The Wife of Bath Viewed Through a Feminist Lens

Question

In Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Wife of Bath," is Alisoun a feminist or antifeminist character? Discuss your claim through a feminist lens as a literary theory.

Answer 1

Alys of Bath is what we might call a proto-feminist figure because she was created

before the advent of feminism. She exhibits some qualities that might fit a twenty-

first definition of feminism: she speaks out, even when those around her would

prefer her to be silent; she responds to the sexist claims of those around her (like

the Miller); she defends her out-spoken and defiant perspectives using her role as a

woman and as a wife (and widow). Being a widow gives her social authority,

although in the Middle Ages it would also have made her appear sexually

permissive. She finds herself in a position of both authority and power, at least in

terms of her speech and in her presence on the Canterbury pilgrimage, but, as a

woman, she is also aware that she will be misconstrued and that her words could

endanger her. Remember, too, that she lived in a time when outspoken women

could by severely punished by their communities and their Church, so she is

careful to base what she says in Biblical and scholarly works that give her added

legitimacy and authority.

One of the most feminist “takes” from her Prologue is her reliance on the goddess

Venus, goddess of sexuality and heterosexual (male) desire. Venus does not protect

women from rape or objectification (you can see that in Chaucer’s Legend of Good

Women and Knight’s Tale). She is not really a friend to women, but she is a goddess

and one who has great sexual power, from which Alys draws several times in her

Prologue to give her, again, authority and power.

The Wife herself has a lot of qualities that we might ascribe to feminism now, but

her tale is different. The premise of the entire story is the rape of an un-named,

silent woman. The knight in the tale has to prove he deserves to live by finding out

what women want, and the answer he gives, that they want sovereignty, is difficult

to unpack. Once he gets his answer he gets his life back, but he then has to give it

to a horrid ugly hag who gives him the choice of a beautiful cheating wife or an

ugly faithful one. He gives the choice to her—giving her sovereignty—and she

becomes both beautiful and faithful, but she then becomes, in many ways,

submissive to his authority as her husband: so how is that feminist?

Alys’ tale makes this question much more complicated: she herself can be seen as

feminist in a lot of ways, but her tale only really gives power to magical, unruly

(unreal) women and reaffirms the social order of marriage and female submission

in the end.

Further reading:

Delany, Shelia. “Sexual Economics, Chaucer's Wife of Bath and The Book of

Margery Kempe.” Minnesota Review New Series 5 (1975): 104-15.

Dinshaw, Carolyn. Chaucer’s Sexual Poetics, Madison, WI: University of

Wisconsin Press, 1990.

Evans, Ruth and Leslie Johnson. Feminist Readings in Middle English Literature:

The Wife of Bath and All Her Sect. London: Routledge, 1995.

Ireland, Colin A. “‘A Coverchief or a Calle’: The Ultimate End of the Wife of

Bath’s Search for Sovereignty.” Neophilologus 75.1 (Jan. 1991):150-159. 

Knapp, Peggy. Chaucer and the Social Contest. New York and London: Routledge.

1990.

Laskaya, Anne. Chaucer’s Approach to Gender in the Canterbury Tales.

Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1995.

Leicester, H. Marshall. “Of a Fire in the Dark: Private and Public Feminism in The

Wife of Bath’s Tale. Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales: A Casebook.

Edited by Lee Patterson. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2007.

Turner, Marion. The Wife of Bath: A Biography. Princeton: Princeton University

Press, 2023.

Answer 2

The Wife of Bath, Alisoun, in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, is like a woman today who openly defies traditional expectations about how women "should" behave. Imagine someone who confidently speaks her mind, controls her relationships, and refuses to apologize for living life on her own terms. Alisoun does all this—she's had five husbands and isn’t shy about discussing her love life, which was pretty shocking in Chaucer's medieval world. In some ways, she resembles a modern feminist, demanding respect and the freedom to make her own choices.

But Alisoun’s character isn’t just about female empowerment. She’s also written with some stereotypes that can make her look like a negative portrayal of women. For instance, she’s shown as manipulative, materialistic, and, at times, vain. These traits could make some readers feel like Chaucer is poking fun at her or even trying to suggest that women who seek power will ultimately be flawed.

Relating it to Modern-Day Feminism

Imagine two popular portrayals of women in media today. One is the strong, independent character who doesn’t need anyone’s approval and is open about her choices. The other might be a character who’s powerful but is also shown as overly controlling or even manipulative. Both types exist in Alisoun—she’s both empowered and flawed. This duality makes her relatable yet complicated.

For those interested in exploring these ideas further, here are some great resources:

Recommended Resources:

1. Books:
2. Chaucer’s Feminine Subjects: Figures of Desire in The Canterbury Tales by John Pitcher – For a look at how Chaucer portrayed women who resisted societal expectations.
3. The Wife of Bath and Her Critics in Chaucer Review – Offers a range of articles analyzing Alisoun as both a feminist icon and a stereotype.
4. Videos:
5. “The Wife of Bath’s Prologue and Tale: Feminist Interpretations” by YaleCourses on YouTube – Yale’s lecture series dives into what Alisoun’s character might mean through a feminist lens.
6. “Geoffrey Chaucer’s Wife of Bath: A Proto-Feminist?” by CrashCourse Literature on YouTube – This video explains her as a possible “early feminist” figure, making it easy to see how her character could be both admired and critiqued today.

Alisoun’s character continues to be relevant today because she reflects the complexities of being a strong woman in a society that often has mixed feelings about female power and independence.

Answer 3

Chaucer was a Christian, not a 21st-century feminist. In fact, he was likely showing that she wasn't a good wife and contradicted biblical standards for wives. She was bold, not humble and submissive. She bought rich clothes, spending her husbands' money selfishly. She thinks she is pretty, but Chaucer gives her gapped teeth. She was ugly inside and out. She believes she's knowledgeable about marriage but has had so many husbands, never really experiencing true love or at least the ideal marriage even in the fifth one. The fifth husband does not show true love because she marries him for looks and charm. This husband also hit her so hard she was able to play dead, and he believes it. This abuse is what makes her finally become a good wife. Chaucer is saying that being hit like that was what she needed to become a good wife which is not feminist at all. There are so many things wrong with this character, she is meant to be comical.

Answer 4

Alison of Bath is an intricate character who stands for feminist ideals of independence, agency, and challenges patriarchal norms. However, some elements of her character might provoke stereotypes about females. Overall, Alisoun acts as a meaningful reflection of the intricacies of female identity and patriarchal society, creating a compelling figure for feminist literature analyzation. Alisoun embraces her sexuality, challenging male dominance, and supporting female leadership, she can be viewed as a feminist icon and a figure who provoked controversial topics on gender roles and expectations surrounding them.