This tale is a huge contrast to the Wife of Bath tale. Unlike the Wife of Bath, this woman is willing to except that the man is one hundred percent in control of the entire relationship. In fact it was very common in the Middle Ages to have the woman protagonist go through a mental breakdown. With this tale in particular it goes through a woman who goes through the mental confliction by the man who was supposed to protect her. Griselda is supposed to represent the ideal wife. She is a faithful soul who has no problem accepting the hardships, which is a similar connections to the Biblical character Job. (Cuny, 2013). Chaucer highlights this trait by saying:
"This story is said, not for that wivès should follow Griseld as in humility,
For it …show more content…
Most would have a difficulty to understand the "God - like" character Walter especially with modern women readers. After all this man has selfishly taken delight out of torturing his wife for the sake of it and their type of relationship would have been classified as domestic abuse in today's world. In fact it is much easier to be drawn more into Griselda's character who has literally have everything taken from her, including her own children. Yet perhaps Chaucer purposely had Walter written as a "God - like" character to mock the type of standardized "Godly" marriages.
The Clerk responds to the Wife of Bath's tale by saying that this is type of marriage more particular wife that any man would be jealous for. It is interesting to note that Chaucer says this following quote:
"O noble wivès, full of high prudénce, Let no humility your tonguè nail. Nor let no clerk have cause or diligence or good reason.To write of you a story of such marvail As of Griselda, patïent and kind, Lest Chichevache you swallow in her entrail.1 her gut Followeth Echo that holdeth no silence. But ever answereth at the contretail. answers back Be not bedaffèd for your innocence fooled But sharply take on you the governail. mastery Imprinteth well this lesson in your mind For common profit since it may avail." (Abrams, lines
"This story is said, not for that wivès should follow Griseld as in humility,
For it …show more content…
Most would have a difficulty to understand the "God - like" character Walter especially with modern women readers. After all this man has selfishly taken delight out of torturing his wife for the sake of it and their type of relationship would have been classified as domestic abuse in today's world. In fact it is much easier to be drawn more into Griselda's character who has literally have everything taken from her, including her own children. Yet perhaps Chaucer purposely had Walter written as a "God - like" character to mock the type of standardized "Godly" marriages.
The Clerk responds to the Wife of Bath's tale by saying that this is type of marriage more particular wife that any man would be jealous for. It is interesting to note that Chaucer says this following quote:
"O noble wivès, full of high prudénce, Let no humility your tonguè nail. Nor let no clerk have cause or diligence or good reason.To write of you a story of such marvail As of Griselda, patïent and kind, Lest Chichevache you swallow in her entrail.1 her gut Followeth Echo that holdeth no silence. But ever answereth at the contretail. answers back Be not bedaffèd for your innocence fooled But sharply take on you the governail. mastery Imprinteth well this lesson in your mind For common profit since it may avail." (Abrams, lines