Feminism in THe Wife of Bath
... a woman; and the women being allowed to govern her own decision. The next feminist element is brought forth when the knight, through his endeavors, comes across young women who desire non substantial things. Money, joy, looks, sexual fulfillment, remarriage, and to be flattered are among these desires. They represent the patriarchal way in which men already view women; this is considered detrimental to the feminist ideal of women governing themselves. These women are used to symbolize what elements are holding women back in their quest for self governing ideals. The contrast to these shallow beliefs comes from an old woman who offers to help the knight. The old woman represents wisdom; she knows what it is that women really want. When the old woman is introduced the second major element of feminine empowerment comes to light. She tells the knight in return for her services the knight will have to pledge himself to her. The old woman uses something the knight needs to gain power over him. The knight is so desperately in need that he doesn’t realize that he has just devoted his life to the women. As the knight is brought before the council and the queen he reveals the answer the old woman gave him. “All women desire power of over their men and lovers” The other rudiments of feminism put forth in this text are fairly subtle and require deeper understanding but this point is fairly blatant. By society’s standard men generally are the dominant ones in a relationship, thus this element of the story introduces a role reversal. According to the text women wish to be the aggressors in relationships. This is an example of a function exchange; one of the goals in feminism is to eliminate gender barriers. When they state that women want to control men they are eliminating that barrier and allowing women a position of power in their relationships. This also simultaneously reflects the predicament the knight has put himself into with the old woman. This only furthers the point that she is using the power that she gained over him get what she wants. She has once again used cunning and her knowledge of the situation to force the young man to unwittingly do what she wants him to. The young knight offers her material possessions but that is not what the old woman desires. This proves the idea the book put forth that men believe women will be satisfied by material things. Even in today’s world men offer women material things hoping that they will make them happy, but in the end it is not enough. The next instance of feminine empowerment presented in the text once again involves women being allowed to govern their own decisions. After they are wed the old woman realizes that the young man is unhappy with his situation. She offers him a choice, she can stay the way she is and remain faithful, or she can transform herself into a beautiful woman and be unfaithful. The knight allows her to make the decision herself, and she becomes both beautiful and faithful. The old woman gives the knight a choice in her transformation, but the knight allows her to make her own judgment and she provides a solution that is mutually beneficial. Just as when the king allows the queen to make her choice, the knight also lets the old woman govern her own decisions. She, like the queen, also makes a wise choice. The message that a woman can wisely make her own decisions is driven home in this section of the story. Chaucer’s final depiction of feminism within this piece is depicted when he writes, “And Jesu Crist us sende/ Housbondes meeke, younge, and fresshe abedde—/ And grace t’overbide hem that we wedde./And eek I praye Jesu shorte hir lives…” (1264-1267). What Chaucer is conveying is the message that men are incomplete without women. Incomplete in the sens...