The Prioress vs. the Wife of Bath - 2297 Words

In Geoffrey Chaucers, The Canterbury Tales, Chaucer narrates the accounts of several pilgrims on their way to visit the shrine of St. Thomas Becket at the Cathedral in Canterbury. Through his narratives, Chaucer presents his audience with a broad representation of life and social class interaction in both the pilgrims and the characters in their tales. Chaucer brings to light various ideas, thoughts, and commentary in regards to medieval society. The two most significant characters who provide the greatest insight into contemporary medieval society are the Wife of Bath and the Prioress. Through both the Wife of Baths Tale and the Prioresss Tale, Chaucer articulates his opinionated views of the etiquette and conduct of women in the†¦show more content†¦Even though she has left her husbands somehow, she will always be tied to matrimony. Even though she is not married, she is still referred to as the Wife of Bath. The Prioresss name Eglantine also can be connected to her natural beauty, as an Eglantine is a type of rose. Unlike the Wife of Bath, the Prioress has received a high education from the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow, where she learned to speak French fluently. The learning of French was seen as being highly cultured, so this also reaffirms her social status. Though she is very well-educated, Chaucer points out that she may not be the most informed, For Frenssh of Parys was to hire unknowe. This goes to show that even though she is very well-rounded, she lacks in her knowledge of what goes on perhaps in the world outside of the nunnery. Chaucers description of her delicate table manners exemplifies her ladylike qualities as, She leet no morsel from hir lippes falle, Ne wette hir fyngres in hir sauce depe; Wel koude she carie a morsel and wel kepe That no drope ne filled upon hire brest. In curteisie was set ful muchel hir lest. Hir over-lippe wiped she so clene That in hir coppe ther was no ferthyng sene Of grece, wan she drunken hadde hir draughte. Ful semely after hir mete she raughte. The emphasis on her fine etiquette is also an example of her superior education to that of the Wife of Bath and elevated social standing. While the Wife ofShow MoreRelatedWife of Bath Vs The Prioress1222 Words   |  5 Pagescontradicting personalities that are intricately described by Chaucer. Among these twenty-nine excursionists are two women. One of them is the coquettish Prioress while the other one is the partially deaf Wife at Bath. Although both women possess discernable similarities, both possess divergent personalities and experiences. The Prioress, known as Madam Eglantyne, has an elegant nose, a Lilliputian, soft, and red mouth, a big-forehead, and a glass gray mouth. She wears a cloak, a set ofRead More Canterbury Tales Essay - Sexuality in The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner1711 Words   |  7 PagesSexuality in The Wife of Bath and the Pardoner In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, an eclectic mix of people gathers together at Tabard Inn to begin a pilgrimage to Canterbury. In the General Prologue, the readers are introduced to each of these characters. Among the pilgrims are the provocative Wife of Bath and the meek Pardoner. These two characters both demonstrate sexuality, in very different ways. Chaucer uses the Wife and the Pardoner to examine sexuality in the medieval periodRead More Contradictions in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Essay3897 Words   |  16 PagesContradictions in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales There is no question that contradictory values make up a major component of The Canterbury Tales. Fate vs. Fortuna, knowledge vs. experience and love vs. hate all embody Chaucers famous work. These contrasting themes are an integral part of the complexity and sophistication of the book, as they provide for an ironic dichotomy to the creative plot development and undermine the superficial assumptions that might be made. The combination of completely