Chaucer, The Wife of Bath

Prologue

Appears a real character telling her story; but in fact the prologue is full of literary allusions; it raises many of the issues for which medieval literature blamed women.

Character:

Her whole life has been a battleground between contrary influences. She was born under the influence of both Venus and Mars; Venus makes her attractive, sensual, and feminine, while Mars makes her bold, rebellious, and domineering. We can see these influences at work when, even as she states her theme as being "the woes in marriage," she is looking for husband #6. -- Linda Appleton

So is Chaucer telling a feminist or anti-feminist tale? The Wife not a consistent character. Begins the prologue with scholastic type arguments about marriage, debating authorities.

The story of "The Wife of Bath" is a part of an acrimonious medieval debate over the place of women in society It was first called the "querelle de la Rose" (the debate over the Rose) and later called the "Querelle des Femmes" (the debate about women). It started regarding Jean de Meun's Romance of the Rose on the grounds that it encouraged immorality and denigrated women (Richards xxiv, Quilligan, Allegory 20). The debate actually has roots reaching back into ancient society -- like Adam and Eve in Genesis, Pandora in Hesiod's Theogyny -- and continues in some ways today. This debate was often ugly, even hysterical. . . Similar fears about powerful women are still around and can be seen in references to "Billary Clinton" and "feminazis." http://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/201/chaucer/wife_notes.htm

Not consistent about sex: has sex twice a day (158); no interest (209); consented only to get money out of her first three husbands (413-17); praises 5th husband in bed (514); never committed adultery (491); promiscuous (620-24); and uses access to sex as a weapon (417)

By challenging the value of virginity, the Wife of Bath, calls into question both secular and religious ideals of women. The most powerful image of woman in the Middle Ages, one who embodied all the occulted misogyny that the idealization of virginity entailed was of course the Virgin Mary. http://www.unc.edu/depts/chaucer/zatta/wife.html

And note discrepancy: wife in Prologue looking out for money (218), vs. wife preaching blessings of poverty at end of her tale (1189).

First part of Prologue: draws on early church writings against marriage, especially St. Jerome and St. Paul -- e.g., the Samaritan with his 5th wife (16). Against notion that women were less rational than men, more earthly, sensuous. Women not allowed to be university students or preachers. But the wife argues as if in a university debate. Against the authority and celibacy of the church, appears to support a Wyclif-type argument for greater involvement of laity, an end of corruption, and more direct interpretation of the Bible.

Lively rhetoric of Prologue, leavens its academic arguments. Appears to address the people listening to her.

A merchant's approach to marriage (in part): endures sex to get husband's land and riches (422-3).

The sacrament of marriage (Jesus establishes at the wedding of Cana) is a sign of the relationship between Christ and the Church which forms a model for the relationship between husband and wife in Christian marriage. The Wife avoids mentioning the sacramental character of marriage because this is the basis of the argument that men and women should marry only once. The spirit of the institution escapes her completely. http://jade.ccccd.edu/Andrade/BritLitI2322/WifeofBath-Augustine.html

That she is speaking in a tradition and a language made by (mostly celibate) men.

But final point of Prologue seems to be that she gained mastery over her husband (816 ff.). Hence the tale . . .

After a fight with her fifth husband, Jankyn/Jenkin, he gave her the "bridal" and whip, the symbol of reason governing passion as man governs horse. Is it reasonable for horse to ride man or wife to govern husband or passion to override reason? It is a rebellion against the sacred order of things. http://www2.latech.edu/~bmagee/201/chaucer/wife_notes.htm

Wife of Bath, Prologue (Norton 207)

Has had 5 husbands, 6
-- but can't determine whether several husbands is acceptable, 25
Defends multiple marriages, beginning with Solomon, 35
-- and other precedents, 60-64
That God didn't command virginity, 68
So what are sexual parts for? 121
She will use them twice a day in marriage, 158
Pardoner's interruption: she makes marriage something to be avoided, 169
Wife's story of 5 husbands; three good ones, 203
-- how she governed them, 225
Cannot test out a wife in advance, 296
To dress well is supposed to risk the wife's chastity, 343
That woman's love is likened to hell, etc., 376
False accusation of husband for wenching, 399
Refused them in bed until they acceded, 417
Gave them word for word at dinner, 428
One of wife or husband must give way, 446
To keep her sexuality for the husband, 453
Fourth husband a reveller, kept a mistress, 459
Remembers her youth, but age has now bereft her of beauty, 480
 Made the husband fry in his own jealousy, 493-4
Her fifth husband, the worst, 509
Good in bed, but his love hard to get, 520
-- make something scarce and women will want it 528
Told his secrets to her confidantes, 544
In fields, tells Janekin she will marry him if a widow, 574
Momentarily forgets her tale, 591-2
At 4th husband's funeral lusts after Janekin (20 years younger), 601
Led by her sexuality, 623-4
After a month marries Janekin, 635
-- strikes her on the ear, deafens her, 640
Janekin's stories of Romans, etc., treatment of wives, 653
Janekin's books of stories of wicked wives, etc., 677
That clerks write such books when old and can no longer serve Venus, 714
Janekin reading one evening, begins with Eve, 720
She snatches three leaves from his book; is hit in return in the ear, 796-802
But they are reconciled when he gives her mastery, 816 ff
Friar's interruption, 835

Tale

Tale unexpectedly different from the Prologue -- although also about theme of women's mastery; quite different in its setting, use of supernatural. A kind of short Arthurian romance (some precedents in Sir Gawain stories and Gower).

But also, now (14th C), instead of elves and fairies, predatory friars (limiters) haunt the woods.

Woman: still can't keep a secret: Midas's wife (971-86).

A heroine who turns from hag to fair young woman: gains mastery over the knight by becoming what every man desires.

Two moral lessons (conservative ones):

Plus, whether a wife is to be preferred old and faithful or young and under suspicion.

Chaucer draws on anti-feminist writings; the wife of Bath challenges their bookish authority (Norton 207)

Wife of Bath, Tale (Norton 226)

863     In King Arthur's time; the land is full of fairies
888     Knight commits rape; sentenced to death
899     Clemency granted to knight if he passes test within 12 months: to learn What do women most want?
919     Knight goes wandering in search of answer but finds no agreement
958     Story of Midas's wife, who cannot keep husband's secret
989     Knight is returning at end of year, meets old woman in forest who asks what he seeks
1011   Their agreement: she will tell the Knight what to say
1029   Return to court: Knight's answer is accepted. Women want mastery
1052   Old woman claims the Knight as her husband
1079   They wed; Knight comes complaining to bed
1115   Wife reproves him: lecture on true gentility
1183   -- and on poverty being no sin
1213   -- on on the advantage of her being old and faithful
1225   Knight is offered choice: old wife or young and faithless
1234   Knight asks wife to choose: thus she gains mastery
1245   Wife becomes young and beautiful and will be faithful
1264   So may all husbands be governed

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Document prepared March 15th 2007 / Revised March 11th 2009