The Canterbury Tales Women Essay

Marriage and The Ideal “Wyf”: An Exploration of Women in The Canterbury Tales In Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, women are often the focus of the tales. While female characters are not seen as typically carrying any agency, much of the characters have the quintessential qualities of an ideal “wyf” in Chaucer’s time. For the purposes of this paper, I will examine the portrayal of women in “The Clerk’s Tale,” “The Merchant’s Tale”, and “The Shipman’s Tale”. More specifically, I will look at the ideal “wyf” qualities and their rank and contentment or dissatisfaction in marriage. According to Behrman, “The Canterbury Tales, with its emphasis on marital, filial and master/servant relationships, thus offers fertile ground to examine the workings …show more content…
Not only does he expect his wife to be obedient, he wants a wife that is young and beautiful and willing to satisfy his sexual desires. May portrays characteristics of an ideal wife, her young age, beauty, and her freshness which is likely her virginity. She is willing to marry January despite his old age and demands for her to obedient. Januarie establishes his ownership and dominance over May, “Januarie’s belief in ownership of his wife and his desire that her primary role in marriage will be to serve him” (Hanna 64). He wants someone he can take advantage of and have control over, “Januarie is interested only in marrying a woman he can control, “gye” and dominate,” and he believes that May is the perfect choice (Hanna 65). Almost immediately, he begins to control her for selfish reasons. However, a squire by the name of Damyan is in love with May and lets her know through written letters. With May being under ownership and control, this leads to a tryst between the two as she feels the need to escape and be free. Eventually, Januarie’s greediness and lust leads him to becoming suddenly blind. He is angered by this and his jealousy is