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Wife Of Bath Misogynist

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Many authors incorporate deep messages and strong standpoints throughout characters within writing. Geoffrey Chaucer integrates his opinion on the position of women in his mock poem, The Canterbury Tales. The poem describes the journey of a disparate group on a religious pilgrimage. One significant character in this group is the Wife of Bath, who is the character in which Chaucer delivers his message through. Although Chaucer seems to incorporate a misogynist standpoint in his portrayal of the Wife of Bath, he sends a stronger message by placing a female figure in power. Chaucer purposely places the Wife of Bath in a position of superiority, as he describes her having mastery over her past five husbands. With allowing the Wife of Bath to have control over men, Chaucer …show more content…

When Chaucer writes “She boasts of how she controlled her first three husbands by always making them feel at fault”(126)., he shows his opposition towards gender stereotypes by positioning men with inferiority and incapacity compared to women. Chaucer then emphasizes the Wife’s talent and influence by writing, “She bettered those of Ypres and of Ghent”(105.458)., He positions her as an educated and reputable character, which defies all stereotypes against how women are typically limited to minimal tasks within the domestic sphere. Furthermore, Chaucer esteem’s the Wife’s appearance and reputation in effort deliver a feminist message to readers. He describes her clothing as, “Her hose were of the finest scarlet red/And gartered tight; her shoes were soft and new” and her appearance as “Bold was her face,

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