Feminism in Chaucer’s Wife of Bath Essay -- Wife of Bath Essays

Women in the medieval times were cast into very distinct roles. There was a strict code of conduct that was followed. They were to be submissive to their husbands and follow their lead. A fair sexs place was also in the home and the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, sewing, etc. fell into their domain. Women who deviated from these cultural-set norms made for interesting characters. Chaucers utilize of women and their overstepping their boundaries and typical roles in society make them most memorable.Most of the gender expectations stemmed from the Church and biblical history. There were many anti-feminist feelings due to Eve causation the fall of Man. Women were perceived to be responsible for most of the suffering to man, and were therefore inferior and to be dominated by their husbands and men in general. The courtly gentlewoman of medieval poetry has much in common with the images of the Virgin (Martin xiv). Chastity, purity, and holiness, were all associated with th e expectations of women from role models such as the Virgin Mary type-cast women into a saintly role. Becaexercising women were eyeshot to have caused so much suffering on behalf of mankind, they were to be controlled, held in check and not exhibit any outward signs of defiance or botheration for themselves. Their purpose in life was to serve others at their own expense.There were typical male traits, and these had a more(prenominal) positive connotation to them. In the interest list of terms, the first are meant to be masculine and the second to be feminine limit and unlimited, odd and even, one and plurality, right and left, male and female, resting and moving, straight and curved, aerial and darkness, good and bad, square and oblong (Cox 8). The more desired traits like the obvious light and good, were saved for the traditional male. These ideas stem from the Aristotelian paradigm, and are tenacious with gender roles in Chaucers world. The Wife of Bath was expected to have the feminine traits, but she would not accept that. Why should the positive traits be reserved only for men? Being born a woman should not automatically exempt a woman from being cast into a more positive position within society.What makes Chaucers characters so unique and unforgettable is that he cast them outside of these roles. Bordering on the controversial but lightened by his use of humor, his characters... ...f Bath, we see an individual who is willing to express that idea. Her courage to defy the traditional concepts as set by her peers does not intimidate her, and she boldly stands up for what she believes in, public or not. Another strong feminist aspect to her is that she feels no need to be justified or have approval for her decisions and lifestyle. Just because she is a woman does not limit her choices in her life, and neither her gender nor her decisions make her inferior. Works CitedChaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales The Wife of Baths Prologue and Tale. The No rton Anthology English Literature. Ed. M.H. Abrams and Stephen Greenblatt. 7th ed. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 2001. Cox, Catherine S. Gender and lecture in Chaucer. Florida University Press of Florida,1997. Hallissy, Margaret. Clean Maids, True Wives, Steadfast Widows Chaucers Women and Medieval Codes of Conduct. Westport, Ct Greenwood Press, 1993. Jennings, Patrick. Online Webct posting. 18 April 2004. Mann, Jill. Feminizing Chaucer. Cambridge D.S. Brewer, 2002.Martin, Priscilla. Chaucers Women Nuns, Wives and Amazons. London TheMacmillan Press Ltd, 1990.