The Wife of Bath

Characteristics• Hometown-Bath, a seaport• Physical Features

– Slightly deaf– Physically imposing—other women

never got in her way in church– Face was Bold with a red hue– Gap between her teeth, set widely– Flowing mantle concealed wide hips

• Personality– Other women afraid of her– Wrathful to those in her way– Likes to laugh and chat– Knows all remedies of love’s

mischance

Characteristics (cont)• Attire

– Hose, finest scarlet red and tightly gartered

– Finely woven kerchiefs on her head

– Shoes, soft and new– Big hat

• Occupation– Exceptional weaver of fine cloth– Better than famous Flemish

craftsmen

• Family History– 5 Husbands– Married all in the church (“no need

to speak of that”)

Characteristics (cont)

• Extensive Religious Travel– Jerusalem

– Rome

– Boulogne

– St. James of Compostella

– Cologne

• Her Horse– She sits side saddle

– The horse is gentle, it ambles

– She wears spurs that are concealed to urge the horse to move

Quotes of Note

Others assert we women find it sweetWhen we are thought dependable, discreetAnd secret, firm of purpose and controlled,Never betraying things that we are told.But that’s not worth the handle of a rake;Women conceal a thing? For Heaven’s sake.

And when I’ve finished telling you my taleOf tribulation in the married lifeIn which I’ve been an expert as a wife,That is to say, myself have been the whip.So please yourself whether you want to sipAt that same cask of marriage I shall broach.Be cautious before making the approach,For I’ll give instances and more than ten.

Connections

• Ongoing verbal jousting with the Friar throughout the trip to Canterbury

• Gives advice to the Pardoner concerning marriage and he says “there’ll be no marrying for me this year.”

• Speaks after the Pardoner and thus her tale is compared to his

• Stark comparison with the other woman of the tale—the nun

Upon an amblere esily she sat,Ywympled wel, and on hir heed an hatAs brood as is a bokeler or a targe;A foot-mantel aboute hir hipes large,And on hir feet a paire of spores sharpe.

The Real Chaucer’sEnglish