Through a deceptive wife, a feminist woman, a lusty corrupt knight, and a chauvinist, Chaucer presents the contrasting views on marriage in the Medieval Age. ... " she is put forth as a feminist, her views evidence of Chaucer's feminist sensibilities- (Fleming) The Wife of Bath is a feminist; she revolts against the traditional role of women by gaining complete control of her husbands, as seen in her prologue. ... The Clerk is a chauvinist who holds true to the traditional medieval roles in marriage. ... Driven by lust and hormones he picks May a young and beautiful woman to marry....

• Word Count: 484
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Many critics attribute this to the traditional role of a franklin in medieval times. However, this "traditional- role is often questioned. ... They were housemaids that observed roles as maids, mothers, and were generally viewed as inferior. ... The question must be asked that if a woman must use a man to gain power, how can a woman be truly independent? ... This is shown when the knight sees the group of fairies in the woods that transform into the old woman. ...

• Word Count: 2555
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography

Wife of Bath Tale and Tale of Florent: Sincere Superiority or Corrupt Dominance During the Medieval age under the rule of King Arthur, tales of women's empowerment began to contradict the traditional role of women's inferiority to men. ... The Wife of Bath is a woman, with strong opinions and views, in the time of King Arthur during the medieval period, when women were not supposed to have such views. The Wife of Bath is a strong woman in a society in which women are typically inferior to men. ... The Wife of Bath is a smart and powerful woman, who is not fooled by the "suppos...

• Word Count: 1259
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Along with strong feminist messages in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales" also come out anti-feminism ideals about keeping women in a certain role, causing a lengthy and intelligent debate upon what Chaucer really meant. ... Why take it all, lo, have it every bit;" In this quote the Wife of Bath not only concedes that men are more reasonable than women, but also that a good woman and wife will do and give up whatever is necessary for her husband. ... Told by the nun's priest, who was probably not held highly in monasteries in Medieval time, this story directly reflects his state of mind. ...

• Word Count: 981
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

The characters that arise during the different tale, and those who tell the tales, play an important role in understanding the story, and the structure of the English people living in the 15th century. ... In her story there is a knight who assaulted a young woman. ... He searched in vain, until he came upon an old and ugly woman. ... Then, the old woman speaks, and tells the Queen about her arrangement with the knight, who tries to back out of it, but he has to marry the old woman. ... Women were thought very differently during the medieval times. ...

• Word Count: 1605
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School