Tritram Shandy
Chaucer's Wife Of Bath, Allison, is a very interesting character. She almost seemsto be an early feminist, but is not by her own words. She has her own authoritarian viewson marriage, Scripture, and husband domination. Alison is one of the only characters whoactually reveals herself openly, through her prologue. She has a personality, and thatpersonality consists of her authority over her husbands, her own ideals on religion, and she Allison establishes her authority on marriage and husbands through experience. Because of her aggressive outset to prove authority, some may see her as a wickedwoman, and she is proud of this. "Experience, even if there were no other authority in thisworld, would be grounds enough for me to speak of the woe that is marriage". She hasbeen married five times, the first at age twelve. Many people have criticized her, using asproof the fact that Jesus only went to one wedding. But she feels that her five marriageshave only helped to build experience, and thus support her views. Those views being thatwomen want to have dominance over their husbands. So she us
She pays no heedto the fact that men hold all the positions of power in society, or that the woman whogives the Knight in her tale a chance can do so only by pleading with her husband. But shealso proves that she is not just a feminist out to champion female dominance. She may rely on her certain "charms" to establish authority,but in the end she always relies on good sense and intuition to get what she wants. But the real message of the story, regardless of her apparent lack of real life cynicism, isthat women, ugly or fair, should be obeyed in all things by their husbands. The reason that Allison's character seems more real is herself-cognizance, she seems to look at her life from a distance. Allison ultimately wants to control her husband, whomever that may be, but alsohave her own needs satisfied. es her prologue to mimicthe way in which churchmen assert their authority-by quoting Scripture and works ofauthority. The Wife of Bath's authoritarian self confidence is a subtle comment on the waymen thought of women. By also including this sub-moral into her story, Allisonclearly shows that she is not completely cynical to the idea of a mutually happy marriage. Therefore she actuallythinks and has a quasi-dynamic personality. She also attacks the church's view on virginity, saying that even ifvirginity is important, someone must be doing something to make more virgins! Shepokes fun at the views of the church and establishes a base to better prove her own. She at first tries to justify her actions by appealing to the higher truths ofthe Scripture, but soon abandons this approach. But it accomplishes it in a different sort of way. Her tale also subsequently proves her theme of dominance of men by women.
Common topics in this essay:
Scripture Gods,
Bath Allison,
Wife Bath's,
Scripture Bible,
establish authority,
control husband,
justify actions,
women dominance,
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Acceptance Essays
