Chaucers Impression of Women of Medieval Times - 1079 Words

CHAUCERS IMPRESSION OF WOMEN OF MEDIEVAL TIMES Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales in the late 1400s. By conceiving the idea of a pilgrimage to Canterbury in which each character strives to tell the best story, Chaucer cleverly reveals a particular social condition of England during the time. In this time period, the status, role, and attitudes towards women was clearly different from that of today. Two tales in Chaucers collection specifically address this subject: the Millers tale and the Reeves tale. The interplay between the tales and characters further enhances the similar viewpoints these stories have towards women. In the Middle Ages, most women married and began raising children soon after reaching puberty. They†¦show more content†¦Her overall character seems as one which has no shame. To the same extent, the millers wife and daughter, Molly, commit a similar crime of lewdness. John and Alan, angry at the trick Simon has played on them, decide to sleep with Simons wife and daughter that very night. In a most careful and wise manner, John gets Simons wife into his bed, while Alan gets himself into the bed of Molly. Molly, just as Alison, readily accepts Alans sexual offer, for Chaucer writes they soon were one. John uses a different approach to get with Simons wife, leading her to falsely believe his bed is actually hers. He instantaneously begins to have his fun, but again the wife believes it is her husband who thrusts like a madman, hard and deep upon her. Though just implied, there exists as much immorality in her actions as that of Molly and Alison. Having a child who obviously has already passed through puberty, Simon should be considerably older than John. Thus the millers wife must have known the Simon was not receiving her pleasures, but rather a young man who returned her pleasures in a way in which she could not resist. If such immoral behaviors exist in Mollys mother, there stands no question as to why Molly herself acts the same way. Not only does she disrespect her own body, but even worse her loyalty towards her father. She confirms to Alan that her father steals flour, andShow MoreRelatedThe Hypocritical Church Essay1237 Words   |  5 PagesIn the medieval literary masterpiece The Canterbury Tales, written by Geoffrey Chaucer, not only does Chaucer provide the reader with an entertaining story about a group of approximately thirty pilgrims who meet (by chance) at an inn, in a suburb of London, on a trip to see the shrine of St. Thomas #225; Becket in Canterbury cathedral, but he also divulges to the reader a remarkably horrid picture of an English Church run amok with corruption, greed and, more importantly, hypocrisy. WritingRead MoreWomen During The Medieval Times1932 Words   |  8 Pages2nd period 11/16/15 Women in Canterbury Tales During the Medieval time period that Canterbury Tales was written in, there was a general depiction of women that they weren’t even looked at as humans, but looked at as objects. Women were thought of as weak, untrustworthy, and even less intelligent beings than men. Chaucer did not necessarily agree with the general consensus of women during the time period. Now there are tales that go along with the general impression of women, but there are also signsRead MoreEssay on The Wife of Bath: Feminism in Chaucers Work2146 Words   |  9 PagesWomen in the medieval times were cast into very distinct roles. There was a strict code of conduct that was followed. They were to be submissive to their husbands and follow their lead. A womans place was also in the home and the responsibilities of cooking, cleaning, sewing, etc. fell into their domain. Women who deviated from these cultural-set norms made for interesting characters. Chaucers use of women and their overstepping their boundaries and typical roles in society make them mostRead MoreWomen And Male Authority Figures1507 Words   |  7 Pages In the fourteenth century, women were merely seen as subject to male authority figures. A wife was not seen as a competent adult because they were seen as so dependent on their husband (Bennett 104-105). After a marriage anything she owned became possessed by her husband (Bennett 104-105). Women who manipulated their husband and gained control of his assets defied the norm of women’s position in the fourteenth century. The church was a major part of Medieval England and controlled many peoples livesRead MoreThe Wife Of Bath, By Geoffrey Chaucer880 Words   |  4 PagesWomen throughout medieval literature are depicted as individuals torn between communal roles and individual needs. Socially, women were expected to display distinctive qualities such as subservience, pacifism, and protectionism. However, independent female characters, within medieval literature, are at various times contradictory to social philosophies. These women are guided by desires, independence, and progre ss notions. These conflicting depictions of social and individual concepts, within femaleRead MoreEssay on Women in Chaucers Canterbury Tales915 Words   |  4 PagesThe only two women most significant and described in great detail in The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer who provide the greatest insight into contemporary medieval society are the Wife of Bath and the Prioress. These two women appear similar in the General Prologue of the poem but, as we see through their tales, they are quite unique women and most importantly very different from one another. By examining both the Wife of Bath and the Prioresss tales, we are able to see the stark contrastRead MoreEssay on Review: Making of the Middle Ages899 Words   |  4 PagesAges’, offers an in depth study of the development of history in the world today. Observing that this book was published during the 1950s, Mr. Southern’s interpretation of the ‘Middle Ages’ was very distinctive in comparison t o other historians of his time. He explores the significance of the Middle Ages as a separate sector in the study of history by which the audience will notice that previous categories of studied history is set aside, as we are no longer focusing on the usual ‘Classical Greece’ andRead MoreCanterbury Tales Satire Analysis866 Words   |  4 PagesChaucer (A Discussion of Geoffrey Chaucer’s use of Satire in Canterbury Tales Directed Towards Church Hypocrisy, Class Nobility, and the Patriarchy) All well known, articulate speakers and writers throughout history use critical speaking techniques to rally support from those around them. One such tool is the use of satire in public speaking or writing. Satire is the combination of a poignant message along with sarcasm. Arguably the founder of Middle English, Geoffrey Chaucer was a mastermind inRead MoreThe Prioress vs. the Wife of Bath2297 Words   |  10 PagesIn Geoffrey Chaucers, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer narrates the accounts of several pilgrims on their way to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at the Cathedral in Canterbury. Through his narratives, Chaucer presents his audience with a broad representation of life and social class interaction in both the pilgrims and the characters in their tales. Chaucer brings to light various ideas, thoughts, and commentary in regards to medieval society. The two most significant characters who provideRead MoreThe Changing Face of Love in English Literature1528 Words   |  7 Pagesforward in time we see a distinct change in the freedom writers had as they addressed this theme and a change in the way men perceived love. Chaucer explores love as a motivating theme in â€Å"The Knight’s Tale† within his â€Å"Canterbury Tales†. Arcita and Palamon are the main characters within this tale and their actions are driven solely by their love for the fair Emily. This old English/Early Medieval view of love which Chaucer relates in â€Å"The Knight’s Tale† is indicative of the role of women in society