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‘The Wife of Bath’s Tale stages a conflict between the demands of morality/religion and of sex.’ Do you agree? Discuss with close reference to the text. ‘The wife of Bath’s Tale’ portrays a clash between morality, demands of religion and sexual desire. In her prologue, she speaks frankly yet candidly about gender, marriage, sex and authority. Challenging the hierarchical ordering of medieval society, the wife of bath establishes herself as an extremist both in defying what society deems to be acceptable but exacerbating those actions because she’s a woman. In her Apologia, she explains and defends herself and her lifestyle despite the obvious infringements on her Judeo-Christian heritage. Chaucer attempts to introduce the “subordinate” and virtuous female, as one who is equally capable of misconduct and sexual demeanor. Thus, this presents a conflict between society’s religious obligations and the passionate “sensual appetites” of the body. A brief overview of the tale is as follows; a lusty bachelor of the king's court has committed rape. He is taken and condemned to die but the king, in deference to the Queen’s pleas, allows the ladies to judge him. They tell him he can save his life only if a year and a day later he can tell them what it is that women most desire. An old and remarkably ugly woman agrees to tell him the answer if he swears to do whatever she will asks of him. He agrees and returns with the answer: that women most desire to have sovereignty over their husbands. He is granted his life in return, however, the old woman makes her demand that he marry her. On their wedding night, he rejects her, saying that she is old, ugly and low born. The old woman proves to him that none of these matter -- especially noble birth, since true nobility depends on deeds rather than birth. She proposes: he can have her old, ugly and faithful or young, beautiful and possibly unchaste. He allows her to choose; thus granting her the sovereignty. When he does so, she turns into a beautiful maiden, and they live thereafter in perfect joy. There is a persuasive presentation of the “valiant woman” in Old Testament literature especially in the book of Proverbs.
Approximate Word count = 1484
Approximate Pages = 5.9
(250 words per page double spaced)
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