The Fisherman Of Pont-Sur Seou Analysis

The Fisherman of Pont-Sur-Seine is a middle english fabliaux written by an anonymous poet, which tells of a marital disagreement between husband and wife on the importance of the husbands penis and sex in their marriage. Within this poem the author utilizes typical gender role assumptions, gender inequality, and references to stereotypical “woman” behavior to demonstrate the ideals that are common in patriarchal societies. How the author represented this through the use of these tools within this fabliaux, deserves further inspection.
Typical gender role assumptions were revealed through this poem by adding significance to the husband’s roles and duties in comparison to the wife’s roles and duties in during their marriage. The anonymous poet writes, “Each day the young man would depart to fish in his boat in Seine, and he made profitable gain” (Lines 8-10), indicating how his role as the “man of the house” requires him to provide for his wife and the household by going to work every day to make a living. This is generally the way a patriarchal society is set up. The woman’s duty is to take care of the home …show more content…
The anonymous poet writes, “He was her lord” (Line 14), referring to the relationship between the husband, and wife. Indicating that the husband holds the power in the relationship and the wife is of a lesser value than him and should be obedient. The poet also writes, “All that you say is a woman’s wiles.” (Line 35), portraying a conversation between husband and wife where the husband is indicating that what his wife is saying is of little importance and should be taken as just that, words with no great significance. Exemplifying her words as those of a silly girl. This quote also has a double entendre. This line depicts typical gender roles as well; where the wife is telling her husband what is expected of her as a woman and a wife, rather than what she really feels or