Teller and the Tale
Each tale in Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales contains a palpable relationship between the teller and the tale. The tale is always in some way a reflection of the teller. The Wife of Bath exemplifies the connection between the tale and its teller. The complex relationship between the Wife of Bath and her tale can be looked upon from several angles; perhaps the most convincing of these is the idea that her tale is merely a sequel to her prologue. That is, her tale is a fictional version of her autobiography. Instances and characters from her life seem to directly correspond with those found in her tale. Moreover, her theories regarding life and marriage, as expressed in her prologue, seem justified, if not proven correct, by the affairs of her tale. The characters presented in The Wife of Bath’s prologue and her tale resemble each other in several ways.