The ideologies expressed by the wife of Bath in the tale are representative of the conflicts in her internal conviction that the oppression of women is founded in the very same companionable institutions supposed to protect them. For instance, Chaucer observes, “St. Paul and the early Church fathers exalted celibacy and virginity above marriage” (282). However, evidence raised in the tale suggests that only women were answerable to these expectations, and men were not required to account for their sexual misdemeanors. The Wife of Bath highlights the criticism directed at her because of her numerous marriages. “ For lordinges, sith I twelfe yea was of age, thanked be god that is externe on live, Housbondes at church dore I have had five.” (lines
