Friday, February 20, 2009

WIfe of Bath tale

I feel as if the wife of Bath portrayed her tale in how she lived her life. The tale still gathers around her theory and feminism of how Women should have the control and power over men.

Lines 894-897"By verray force he rafte hire maydenheed. For which oppressioun was swich clamour And swich pursute unto the King Arthour, That dampned was this knight for to be deed" Lines 905 "The quene thanketh the king with al hir might, And after this thus spak she to the knight Whan that she saugh hir tyme, upon a day:"Lines 910 "I grante thee lyf, if though canst tellen me What thing is it that wommen most desyren."
Here it is describing how the Knight raped the maiden and King Arthur was to sentenced him to death. Then the Queen steps in and offers to save his life. If he can answer the question of What thing it is that women most desire. Why did the Queen step in. Shouldn't the King have full control over the choices that should be made. Even from the start of the tale I feel the Wife of Bath is showing how Women have control!!
With this being said.. The Knight could have chosen to run away but he did not. Therefore he has to go in search of what women most desire and the only way of finding this out is by speaking to women!
Lines 997 " Wheras he saugh upon a daunce go Of aldies foure and twenty and yet mo; Toward the whiche daunce he drow ful yerne, In hope that som wisdom sholde he lerne. But certeinly,er he came fully there, Vanisshed was this daunce, he knew not where." Why did the Wife of Bath draw towards a more mytheical approach of the women in the forest? All the women vanish and leave only one woman. Who the knight Quotes "A fouler wight ther may no man devyse." Is this showing how know matter what, the Knight will do and try anything to find the answer. He will rely on any woman he can to help him. He didn't seem at all concerned about the women vanishing.
I'm still confused if the woman really became gorgeous. I want to imagine that she did. I see the Wife of Bath making the knight rely and give all his power to this old woman then once he has married and promised her everything then the old woman's true beauty is revealed.
Lines 1267-1267"And Also I pray Jesus shorten their lives That will not be governed by their wives"
Again we see how the wife of Bath's life views come out into the tale. If the man does not let the woman control and govern him than he should die.
The Knight gave everything to this woman and thus they were able to live Happily to the end!

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