Looking closely at The Wife of Bath’s Prologue (Extract: L224 – 256) and
other appropriately selected parts of the text, examine the poetic methods
used by Chaucer to present the Wife’s lessons on winning authority in
marriage.
Essay
Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” is in the form of a
monologue, where the titular character reveals to her audience how she has
maintained sovereignty in her five marriages. In this manner, she appears as
an instructress to other women, encouraging them to assert their authority
within marriage. In this way, Chaucer challenges the image of the submissive
wife typically expected in mediaeval literature.
The Wife implies to her audience that she maintains her authority
through physical force with “Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf. / I have the
power duringe al my lyf / Upon his propre body, and nought he.” The
euphemistic language implies to the reader that the Wife maintains control
through sexual domination. This dominance is also insinuated with the Wife’s
clothing, as described in the General Prologue, with “a paire of spores sharpe”.
The Wife encourages other women to follow her example through her
incomplete allusion to 1st Corinthians, which describes how a married pair
have power over each other. The biblical allusion increases the persuasive
power of her argument and justifies her viewpoint, especially because of the
constant influence of the Church in mediaeval life. This is supported by the
enjambement, which creates a rapid pace and connotes passion to the reader,
leading the Wife’s audience to accept her lessons on winning authority in
marriage. The end-stop creates a factual tone which bolsters the logic of her
, argument, allowing Chaucer to showcase the hidden female power within
marriage. This is also seen with the caesura within the third line, which places
emphasis on the secondary clause, thus accentuating the reader’s perception
of the husbands’ lack of power.
The Wife continues to advocate for the use of coercion in marriage to
assert authority over one’s husband. This is evident in “This is to seyn, myself
have been the whippe”. The metaphor may indicate both physical force and
emotional coercion, with the Wife dehumanising herself to demonstrate the
full extent of her physical power. This suggests to the reader that the Wife
enjoys complete control within her marriages. The caesural pause implies a
boastful tone, suggesting to the reader that the Wife is delivering instruction,
rather than a confession, on how to earn authority.
Rather than simply boasting of her own power, the Wife encourages
other women to seize authority in marriage too. She appeals to her audience,
saying “Now herkneth hou I baar me properly, / Ye wise wives, that kan
understonde.” The alliteration enhances the Wife’s flattery, appealing to her
fellow female pilgrims. The direct address heightens the performative aspect
of the Wife’s character as she becomes a teacher for her fellow women,
encouraging them to move against their husbands. This is supported by
Chaucer’s use of the imperative, conveying an assertive tone which makes the
Wife’s teachings more attractive.
The Wife follows by urging the “wise wives” to build their authority in
marriage by deluding their husbands. This is first asserted with “For half so
boldly kan ther no man / Swere and lyen, as a womman kan.” The entirety of
the prologue and tale is told in the form of rhyming couplets, particularly clear
here due to the endstop. This rhyming structure makes the Wife’s argument
seem more logical and planned out, persuading her audience to accept her
other appropriately selected parts of the text, examine the poetic methods
used by Chaucer to present the Wife’s lessons on winning authority in
marriage.
Essay
Chaucer’s “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” is in the form of a
monologue, where the titular character reveals to her audience how she has
maintained sovereignty in her five marriages. In this manner, she appears as
an instructress to other women, encouraging them to assert their authority
within marriage. In this way, Chaucer challenges the image of the submissive
wife typically expected in mediaeval literature.
The Wife implies to her audience that she maintains her authority
through physical force with “Upon his flessh, whil that I am his wyf. / I have the
power duringe al my lyf / Upon his propre body, and nought he.” The
euphemistic language implies to the reader that the Wife maintains control
through sexual domination. This dominance is also insinuated with the Wife’s
clothing, as described in the General Prologue, with “a paire of spores sharpe”.
The Wife encourages other women to follow her example through her
incomplete allusion to 1st Corinthians, which describes how a married pair
have power over each other. The biblical allusion increases the persuasive
power of her argument and justifies her viewpoint, especially because of the
constant influence of the Church in mediaeval life. This is supported by the
enjambement, which creates a rapid pace and connotes passion to the reader,
leading the Wife’s audience to accept her lessons on winning authority in
marriage. The end-stop creates a factual tone which bolsters the logic of her
, argument, allowing Chaucer to showcase the hidden female power within
marriage. This is also seen with the caesura within the third line, which places
emphasis on the secondary clause, thus accentuating the reader’s perception
of the husbands’ lack of power.
The Wife continues to advocate for the use of coercion in marriage to
assert authority over one’s husband. This is evident in “This is to seyn, myself
have been the whippe”. The metaphor may indicate both physical force and
emotional coercion, with the Wife dehumanising herself to demonstrate the
full extent of her physical power. This suggests to the reader that the Wife
enjoys complete control within her marriages. The caesural pause implies a
boastful tone, suggesting to the reader that the Wife is delivering instruction,
rather than a confession, on how to earn authority.
Rather than simply boasting of her own power, the Wife encourages
other women to seize authority in marriage too. She appeals to her audience,
saying “Now herkneth hou I baar me properly, / Ye wise wives, that kan
understonde.” The alliteration enhances the Wife’s flattery, appealing to her
fellow female pilgrims. The direct address heightens the performative aspect
of the Wife’s character as she becomes a teacher for her fellow women,
encouraging them to move against their husbands. This is supported by
Chaucer’s use of the imperative, conveying an assertive tone which makes the
Wife’s teachings more attractive.
The Wife follows by urging the “wise wives” to build their authority in
marriage by deluding their husbands. This is first asserted with “For half so
boldly kan ther no man / Swere and lyen, as a womman kan.” The entirety of
the prologue and tale is told in the form of rhyming couplets, particularly clear
here due to the endstop. This rhyming structure makes the Wife’s argument
seem more logical and planned out, persuading her audience to accept her
