Wife of Wife of BathBathBy Jon BobberaBy Jon Bobbera

Her story takes place back Her story takes place back in King Arthur’s time.in King Arthur’s time.

The story starts out telling The story starts out telling about a knight raping a about a knight raping a woman in a wheat field.woman in a wheat field.

+ + =

Rape

By law the knight is By law the knight is punishable by deathpunishable by death

Instead the queen gets the Instead the queen gets the king to turn the knight over king to turn the knight over

to him for judgment.to him for judgment.

She gives the knight one She gives the knight one year and one day to go on a year and one day to go on a

quest to find out what a quest to find out what a woman really wants.woman really wants.

If he fails he will forfeit If he fails he will forfeit his life.his life.

Every woman he finds says Every woman he finds says something different.something different.

On the way home he comes across On the way home he comes across an old hag who says she will give an old hag who says she will give him the answer that will save his him the answer that will save his life if he will grant her request life if he will grant her request

when she ask.when she ask.

They go to the queen and They go to the queen and he is pardoned after telling he is pardoned after telling

her what a woman really her what a woman really wants is “to have the wants is “to have the sovereignty over their sovereignty over their

husband”.husband”.

After gaining his freedom, After gaining his freedom, the old hag yells out that the old hag yells out that

she wants for her favor for she wants for her favor for the knight to marry her.the knight to marry her.

He protests, but to no avail He protests, but to no avail and gets married the next and gets married the next

day.day.

The knight tells her he is The knight tells her he is unhappy because she is unhappy because she is

ugly and low-born.ugly and low-born.

She says she can be ugly She says she can be ugly and faithful or beautiful and faithful or beautiful

and unfaithful.and unfaithful.

Vs.

He gives her the choice to He gives her the choice to do what would bring her do what would bring her

the most honor and the most honor and happiness.happiness.

Pleased with his answer, Pleased with his answer, she becomes beautiful and she becomes beautiful and

faithful.faithful.

The EndThe End