Pilgrim Mingle Wife of Bath: Provocative & Bold Wife of Bath: Provocative & Bold More about Wife of Bath More about Wife of Bath HOME My Pilgrims Send her a Messenger BASIC INFORMATION Occupation: Cloth Maker Age: it is but a number Place of Origin: Bath Religion: Christian (only when it works in my favour) Favorite Colour: Scarlet Relationship status: widowed and ready for new love BASIC INFORMATION Occupation: Cloth Maker Age: it is but a number Place of Origin: Bath Religion: Christian (only when it works in my favour) Favorite Colour: Scarlet Relationship status: widowed and ready for new love

Character Traits Shown Through Physical Appearance Alluring and Provocative -“large hips” (471) ~ Chaucer the writer specifically describes Wife of Bath’s hips,a blatantly feminine feature and one of the few actual parts of her body that Chaucer the writer describes, likely to accentuate her womanly and sensual nature. - “her hose were the finest scarlet red and gartered tight” ( ) ~ The red colour of her clothing simultaneously draws attention and symbolizes love and power. ~ the fit her hose are described as “tight” meaning she purposefully parades her body using her sexuality as an instrument to lure, control and intimidate men. - “Bold was her face, handsome and red and hue” (456) ~The use of the word bold rather than a word such as beautiful tells us that she is striking and showy opposed to the ideal gentle woman.

Character Traits Shown Through Physical Appearance Sexually Confident -“She had gapped teeth, set widely, truth to say” (466) ~ Chaucer the writer subtly hints at the Wife of Bath’s sexual nature by describing her gapped tooth. ~ According to physiognomy, what people of the 13 th -14 th thought to be science, having a gap between ones eye teeth was a sign of lust, sensuality and sexual energy. ~The gapped tooth is clearly visible enough for Chaucer the pilgrim to comment on, which shows the wife of bath is comfortable with displaying her lustful nature.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Emotionally Detached -“She knew the remedies for loves mischances” (473) ~ Chaucer the writer addresses the fact that although her misfortune as a widower, the Wife of Bath knows how to grieve in a way that allows her to continue with her suggestive lifestyle. -“Some Christian man shall wed me straight away”(prologue) ~ When Wife of Bath states this it shows us she does not share a bond with her passed Husband’s. ~ She thinks of men as objects in which she shares their riches rather than someone whom she can share experiences.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Experienced -“She’d had five husbands, all at the church door, apart from other company in youth” ( ) ~ In Medieval times it was unusual for a women to marry more than once because women could not divorce their husbands. Marriages were often set up by a woman’s parents for the purpose of an alliance, so excessive courting and flirting were seen as unnecessary and unseemly. ~ The fact that, despite these societal norms, the wife of bath managed to entertain suitors and marry five different men makes her far more experienced in relationships and marriages than most women.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Experienced (cont.) -“She had thrice been to Jerusalem…She’d been to Rome and also to Boulogne, St. James of Compostella and Cologne.” ( ) ~This quote shows that the wife is well-traveled, giving her more experience in the world than average medieval women who were expected to stay in one place once they were married. ~ All of the places named in this quote were and are popular places of pilgrimage. Since women were not to travel for pleasure, the Wife of Bath likely made frequent pilgrimages to satisfy her lust for travel and not because of her devotion to god.

Character Traits Shown Through Physical Appearance Rich -“Her kerchiefs were of finely woven ground” (451) -“finest scarlet red” (454) -“her shoes were soft and new” (455) ~ Her lavish, expensive clothes suggest that she splurges large sums of money on just her physical appearance. ~New and red-dyed clothing are a luxuries only wealthy people can afford, showing how the Wife of Bath has no financial limitations that restrict her from self-indulging.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Intimidating -“In all the parish not a dame dared stir/Towards the altar steps in front of her” ( ) ~ This quote tells us that the Wife of bath is avoided by other women, however the diction suggests that she is avoided not because of her undesirable qualities, but out of fear and respect. ~ The use of the word “dared” presents how fearful the other women are of her. ~ The metaphorical “altar steps” in front of the Wife of Bath give her an elevated and almost godly aura, showing that she is treated as one would treat a temperamental god or idol: with careful worship.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Intimidating (cont.) -“And if indeed they did, so wrath was she/As to be quite put out of charity.” ( ) ~ This quote shows us that the Wife of Bath is not passive when she feels that someone has wronged her. ~ If crossed, she confronts the offender with her anger instead of supressing it. ~ As women in medieval times were expected to be meek and docile, the Wife of Bath’s unusual behaviour likely gives her a reputation that would intimidate anyone.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Witty -“God commanded us…/But he made no mention of number”(Wife of Bath prologue 28-32) ~ The Wife of Bath uses God to argue her right to be married to multiple men. ~She dismisses criticisms of other people not by fighting but by using an all-powerful figure in her defense. ~ The Wife of Bath understands the protection and power of using God as an excuse for her many lovers.

Character Traits Shown Through Non- Physical Qualities Skilled -“In making cloth she showed so great a bent” (445) ~ Chaucer the Pilgrim mentions Wife of Bath’s talent in cloth making within his first few lines, this suggests he wants the reader to understand that she is more than just a sexual being. -“ She was skilled in wandering by the way” (465) ~ This expresses Wife of Bath’s passion and experience with travel, this is a key factor when describing wife of bath as travel was the pass time of a man. ~ By using travel it shows in more than one way that she was not like other women, as she defied the stereotypes and did not feel threatened by men.

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Works Cited "Chaucer: The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale -- An Interlinear Translation." Chaucer: The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale -- An Interlinear Translation. Web. 13 Nov "Physiognomy." The Wife of Bath. Web. 13 Nov "Medieval Women - History Learning Site." History Learning Site. N.p., 22 Aug Web. 12 Nov "Medieval Medical Science." Medieval Medical Science. N.p., 1 Oct Web. 12 Nov "Medieval Physiognomy & the Humours." (n.d.): June Web. PDF. 12 Nov