The Wife of BathBy: Ben Swauger, Janie Wilcox, Robyn Yurek,

Brooke Shank, Liz Laughlin, and Hannah Barkell

Love Life● First married when she was 12● She used her first 3 husbands to become rich and gain herself

power.● First 3 husbands were rich, old, and submissive

o Easily dominated/suffered her abuse were happy when she simply spoke nice to them

o Rich and somewhat powerfulo So old they couldn’t have sex

● Her fourth husband was a cheater and had a mistresso in order to dominate him, she pretended like she was

cheating on him and he became super jealouso she hated that he liked other women

Love Life● She really loved her 5th husband despite his flaws

o He beat hero He was coy, good in bed, and was always able to win her

backo She married him for love and not moneyo She was twice as old as him.

● She met Jankyn, her fifth husband, when she was still married to her fourtho She told him that she would marry him if she were widowedo She also lies to him and says that he enchanted her and she

had a dream about him killing her in her sleep, filling her bed with blood.

● She acted very sad when her fourth husband died even though she wasn’t because she already had a 5th husband in place.

● She regretted the age difference because he wouldn’t take her abuse and abused her.o but she loved that she couldn’t control him.

Religion● The Wife of Bath was a very Christianic woman but she picked

and chose what she actually wanted to follow/believe.● She uses her own experience and a number of biblical

references to challenge the authority of church doctrine and that of her husbands.

● She believed that women could have multiple husbands just as men can have multiple wives. o She uses Solomon, Abraham, and Jacob from the bible as

examples of men who have had multiple wives.● She believed that God made sex not only for reproduction, but

for pleasure as well.

1300’s Chicks● Submit to your husband

or become a hooker was the motto.o During the 1300’s,

prostitution was legal.● Women Were treated as

property in the 1300’s.

1300’s Chicks● they had no rights, their husbands ruled.● Women were second to any man. ● Women were given a husband or forced to marry.● Some men would force their sisters and even mothers to marry

him.● Some widowed women were sent to nunneries after their

husbands died.● A small amount of very powerful women could hold land and

even if she married, the land would be given to her children.● The common household wife had no rights.

Video WOO

http://youtu.be/e3cvOm7qStk

The Wife of Bath Tale● During the time of King Arthur there were things called elves and fairies. They

vanished because mendicants and friars took over their roles.o In this time, Incubus- a male demon who was believed to have sex with

sleeping women in attempt to get them pregnant. Rape in this time was believed to just cause a woman dishonor.

● The young knight raped a girl he liked very much.● The court wanted him to be put to death but the Queen gave him another chance.

o The Queen gave him the challenge to discover what women want most in the world and report his findings back to the court within a year. If he was unable to do so they would take his head.

● The knight asked every women he met. They all had different answers such as money, honor, looks, sex, ect. An old woman he met on his journey said that women want to be in charge of their husbands and lovers. That was the answer he was looking for.

● The woman tells him he must pledge himself to her in return for her help. As he was running out of options he accepted her offer.

Wife of Bath Tale(continued)● The knight and the old woman travel back to the court to share his findings. All the

women agree and they spare the Knight’s life.● The old lady publicly asks him to marry her and he resists as much as he can until

he is forced into to marrying her.● During their first night together the Knight is miserable.

o The old lady asks why he is so sad. He answers her by saying he can hardly bare the shame of having such an ugly, lowborn wife. she does not take offense but says that she can be ugly but loyal and good or be young and fair but also coquettish and unfaithful to him. The Knight says he trusts her judgement and asks her to choose what she thinks is best, she becomes both beautiful and good.

o The Wife of Bath concludes with a plea that Jesus Christ send all women husbands who are young, meek, and fresh in bed, and the grace to outlive their husbands.

Young Snooki and the wife of bath love to make love and get into trouble. Snooki is a lot like the wife of bath. The wife of bath loves to dress very elegantly just like snooki likes to look nice when she goes out.

Young Snooki always has a new boy friend just like the wife of bath who goes through husbands faster than Snooki goes through a new outfit.

They are both loud mouths and pick fights with whoever will fight back.

Both women are strong and able to be independent even though the men dont always play a big role in their lives.

Snooki and the Wife

Important Themes-Female Dominance-Behavior in Marriage-Antifeminism (inability to keep secrets)-Ugly woman into beautiful woman-Satire (of knight, of women)

How does the Wife of Bath Relate to her characters?● Young Maiden who was raped

o The Wife of Bath was treated the same with her abusive husbands

● Old Hago She was able to manipulate the man to gain

herself power just like the Wife of Bath did with every single one of her marriages.

Critical Thinking1. How accurate is it that women like to have control over their

husbands? Could this still apply to today? If not, what do you think women desire most?

2. Is the knight’s punishment appropriate for his crime?3. Why do you think the wife turns both beautiful and faithful? Do

you think the knight truly respects her or is she just superficial?