Miller's Tale Women

The Representation of Women as Objects of Desire within “The Miller’s Tale” and “The Reeve’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer

The representation of women as idealized objects of desire in “The Miller’s Tale” and “The Reeve’s Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer functions as a way to present the value of women as seen by men. In particular, throughout “The Miller’s Tale,” Alisoun confirms the traditional stereotype of women as being lustful and desirous creatures as well as cheaters. This is identified when she tricks her husband in order to share a night of passion with another man in their bed. It is also represented in the comparison of Alisoun to animals and their actions, which suggests that women are animalistic in their search and need for sexual activity.

The men desire the women sexually; however, not in the typical sense or for the normal reasons. Both the Miller’s wife and daughter Malyne are seen as repayment for what two male students lost in monetary value to the miller. In this sense, women and their bodies are viewed as compensation to men who “use sex as their weapon” (Zumdahl 12). The men desire the women as a way to assert their “masculine power over [the miller’s] social-climbing wife and daughter” (Zumdahl 13). It is due to this that sex and desire become symbolic of revenge within this tale. Not only does sex and desire appear to represent revenge, it also lends itself to the basis of prostitution. Although there is no physical exchange of money for sex throughout the tale, there is the exchange of goods and services. For example, Malyne physically gives herself and her body to the men without complaint or argument. Although she does not initiate the sex, she never once tries to stop or fight against it. She presents her body and potentially her virginity as repayment for what her father has done. The Miller’s wife is punished for becoming rather greedy and gullible (Zumdahl 17). After going to the washroom, she returns to the wrong bed. By welcoming the students into their home, the wife was practically asking for trouble. She knew what her husband did by stealing the grain and should have had a basic understanding that the students would want revenge. Their revenge did come through their desire for the wife. Throughout “The Reeve’s Tale,” men’s desire for women is presented for the sole purpose of repayment for all they had