Its a Man's World by Mojolaoluwa

Its a Man's World by Mojolaoluwa - June 2022 Scholarship Essay

The Wife of bath is undeniably one of the most intriguing characters in Geoffrey Chaucer’s famous book “The Canterbury Tales” because she holds so many different beliefs than most people in the Middle Ages. It is no doubt that the Wife of Bath possesses many of the attributes of a feminist as can be seen through her prologue and tale and as a result, she is portrayed as a deviant woman throughout the story. Nevertheless, the Wife of Bath uses all these devices to her advantage and presents a different view of the definition of a woman through her captivating backstory, insightful tale, and her overall view of the power struggle between men and women.
The Wife of Bath’s title is the first exemplification of the misogynistic beliefs of the Middle Ages. She is referred to as a wife and nothing else proving that her status as a wife was more important than her individuality as a person. The Wife of Bath acclaims herself as a woman of experience as she is notoriously known for being married to five different men, all of which ended badly. An important aspect of The Wife’s prologue would be where she cites the story of King Solomon, Abraham, and Jacob from the bible who had many wives yet were continuously blessed by God so, why was she condemned for her many marriages. This concept greatly resembles one of the feminists' frequently asked questions, “If a man can, why can’t a woman?” The Wife of Bath uses this same logic, questioning the strong ideals of her society and relating it back to one of the most trusted sources of that time, the holy bible. She continues, confidently admitting to her enjoyment of the sexual aspects of marriage which was not a common trait seen in women of that time. Once again, The Wife of Bath destroys the stereotypical molds of women and defies the societal norms against men being allowed to confidently boast of their sexual relations while women were condemned for doing the same.
Similarly, the Wife of Bath expresses her views on marriage and the power struggle between men and women. Her previous marriages have taught her that her happiness in marriage solely depends on if she has sovereignty over the man and her financial stability. She had successfully done this for her past relationships except for her fifth husband who she married for love, not money yet he still beat her so hard she became deaf in one ear. The last husband also serves to contrast the other four and prove the Wife’s point that when she or a woman is in control of the marriage, everyone is happy. The Wife of Bath deemed marriage as a sort of transaction between husband and wife, he gives her power and money in return she gives him sexual pleasure and loyalty. It is no doubt that inequality between men and women is still very prevalent to this day and has been ingrained in many aspects of our society. As time goes by, it is less likely but not impossible, that the idea presented by the Wife of Bath would be accepted. Her story emphasized her belief that one gender, preferably the woman, must hold the ultimate power in a marriage for it to be a good, healthy relationship but this idea is outdated and incorrect. Marriage should be built on balance and each half must complement the other for it to be effective. Assigning gender roles defeats the purpose of equality among genders; an age we hope to one day achieve.
Finally, The Wife of Bath is said to be one of the first female characters who had feminist attitudes and beliefs. Of course, her approach to feminism was more radical than it is in the 21st Century, but she still played a significant role in shaping society’s attitudes toward women. It is also important to realize that her character was written by a man in the Middle Ages who held similar traditional beliefs and biases so, she is often villainized. This contrast in gender between the writer and the character has sparked many conversations about gender inequality and stereotypes which is one step closer to a less misogynistic and gender-equal society.