Stereotypes In Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales

In literature, stereotyping is viewed ethically wrong to expose the truth about culture and daily society. An example is in Chaucer’s Canterbury tales is the story of the Wife of Bath. The wife of bath was written to give out ideas of the gender that was accepted, and the roles of the gender that were not accepted. An example of accepted gender roles are the importance of chivalric behavior from men, especially from respected knights. The knight in the story is a lustful rapist. The woman in the story is an unpleasing, ugly “hag”. Most women described in chivalric tales are beautiful, so this makes her quite different. Stereotypes of women in context were men being told to be the dominant figure, and be in control over their wives. Women

In general, we could characterize the old, ugly “hag” as medieval antifeminism, the lustful, greedy parasites a women has on a man. The knight commits the ultimate gender crime; he raped a beautiful young maiden. In return to this crime, he is out at the mercy of the queen, and other ladies in the court. The knight was sent on a quest to figure out what women really want and desire. The knight has exactly one year to figure this out, and when he asked women what they really want, they say things like sex, remarriage, and most of all to be free. The wife speaks up and says “some women most want to be considered discreet and secretive” (1). She argues that it’s untrue. In the last 30 years, women's participation in things like the workforce, in sports, and in school settings, or education has greatly improved in the US. But gender stereotypes are just as strong today as they were when the story of the Wife of Bath took place, according to the people who study this. Psychologists in New

When the knight realizes he has failed to get an answer, he comes across the old, ugly “hag”, and asks her the question of what women truly desire above all. The woman agrees to answer this question in return for a promise that will grant her a wish. The queen sets him free but the lady’s wish was for the knight to marry her. The knight was absolutely disgusted and didn’t want to do so.” The two ends up married in a small, private wedding and went to bed together the same night” (2). “Through this whole ordeal the knight remains miserable; the knight could hardly bear the shame of having such an ugly, lowborn wife” (2). The wife does not take offense at the insults the knight was throwing at her, but calmly asks him whether real “gentillesse,” or noble character, can be hereditary. “There have been sons of noble fathers, she argues, who were shameful and villainous, though they shared the same blood. Her family may be poor, but real poverty lies in covetousness, and real riches lie in having little and wanting nothing (2).” She told the knight that he had a choice, either he can have her be ugly but loyal and good, or he can have her young and fair but coquettish and unfaithful. The knight told the wife that he would trust her judgement, and he asks her to choose whatever she thinks is best. The woman becomes both beautiful and good.” The two have a long, happy marriage, and the woman