What Are The Similarities Between Equitan And The Wife Of Bath's Tale

Romance, Ruthlessness, and Retribution in “Equitan” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” In Marie de France’s lai, “Equitan” and Geoffrey Chaucer’s tale, “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, audiences are captivated by immutable themes of power, respectability, and revenge in medieval literature that align with society today. Written in the Medieval Period, “Equitan” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” focus on two male figures of the highest estate navigating their way through courtly romance. While both stories teach distinct lessons and explore separate themes, there are further connected through their protagonists’ yearn for the right to love and be loved by another. “Equitan” and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” share an unlikely comparison in their motifs of self-serving

In “The Wife of Bath’s Tale”, the knight betrays the trust of his people and dishonors the chivalric code with his perverted actions against a young woman, where he forcefully seizes “hire maydenhed” (888). He abuses his strength and social rank to take what he wants and disregards the refusal of the woman he abuses. In “Equitan”, the king’s love of “sport and lovemaking” (15) eclipses his duty to his kingdom, a duty he relinquishes onto his trusted seneschal. The seneschal’s adoration for the king and the kingdom is greatly taken advantage of and his cordial behavior regarding the king with his wife is exploited by

Equitan and the knight both allow their lovers sovereignty, but their reasons behind their generosity greatly contrast. The knight, when faced with the proposition of his marital future, is given options from his new wife on how she will appear to him and treat him in their marriage. With the sin of sexual assault behind the knight, he begins to turn a new leaf and learn from the women around him. He changes for the better, and this change is reflected in his answer to his wife, as he beckons her to “choose [her]self” (1232) the visage and attitude to take on. Allowing her to choose allows her to do what she feels is right so she can feel comfortable in their marriage. He understands that if his wife chooses for herself, she may not pick the option that he wants, but that this is okay, because this gives her the sovereignty that she taught him that women want. If the knight chooses, he controls what her life looks like with him, once again denying a woman the choice over her body. Equitan, on the other hand, is not as considerate. While he takes a step back and allows his lower born wife the opportunity to make decisions concerning their relationship, all her decisions benefit him, and he knows this. His humility is a guise to make her feel like she has the power since he knows she will choose him every time. The seneschal’s wife’s plan to “…do away with her lord” (234) was exactly what