Chivalry is defined as "very polite and helpful behavior, especially a man towards a women; A code for knights to follow in the medieval times." Another way to define chivalry would be to say a good act done by a man towards a women, or vise versa. In "The Canterbury Tales", one of the tales has lots of examples of chivalry, each going under one of those definitions. The Franklin's Tale is a tale about a faithful wife keeping a promise she thought would never happen to a squire who falls in love with her. At the beginning, Arveragus shows chivalry by promising to be faithful and kind to Dorigen, then he doesn't let her break her word to Aurelius, and finally Aurelius doesn't make Dorigen keep the promise.
             First, at the beginning of the story, Arveragus shows chivalry by winning Dorigen and promising to be the most faithful and respecting husband ever. He would never be against her wishes, nor show jealousy, but instead follow her in all things and obey her, and respect her of all things. This shows chivalry as he is promising and at the same time performing a good act/deed. Arveragus trusts her and respects her, as she does him.
             Afterwards, when he leaves and Aurelius admits his love to Dorigen, she rejects him, but to make him feel better promises him her love if he performs the most impossible task ever. Then, after she and Arveragus are together again, unexpectedly, Aurelius tells her that all the rocks are cleared and that she mustn't go back on her word to him. Well while she is waiting for Arveragus to get back from serving the king again she plays around with the idea of killing herself for her husband so that she won't have to hurt him or go back on her word to Aurelius. This in a way shows an act of chivalry, but a bad example, as suicide is not the way out. Then Arveragus gets back and demands that she tell him why she is so depressed and crying. Well after she tells him he ...