Wives of the medieval culture had limited freedom. Besides being riffraff, they had no real role in society. ... A wife's role in the medieval society was some to none. ... "Most of a woman's life was under guardianship of a man"" (qtd. in Gies 41). ... During medieval times, a woman's primary role was in her house. ...
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....
The standard set to consider the "goodness " of a woman in this time period, then, must be her level of subscription to the patriarchal society in which she lives as well as her awareness of her role as woman in relation to that of a man. It is no secret that there was an extreme inequality amongst men and women in the medieval period where middle English literature resides. ... These transactions, similar to those used for goods and services, is an indisputable example of the low regard and respect woman possessed in the medieval period. ... However, one can also argue that what she does is ...
Chivalry and women's role in keeping it alive were important reasons men kept their honor and did their duty towards their beloved. ... Oftentimes from the union between lover and beloved it was best if the woman did not conceive, as the couple did not want to be found out by the woman's husband when a child was born who did not resemble him. ... Anderson and Zinsser state that, "Love, not the woman herself, caused the hero to act, to test and prove himself,"" (334). ... This woman allows her lover "to perish, without helping him."" ... It was Eve, a woman, who brought suffering upon...
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. ...
