The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, and Paradise Lost by John Milton both show how big the role was by women to contribute to the downfall of man. Each of these authors portrays women's actions in different ways. Chaucer, in his female pilgrimages thought of women has having an evil-like quality, which was that they always tempt and take from men. They were shown as untrustworthy, selfish and vain. He shows these examples greatly in the "The Wife of Bath", "The Prioress", and "Nun's Priest Tale" tales. Milton, in his view of women shows how they were submissive to man in his portrayal of Eve in the Garden of Eden.
             The Wife of Bath represents the extreme in regards to female stereotypes of the Middle Ages. Unlike most of the women being undistinguished during the Middle Ages, she has a mind of her own and speaks out. She speaks greatly of herself and loves to show off whenever she can. She intimidates men and women alike due to the power she possesses. Because of her attitude Chaucer makes her obese and toothless. Doubtlessly, she is very ugly, almost to the point of not presentable. She also had five different husbands and countless affairs, thus breaking innocent men's hearts. The Wife of Bath brings up many valid points, but Chaucer disregards her opinion because of her social class and looks, when in reality she is really wise. It is as if her intelligence is forgotten by the fact that she is a woman and considered a whore.
             Now in the "Prioress Tale" Chaucer describes the Prioress as a loving, elegant person who is well mannered and above all loving. The Prioress is a very tenderhearted person who can't stand the site of pain and suffering. This represented that she has a weak soul with low tolerance for hardships. By this representation Chaucer was stating that women are wary and frightened members of society who need to be cared for by men.
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