Context: Chaucer:
Only people from elite social classes were literate gives insight into Jankin
Position of Women:
Their freedom was restricted, the laws that they were confned to were writen y men men
have power over women, which women resent as illustrated in the Tale with the truth a out
what women truly want
Could NOT own property of any kind unless they were widows explains WoB who owns land
ut has many widows
Women were expected to tend to their hus and’s needs at all tmes Reverse is implied for
the WoB she demands her hus and su mit to her sexual prowess/ desires
Women did not generally have access to educaton yet WoB seems to e a le to quote
authority a lot
Fashions were land, aggy, mundane coloured clothing contradicts WoB who wore “gaye
scarlet gites”
The Role of the Church:
Church dominated life explains the contnuous quotng of i lical authority
Church controlled the people
Many people went on pilgrimage to try reduce the tme they spent in purgatory
Marriage in the Middle Ages:
All sex outside marriage was considered sinful – WoB never has sex outside of marriage
Most women were expected to marry and procreate
Background to Chaucer:
Immense politcal advancement through the years reflectve of the WoB social advancement
in society through marriage (a woman’s only way)
7 of Chaucer’s associated were Lollards Lollards favoured widows remarrying, the WoB could
e a personifcaton of this. According to the 12 Conclusions of 1395, Lollards elieved that God
made man to procreate (WoB elieves in this)
Only people from elite social classes were literate gives insight into Jankin
Position of Women:
Their freedom was restricted, the laws that they were confned to were writen y men men
have power over women, which women resent as illustrated in the Tale with the truth a out
what women truly want
Could NOT own property of any kind unless they were widows explains WoB who owns land
ut has many widows
Women were expected to tend to their hus and’s needs at all tmes Reverse is implied for
the WoB she demands her hus and su mit to her sexual prowess/ desires
Women did not generally have access to educaton yet WoB seems to e a le to quote
authority a lot
Fashions were land, aggy, mundane coloured clothing contradicts WoB who wore “gaye
scarlet gites”
The Role of the Church:
Church dominated life explains the contnuous quotng of i lical authority
Church controlled the people
Many people went on pilgrimage to try reduce the tme they spent in purgatory
Marriage in the Middle Ages:
All sex outside marriage was considered sinful – WoB never has sex outside of marriage
Most women were expected to marry and procreate
Background to Chaucer:
Immense politcal advancement through the years reflectve of the WoB social advancement
in society through marriage (a woman’s only way)
7 of Chaucer’s associated were Lollards Lollards favoured widows remarrying, the WoB could
e a personifcaton of this. According to the 12 Conclusions of 1395, Lollards elieved that God
made man to procreate (WoB elieves in this)
