Wife Of Bath Feminist Essay

In the Canterbury Tales, Chaucer had written frame stories about the notorious affairs among the people during middle age. In the Canterbury tales, Chaucer has created imaginary characters who are seem to be on a pilgrimage. Each character reflected a case, a social issue of medieval age. Each character was asked to tell a story which reflected themselves in the society. Among those personalities was the Wife of Bath. Her name was Alison. She was a lusty, bold and a strong woman who refused to allow men to control her existence. She was married for 5 times and was looking for a sixth husband. According to Wife of Bath, women were seen unequal in the social class which is why sometimes, she was considered as early precursor of feminist. According to her tale, which centers around the question “what do women desire the most”, reflects her personality as woman who wants authority over her men.
Women were forced, thrust and threaten since they never react back. Chaucer acknowledge this issue very early in his time. He stepped up and condemned against this hideous system. His writing created many controversies. The churches and the government (high class society) were upset. The higher class were afraid that this might lead to a fire towards feminism. In Wife of Bath’s story, she quotes, “ My leige and lady, in general’, said he, ‘A woman wants the self same sovereignty over husband as over her lover’”(190, Chaucer). Women want the power to control so they could make themselves heard. They seek power, but only to defend their rights. The tale reflects the image of the Wife of Bath. Similar other women, Wife of Bath desire to have sovereignty over her husband therefore, she could be seen