Choosing between Rotten Apples

Paper Summary:

In this paper the writer examines the choices given to the Knight in the "Wife of Bath" in the Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales". It looks at how he is give the choice between nobility and physical beauty. It also looks at how the wife gains control of the Knight by using sex. Lastly, the paper discusses how, ultimately, the Knight does not choose, but leaves the decision up to his wife, and how this reflects on the Knight.

From the Paper:

"Geoffrey Chaucer's Canterbury Tales may be described as a cross section of English people in the Middle Ages. The characters presented are considered in some cases the ideal person for that time. An example of this is the Knight who holds virtues of the pentangle such as brotherly love, pure mind, compassion, and beneficence. The other end of the spectrum can be said to be the character of the Miller. He is one who told tales of sin, used coarse language, and steals corn, which he sells for three times as much. Here one can see examples of the ideal person and also the more animalistic one. When looking at The Wife of Bath's Tale one sees a different picture presented of a Knight and is told by a very unique woman. The Wife of Bath is what may be considered the stereotypical woman of the time who tends to be a bit conniving in the way she gets things and is looking for power over men. There are two ideals presented in the WOBT: one of nobility and one of physical beauty. The realistic aspect of the tale is shown through the idea that men simply want to fulfill their sexual appetite and this is in conflict with the ideal of the Knight's wife who holds chastity in higher respect. Thus, there is a split between these two ideals of the body and nobility and this choice is presented to the Knight who ultimately fails to show his true colors by not choosing one over the other, which in turn shows women's acceptance of this flaw."

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