In the Selected Cantebury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer the role of women carry a controversial role, but was appropriate for the time. The “Knights Tale” and “Wife of Bath’s Tale” are two excellent examples of the image of women during the medieval time period. We learn these roles through “The Knights Tale”, a story of how two men fight for the hand of the fair Emily, and “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” which tells us what women really desire. Women are described in each tale as the stereotypical helpless, emotional damsels that only carry power through the men surrounding them. Women hold no real power in either story, if their husband or important male family member dies, then the power of that house dies with it. Though women held these attributes
…show more content…
In one case, two maidens tokens of a battle accomplishment for conquering a kingdom. On the other hand, in the “Wife of Bath’s Tale” it is the noble knight that sees the young lady just for sex and doesn’t look past her physical features in his successful attempt to rape her. The knight “by force took her maidenhead” exposing the weakness of women and power men had over them (Chaucer 125). Beauty is the most valuable asset women can have at this time. Sexual prowess was valued higher for women than logic, skill, or reason due to the fact that women were incapable of holding any power. Though the outlook of women steadily increases throughout both stories Chaucer slightly shifts his attention to the weakness and compassion that women have. The weakness and compassion play out in the story of “The Knights Tale” when Emily and the queen “who’s heart for pity bled” stops Thesues, who was going to punish both Palamon and Arcita for their crimes by showing compassion and sympathy(48). The same thing happens in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” when the powerless wife of the king and her fellow ladies had to “prayed of the king to show him grace” so that they could ask “What thing it is that women most desire?”(126). They propose to save bloodshed by making up for it in a compassionate way, exposing their weakness and showing mercy unlike how the king and law
In one case, two maidens tokens of a battle accomplishment for conquering a kingdom. On the other hand, in the “Wife of Bath’s Tale” it is the noble knight that sees the young lady just for sex and doesn’t look past her physical features in his successful attempt to rape her. The knight “by force took her maidenhead” exposing the weakness of women and power men had over them (Chaucer 125). Beauty is the most valuable asset women can have at this time. Sexual prowess was valued higher for women than logic, skill, or reason due to the fact that women were incapable of holding any power. Though the outlook of women steadily increases throughout both stories Chaucer slightly shifts his attention to the weakness and compassion that women have. The weakness and compassion play out in the story of “The Knights Tale” when Emily and the queen “who’s heart for pity bled” stops Thesues, who was going to punish both Palamon and Arcita for their crimes by showing compassion and sympathy(48). The same thing happens in “The Wife of Bath’s Tale” when the powerless wife of the king and her fellow ladies had to “prayed of the king to show him grace” so that they could ask “What thing it is that women most desire?”(126). They propose to save bloodshed by making up for it in a compassionate way, exposing their weakness and showing mercy unlike how the king and law