The Wife of Bath: The object of satire
In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales one of the most interesting and different characters is “The Wife of Bath”. “The Wife of Bath” presents the reader with a woman who conforms to the stereotypes associated with the negative misogyny of women during the medieval times. The Wife of Bath is modeled after this stereotypical woman. One can attempt to reason Chaucer’s choice of these negative traits of The Wife of Bath, yet the same conclusion is always met. Chaucer chooses to present the Wife of Bath as a misogynistic embodiment of negative traits in order to use her as an object of satire. This satire presents stereotypes in a ridiculous manner in an attempt to change human nature towards women. Chaucer succeeds at creating the satire, although subtle, it is still ridiculing. Specifically, Chaucer underlines the misogynist ideas of how women were interested in only the money of men and in this endeavor they became the only authority on anything marriage related. Also, the fact that The Wife of Bath conforms to the negative misogynistic stereotypes, indicates that she does not conform to the positive views of a medieval woman, and in affect distancing herself from the reader in an attempt to be ridiculed. Throughout her part in the general prologue and her tale, we see that the wife of bath had many husbands, and because of this she is rich.
In her part of the general prologue it is outlined that The Wife of Bath had five husbands: “…housbondes at chirche dore she hadde five/ withouthen oother compaignye in youthe…” (Chaucer line 462-463). This quote shows that she was legally married to five different husbands, and had even more relations during her time as a young lady. This is part of the satire, because it conforms to the misogynistic interpretation that women were considered to be parasitic opportunist who found their interest in men’s money. Although the ridicule factor comes into play when one realizes that she has married 5 different men. In her first three marriages, she constantly accuses her husbands of being unfaithful and of being liars, as well as constantly criticizing their every action, this kept them very busy trying to please her with attention and material wealth. We know that she has married these men only for their money, because she is rich: “Her head dresses were of finest weave and ground”(Chaucer 455). If she has head dresses of the finest weave, then she must be rich enough to afford the hat, or the weave to weave it. Another example of how much money she posses is: “Her stockings were of the finest scarlet red,/ Tightly fastened, and her shoes were soft and new.”(Chaucer 458-459). This quote shows how she is rich enough to afford the finest stockings, and new soft shoes. The misogynist stereotype of a woman who uses men only for their money and to tame sexual appetite was common, it is for this reason that Chaucer chose to satirize this in “The Wife of Bath”. The Wife of Bath has had so many marriages that she considers herself the ultimate authority on marriage
