Women in Medieval Society

Analytical Essay # 57892

English > Analysis
Literature > English
Women Studies > Women and Society

Discussion of the roles of women in medieval society in relation to the female characters in Geoffrey Chaucer's "General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales."

1,355 words () | 2 sources | MLA | 2005 | United States

Published on: Apr 19, 2005

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the place in medieval society of the characters, The Prioress and The Wife of Bath, in Chaucer's "General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales." Extracts from the text are given to illustrate the characters as created by Chaucer. Relevant historical information is given about the attitudes towards women and the places these characters would have held in their social hierarchy.

From the Paper:

"Medieval society differs greatly from the modern society of today, especially in the treatment of women. The most common attitude towards women in the medieval period was that they were looked down upon and treated as if having the lowest position in society. This attitude is reflected in Geoffrey Chaucer's General Prologue to the Canterbury Tales. The only women on the pilgrimage to Canterbury are the Prioress, who was a nun of a high position, another nun acting as the Prioress' chaplain, and the Wife of Bath. The second nun, the chaplain, is only mentioned briefly in the General Prologue, while a great amount of detail is given to the Prioress and to the Wife of Bath. Both the Prioress and the Wife of Bath are scrutinized in their descriptions. Both are characterized as being extremely vain; although other characters are also portrayed with vanity, it is significant that both women are."