be for the wife to be beautiful always because he is repulsed by her when she is an old woman and he raped a young and beautiful woman, suggesting that that is what he wants and is attracted to in a partner. The knight gets both the honor of having a beautiful wife during the day and the gratification of having an alluring wife at night, all with the