Canterbury Tales: Wife of Bath (2)

Canterbury Tales: Wife of Bath (2)

    The Wife of Bath is a very envious women, who desires only a few
simple things in life.She likes to make mirror images of herself,
through her stories, which in some way reflects the person who she
really is. This is all proven_through the many ways she portrays her
characters.

    The Wife of Bath desires the obvious in life, but what she most
desires above all is being more powerful than her man, her spouse, and
her lover.In a relationship, she wishes to be the dominant of the
two.The one who has the_last say.The one who is in control and decides
all of the matters in the relationship.This is shown in her tale when
the knight fulfills his task to her."'...a women wants the self-same
sovereignty over her husband and her lover.And master him: he must not
be above her.This is your greatest wish...' In the court not one that
shook her head or contra-dicted what the knight had said..." (lines
164-170) The knight had spoken and fulfilled his quest, he found what
women what the best.No women in the assembly disagreed with the
knight's reply and certainly not the old hag.So it must be true power
is what women what the most.There is another example of the desire of
power for the women it the relationship. The old hag, after marrying
the knight, gives him_a choice. For her to either stay ugly and be
faithful or to become beautiful and wonder. " 'My lady, my love, my
dearest wife, I leave the matter to your wise decision.You make the
choice yourself, for the provision.I don't care which; whatever
pleases you suffices me.'" "'Have I won the mastery?' she said 'Since
I am to choose and rule as I think fit?'" "'Certainly, wife, that's
it.'" (lines 310-318) Consequently, the hag became beautiful, but yet
still faith-_ful.This example shows how happy the women became when
she was given the power.So happy that she rewarded her husband by
becoming beautiful. " 'And may Christ Jesus send us husbands (that
are) meek and...