Although many authors, like Mary Hamel, believe that Alisoun, in the Wife of Bath, did not murder her fourth husband, I disagree. I believe that Alisoun commits the crime and narrates a false tale to cover up. I will be dividing this essay into two sections, the first consisting suspicious evidence to charge Alisoun with murder, and the second exploring her psychological counter measures that give her story credibility. First, I disagree with Hamel’s claim because Alisoun’s tale has too much cynical information to be authentic. For example, before Alisoun begins her tale, she addresses a disclaimer to her audience as a way to grant immunity: “If that I speke after my fantasye,/ As taketh not agrief of that I seye;/ For myn entente nys nat but
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For example, because story telling usually occurs in a tavern, Alisoun begs the Pardoner to drink more so that he would feel in similar atmosphere since taverns are a place for entertainment: “Abyde!" quod she, "my tale is nat bigonne./ Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne,” (169-170). The fact that Alisoun will not begin her story until she drugs the Pardoner shows just how socially wit she is with controlling her audience. The key element in this technique is letting the Pardoner feel socio-psychologically safe by disguising her story as a common piece of entertainment rather than a confession of truth; the alcohol is just a bonus. It is important to keep mind that Alisoun is a social butterfly when it comes to the latest gossip as she goes “fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys” during the spring season …show more content…
Although many scholars debate on the meaning behind this line, it is clear that Alisoun tangles herself in her own narrative. On the one hand, one could argue that it is quite common to have characters forget their lines to create suspension, but it is strange if the narrator says she cannot continue her own tale. One possibility is that she is telling her tale to different audiences across town. Another reason, the reason I choose to argue for, is that Alisoun is purposely stating she forgets her story as a way to avoid redundant narration. This is another of Alisoun’s psychological measures because it gives her the opportunity to expand her tale in a new direction. She is also using this chance to reinforce certain aspects of her story that seem deceptive or have loose ends. For example, between lines, 525-584, Alisoun talks about Jenkins, her fifth husband, but it is only after Alisoun forgets her tale that she returns to talk about her fourth husband again starting in line 587. However, one can argue that Alisoun truly forgets her tale due to all the drinking and entertainment, but then she mentions in the next line: “I have my tale ageyn” (586). That is to say, Alisoun quickly remembers, without any help from her audience, the point she left off on—Did Alisoun really forget her story?—the answer is not clear, but her story is not completely
For example, because story telling usually occurs in a tavern, Alisoun begs the Pardoner to drink more so that he would feel in similar atmosphere since taverns are a place for entertainment: “Abyde!" quod she, "my tale is nat bigonne./ Nay, thou shalt drynken of another tonne,” (169-170). The fact that Alisoun will not begin her story until she drugs the Pardoner shows just how socially wit she is with controlling her audience. The key element in this technique is letting the Pardoner feel socio-psychologically safe by disguising her story as a common piece of entertainment rather than a confession of truth; the alcohol is just a bonus. It is important to keep mind that Alisoun is a social butterfly when it comes to the latest gossip as she goes “fro hous to hous, to heere sondry talys” during the spring season …show more content…
Although many scholars debate on the meaning behind this line, it is clear that Alisoun tangles herself in her own narrative. On the one hand, one could argue that it is quite common to have characters forget their lines to create suspension, but it is strange if the narrator says she cannot continue her own tale. One possibility is that she is telling her tale to different audiences across town. Another reason, the reason I choose to argue for, is that Alisoun is purposely stating she forgets her story as a way to avoid redundant narration. This is another of Alisoun’s psychological measures because it gives her the opportunity to expand her tale in a new direction. She is also using this chance to reinforce certain aspects of her story that seem deceptive or have loose ends. For example, between lines, 525-584, Alisoun talks about Jenkins, her fifth husband, but it is only after Alisoun forgets her tale that she returns to talk about her fourth husband again starting in line 587. However, one can argue that Alisoun truly forgets her tale due to all the drinking and entertainment, but then she mentions in the next line: “I have my tale ageyn” (586). That is to say, Alisoun quickly remembers, without any help from her audience, the point she left off on—Did Alisoun really forget her story?—the answer is not clear, but her story is not completely