The Characterization of the Wife of Bath

The Characterization of the Wife of Bath

In studying the “Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale” by Geoffrey Chaucer, it appears to be a mixture of the “Wife’s” confessions and self-justification. The Wife uses life-long experience, cleverness, and sexual tendencies for advantages against men. The story is set in the medieval era, which suggests that the Wife of Bath’s characteristic were objectionable and viewed by men as out of the ordinary. The Wife of Bath establishes characteristics that are nonstandard to a society where women were subjects to men.

In the Wife of Bath Prologue, the Wife, who is often referred to as Alisoun, presents herself as the domineering of marriage. In fact, Alisoun, the Wife of Bath, is such a motif figure, her physical and moral characteristics are pervasive in folklore and reach far back in time” (Huppe 378). Her role in the Prologue resembles that of a feminist. According to Oberembt, “The Chaucerian of recent years have preferred to believe that the Wife of Bath is an unmitigated advocate of vaginal politics and that her argument for wifely sovereignty is evidence indeed of her pervert character.” The Wife of Bath’s openness to inform wives of marital advice can be viewed as a form of women empowerment.

The Wife spoke of her numerous marriages shamelessly. Curry states that “she is so vividly feminine and human, so coarse and shameless, in her disclosure of the marital relations with five husbands.” The Wife of Bath prides herself on having mastery over her husbands and

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advised other women do the same. In her prologue Alison reveals the need for women to speak out against their position within a male-dominated society (Biebel p.68). The Wife of Bath saw marriage as a way for a woman to become dominant with placing limitations on their husbands.

To take in account of the Wife’s character in “The Wife of Bath Tale,” she exposes her intelligence and rhetorical skills. She appears as an old woman but it is seen as wise...