Skukura Woods

Battle of the Sexes

Question:

Using The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, what can one infer about women by the way Chaucer portrays relationships throughout the book?

Essay:

It is easy for someone to be misled and make a false assumption about another person by the way they are portrayed. Geoffrey Chaucer, who at times seems like a sexist or misogynist by the way he portrays women in The Canterbury Tales (Tales), is not misleading the reader, but in fact he is actually making a strong statement about the difference between an older more experienced woman and a young flirtatious woman. He does this by the reoccurring themes of unholiness and unfaithfulness of women in The Wife of Bath, Miller's, and Merchant's Tales.

Throughout The Canterbury Tales, youth, beauty and wealth are valued, and poverty-stricken middle-aged women are looked down upon. According to the Tales, it is believed that a woman who attains "beauty and youth...(equals a) life of ease, a holy life," (367) despite the fact that the tales show otherwise. On the other hand, women who are old force men to wonder, "What sin have I committed," (287) as if having a wise, older woman as a spouse is a curse and punishment. Most young women are adventurous, with "no restraint (nor) discipline." (358) A marriage, especially to someone who is "jealous, (and keeps) her in a cage," (89) can tempt one to seek a mate that is equal in age; for, "youth and old age (is always) in debate." (89) Yes, it is true that the older man is most likely wise and could provide monetarily for his youthful wife, but at the same time, their goals are different. For instance, in The Merchant's Tale, sixty-year-old lecherous January, wanted to wed a virgin purely to "beget an heir" (357) and "have some pleasure of her." (376) Coinciding, the fresh and young May, the spouse, still found compassion in her heart and longed for the fairy-tale romance that she found with Damian, the adolescent squire. A similar instance happened in The Miller's Tale, in which "he (was) old (and) she wild and young." (89) In the end, the "caged" wife found sovereignty with a man her age whom "(she swore) she'd love when she could spy an opportunity." (91) These adolescent women were still foolish enough to marry a man whom they did not truly love. For the man, it was about having a trophy wife, and for her, it was security for her future which meant she had to be "safely married." (266)

Contradictory to the thoughts and actions of the younger women, the Wife of Bath (Wife) was experienced and knew what to say to men and how to treat them. Twenty years the youthful women's senior, she had already openly expressed that she "(had) wedded five!" (259) She had been with older men "who (were) both (her) debtor and (her) slave," (262) and those who were "young, strong, (and) stubborn." (270) Through trials, she found that a woman must "let him think (she) was one enchanted," (274) so that she could be in his good graces. Whenever there was another lover outside of the marriage, she then could tell lies such as "I swore that all my walking out at night was just to keep his wenching well in sight," (269) and he would believe her mischievous words. The Wife of Bath also found that a woman should not be submissive to her husband; therefore, if he hit her, she would "(stand) up at once and smote him in the cheek." (280) She "owe(d) them nothing" (270) because "his pleasures were (her)profit(s)." (269)

Wife, a knowledgeable adult, who was once just as enticing as the youth, had grown up and was more selective of whom she chose to marry. Wife "had (her) world and time, (as well as her) fling(s)," (271) and that is what the young women were doing; having fun. They were not old enough to be "knowing wom(e)n (that could) always prove (their) husband(s) at fault." (264) May and the Miller's wife were under the false pretense that it was "better to marry than to burn." (260) The Wife of Bath, however, married only if she knew she would gain something out of the marriage, such as land or money. The younger women married considerably older men, not understanding sacrifice and the goal of marriage, which is to spend the rest of your life with someone you love and trust throughout any circumstance. The young women married old men who were vulnerable to losing their sight, such as May's husband, and even men who were jealous and did not fulfill the romantic needs of their young spouses.

Chaucer made a distinct depiction between young women who were lusty and considerably greedy and older women who had been through a lot and were enlightened when it came to marriage. Young women undoubtedly "have a curious fantasy in such affairs (i.e., speaking of disdainful love)...When something's difficult and can't be had, (they) crave and cry for it (i.e., real love) all day like mad." (272) The more experienced woman found no use in the man once "they'd yielded (her) their gold and land." (264) After reading The Canterbury Tales by Chaucer, one can understand that he is not being a misogynist by showing women as greedy and unfaithful, but in fact, he is showing how men can be easily deceived by clever women and love them through adultery and manipulation just to have a young beautiful wife to show off. In terms of women, he is explaining that it is difficult for a relationship to work when the spouses have different goals and a significant age difference. Chaucer is not putting one sex over the other, but giving advice on how he thinks a relationship between a man and a woman should be.