The Marital Obligation in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer

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In The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, Chaucer’s real opinions about marriage and relationships between men and women are shown. Marriage is an institution viewed upon in many different ways. Some believe it is a consecrated union of two people in order to procreate. On the other hand, there are those who look at it as a social contract which often binds two people that are not necessarily right for each other. Chaucer combines these two beliefs into one major belief. Chaucer seems to look at marriage as an obligation that is constantly dominated by one of its two members, this view being shown in the prologues and tales of the Clerk, the Wife of Bath, and the Miller. In the Clerk’s Tale, the Marquis, Walter, places his newly wed wife, Griselde, through a series of tests to prove that she truly loved him and that he had control over her. He subjects her through cruel trials such as “killing” her two children so that he can prove he has control over her. He even lets Griselde know that he will have dominion over here if they are to be married: “I warn you to be ready to obey my lightest whim and pleasure; you must show a willing heart, ungrudging night or day whether I please to offer joy or woe. When I say ‘Yes’ you never shall say ‘No’ either by word or frowning in defiance. Swear this and I will swear to our alliance.”(330) Chaucer is showing that one must have dominion in order to have a marriage and the significant other must realize this as well. The Marquis tests her vow multiple times to see if she truly wants to be in alliance with him. She does and eventually they have a happy marriage because of the dominion of Walter. He was able to exert control to see if this was a true marriage or not. Chaucer's view on marria... ... middle of paper ... ...He longs to always have her. Chaucer’s view on marriage as shown in the Miller’s Tale is that both sides can’t have power or the marriage is unequal. One will fall if there is not one major person with the significant power in the relationship. Chaucer exhibits many views through the selection of tales. However, dominance by the husband or wife is a very prominent theme throughout the tales. Either the husband has the overruling power over the wife or the wife’s power supersedes the husband’s power. Both can’t try to exert power on the other or the marriage will only be led to its downfall. Dominance can sometimes be too much as shown with the Clerk’s tale. The dominance has to be there just enough for the significant other to realize. Marriage can be interpreted in many ways, but it seems like Chaucer was one for either dominance in marriage or no marriage at all.

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