Wife Of Bath Stereotypes

In the 14th century, there was a sense of hierarchy when it came to gender roles, where the men dominated the women and women were expected to be submissive to their husband. Women were often considered weak and only capable of being in charge of their households and making sure their family was cared for. Obedience in medieval England was demanded; daring to defy a man would label the woman as evil, equating her to Eve. Staying true and obedient to ones husband regardless of the situation or circumstances would instead label the woman comparable to the Virgin Mary. These are the types of women depicted in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales. The Wife of Bath challenged these stereotypes using her sexuality to manipulate her men, while defending her actions

Whereas most medieval women are married once, and expected to raise and care for their children, while the men were into polygamy. It was not a normal circumstance for women to be getting divorced and remarried. Many women criticized her for doings, mostly on the basis that Christ went only once to a wedding, at Cana in Galilee. However, The Wife of Bath expressed that she has her own views when it comes to God’s plan, and strongly stands by the saying, “God bade us to wax fruitful and multiply.” In the 14th century women were supposed to be pure and sex was supposed to be a special thing. The Wife of Bath however, explained how she loved to have sex, whether it was for money or just to have it. She expressed how she would rather leave being a virgin to the perfect ones. This made the medieval churches view her as a “wicked women,” and she was proud of it. She believed that the “imperfect” should be able to use their gifts as best as they could, and her gift happened to be her sexual power. She used this power as an “instrument” to control her