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Samuel Duran
Mrs. Lewis
English 4 Honors, pd. 7
October 8, 2013
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
In the Wife of Bath’s Tale written by Geoffrey Chaucer, the wife of Bath was an old and poor lady who wanted to be loved like the pretty and rich ladies. She married Bath as a promise from him to her that he would give her anything he wanted as long as she could tell him what women most desire. He said “If you could tell me I would pay your hire.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 142). As he expressed that he will give her what she wanted. From getting anything she pleased, she asked him to marry her and that he shall keep his promise. If he didn’t keep his promise he was better off dead. She was presented in the story to indicate that men should keep their promises and to be gentlemen not only to their wives but to all ladies. She said “Gentility is only the renown for bounty that your fathers handed down.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 145). She wants him to be respectful to her.
The old lady wanted no more than to be loved and treated right even if she was old, ugly, and lived in poverty. The lady doesn’t mind living in poverty, she maintains her life without a problem. In her own words she said “The poor can dance and sing in relief of having nothing that will tempt a thief. Though it be hateful, poverty is good.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 146). This is said because he judges her of being poor, but it is certain that being poor isn’t as bad as it seems. There is no worrying about a bandit because there is nothing so special to take. The wife also said “poverty often, when the heart is lowly, brings one to God and teaches what is holy, gives knowledge of oneself and even lends a glass by which to see one’s truest friends.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 146). She writes this to say that when someone is poor it can be hard but also it is a way to find what they really care about and what their life expectations are.
Throughout the tale the wife represents a lady of good grace and courage who sets examples of being a
Mrs. Lewis
English 4 Honors, pd. 7
October 8, 2013
The Wife of Bath’s Tale
In the Wife of Bath’s Tale written by Geoffrey Chaucer, the wife of Bath was an old and poor lady who wanted to be loved like the pretty and rich ladies. She married Bath as a promise from him to her that he would give her anything he wanted as long as she could tell him what women most desire. He said “If you could tell me I would pay your hire.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 142). As he expressed that he will give her what she wanted. From getting anything she pleased, she asked him to marry her and that he shall keep his promise. If he didn’t keep his promise he was better off dead. She was presented in the story to indicate that men should keep their promises and to be gentlemen not only to their wives but to all ladies. She said “Gentility is only the renown for bounty that your fathers handed down.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 145). She wants him to be respectful to her.
The old lady wanted no more than to be loved and treated right even if she was old, ugly, and lived in poverty. The lady doesn’t mind living in poverty, she maintains her life without a problem. In her own words she said “The poor can dance and sing in relief of having nothing that will tempt a thief. Though it be hateful, poverty is good.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 146). This is said because he judges her of being poor, but it is certain that being poor isn’t as bad as it seems. There is no worrying about a bandit because there is nothing so special to take. The wife also said “poverty often, when the heart is lowly, brings one to God and teaches what is holy, gives knowledge of oneself and even lends a glass by which to see one’s truest friends.”(Geoffrey Chaucer 146). She writes this to say that when someone is poor it can be hard but also it is a way to find what they really care about and what their life expectations are.
Throughout the tale the wife represents a lady of good grace and courage who sets examples of being a