The Wife of Bath

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that the "Wife of Bath?s Prologue" is important because it depicts what life must have been like for women. It is also important because she is the most vibrant of all the characters in "The Canterbury Tales". It discusses that Chaucer was certainly intrigued with this character enough to present her in such a way that was honest and credible. She is so vibrant and assertive that her story has to be told by a man; any woman of that time would have written her off as a self-serving harlot.

From the Paper:

"Geoffrey Chaucer demonstrates his skill as a write with his "Wife of Bath's Prologue" in many ways. It is easy to lose ourselves in the character of the Wife of Bath because she is colorful and by reading her prologue, we feel as though we almost know her. Her unique qualities cause her to stand out and her honesty about her personal situation is admirable, among other things. Another critical element of the "Wife of Bath's Prologue" is the fact that a man pens it. This aspect of the tale makes it more enjoyable because such behavior by women was not acceptable during the fifteenth century. Additionally, because a man writes her prologue, we cannot help but consider why he wrote it. This fictional character provides Chaucer an opportunity to address many subjects that may have been taboo in his time. By employing irony and humor, Chaucer is able to make statements about women and how they are treated."

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