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Marriage In The Canterbury Tales

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According to the American Psychological Association, roughly 50% of first marriages end in divorce. Writers have long debated the secret to a successful marriage, and Geoffrey Chaucer is no different. Chaucer uses marriages in The Canterbury Tales as a way to demonstrate how a successful marriage must have equal sovereignty.
Through the Wife of Bath’s tale, Chaucer establishes that a marriage with a woman in complete control will fail. In her prologue, the Wife of Bath tries to show the other pilgrims that she an expert in love and marriage. However, it can be interpreted that the Wife of Bath is not an expert because four out of her five marriages have failed. This is primarily because she implies that being compliant is what makes a good …show more content…

Although the wife of bath thinks she has the upperhand in her fifth marriage, she actually gives more to her husband than readers may think. “-From that day on we had no more debate. So help me God, to him I was as kind/As any wife from here to the world’s end,/And tries as well-and so was he to me./ I pray to God Who reigns in majesty,/For His dear mercy’s sake, to bless his soul…” (239). Chaucer uses the fifth marriage to demonstrate that even marriages with a partner as flawed as the wife of bath can succeed, as long as sovereignty is …show more content…

Although Griselda agrees to marry Walter, she does this out of desperation not love. This automatically puts the man in control. Chaucer highlights this further by describing Walter’s marital requests. “I ask if you’re prepared with all your heart/To submit to my will, so that I may,/As I think best, bring happiness or hurt/To you, and you’ll not murmur, night or day?” (288). Griselda agrees to this request, which results in agonizing tests and tribulations. Although the tale has a happy ending, Chaucer implies that the marriage of Griselda and Walter is not anything to be idolized. He explains in his epilogue, “Superwives, stand up in your own defence!/Each is as huge and strong as a camel./Then why permit a man to give offence?” (312). Chaucer utilizes the marriage to explain that no wife should be as submissive as Griselda, in the same way no husband should be as controlling as Walter. Although the Oxford Scholar’s Tale is a counter argument to the Wife of Bath’s Tale, both prove that an imbalance in sovereignty is not

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