The Wyfe of Bath and Feminism
In Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the Wyfe of Bath is one of the most memorable and unconventional female characters. Unlike the idealized or submissive women often represented in medieval literature, she is outspoken, confident, sexually independent, and determined to control her own life. Through her appearance, marriages, sexuality, and relationships with men, Chaucer presents a woman who refuses to hide or apologize for who she is. At the same time, the Wyfe of Bath possesses some qualities traditionally associated with women, such as gossiping, jealousy, and a desire for attention. This combination makes her a complicated character rather than a simple symbol of feminism. The Wyfe of Bath challenges traditional ideas about women while also reflecting some of the stereotypes of her society.
The Wyfe of Bath represents woman as a jolly, healthy, rounded personage. She is a sort of Dr. Ruth, in that she knows love’s troubles and is willing to help troubled souls. The Wyfe of Bath is the Nun’s foil because she knows what she is and does not try to cover up or repress her sexuality. She “lets it all hang out” and revels in her sexuality.
Chaucer uses the Wyfe of Bath to contradict the dehumanizing views of women that existed during his time. Women were often placed on a pedestal and admired; they were not supposed to be touched or “soiled” in any way. If women remained virgins their whole lives, they could be admired, exalted, canonized, and worshipped. Women could even become martyrs in the name of protecting their “honor.” Odes were written in the name of women, and Courtly Love became a popular ideal. In Courtly Love, a man would sing, write, and do everything in the name of a woman, preferably a married one, except sleep with her. One was never supposed to bed the woman one loved; mistresses fulfilled that purpose instead. Although we cannot know exactly how medieval women felt about this tradition, it is possible that many did not find it particularly appealing. The idealized image of women left little room for them to express their own desires.
The Wyfe of Bath, on the other hand, does not repress anything. She is not dowdy, priggish, prudish, or anyone’s servant. She makes no effort to hide her sexual past, especially her relationships with men younger than herself. In fact, she talks about her experiences at length. She loves sexual pleasure and has been married five times while actively looking for a sixth husband. She claims to have loved three of her husbands, but she also explains at length how she would tell the husbands she disliked how bad they were. She was clearly the dominant wife. She even pretended to be dead so that her fifth husband would feel guilty and do as she wished. The Wyfe of Bath knew what she wanted, knew how to get it, and often succeeded in getting it.
Physically, the Wyfe of Bath is described as a healthy, large woman. Her scarlet stockings suggest that she is sensual and perhaps a bit of a rebel. Red stockings would certainly stand out in a company of nuns and priests. Her broad hat and wimple show that she knows how to dress and is not simply a floozy in public, unlike Madame Eglantyne, who strategically places her veil to improve her appearance. The Wyfe of Bath has a handsome red face and is gap-toothed, which was traditionally thought to suggest a strong sexual appetite. She also has large hips, which could symbolize fertility as well as her physical strength and presence.
The Wyfe of Bath makes both a feminist stand and represents some of society’s traditional views of women. She is not at all the traditional obedient woman. She defies her husbands and has the confidence to tell them that their rules were wrong in the first place. She says:
“After your text, and after your rubric
I will not follow more than would a gnat.”
She also threatens to retaliate against her husbands’ infidelity:
“With wenches I would charge him, by this hand,
When, for some illness he could hardly stand.”
She calls her husbands names such as “Sir Dottard” and “Lord Fool.” The Wyfe of Bath is fully aware that she wears the pants in her marriages. She is also very sly; she had Jankyn lined up as a husband almost immediately after her fourth husband died. Her ability to manipulate the men around her demonstrates that she understands how to use the limited power available to her and turn it into personal authority.
At the same time, the Wyfe of Bath also seems to embody a few traditional views of women. She is gossipy and often leaves her duties to tell her friend Alison about the foolish things her fifth husband did. Even after he hit her so hard that she became deaf in one ear, she continued telling her friends about what had happened. This quality resembles the traditional housewife character often portrayed in modern sitcoms. The Wyfe of Bath is subversive toward her husbands; although she is dominant, she often does things behind their backs, which can get her into difficult situations. In this respect, she is somewhat like Lucy Ricardo from I Love Lucy.
The Wyfe of Bath also openly enjoys sex, which would have challenged traditional attitudes toward women. Often, when a woman is known to enjoy sex, she is judged negatively. This double standard was particularly significant in the Middle Ages, when virginity was considered one of the most valuable qualities a woman could possess. The Wyfe of Bath essentially asks: if all women were virgins, who would be left to give birth to more virgins? Her argument challenges the idea that female sexuality should automatically be considered shameful. The Oxford Cleric, however, clearly disapproves of her attitude and tells a story suggesting that women are happiest when dominated. The conflict between these perspectives highlights the larger debate about female independence and male authority in the text.
The Wyfe of Bath also has a jealous streak. She is proud of the cloth she makes, and it has to be placed on the church altar. If she is not first in line for something, she becomes upset. These characteristics can be interpreted as reflecting traditional stereotypes about women. Chaucer therefore does not portray her as a perfect feminist figure. Instead, he creates a complicated woman who possesses both traditionally feminine qualities and characteristics that challenge the expectations placed upon women.
All in all, the Wyfe of Bath is a charismatic and complicated character who pulls the reader into her world. She stands out among the other pilgrims because she is incredibly proud of her past rather than ashamed of it. She has traveled extensively, experienced several marriages, and openly discusses subjects that many people would consider inappropriate. She is learned to some extent, yet she relies heavily on her own personal experiences when teaching others. Most importantly, she refuses to allow society, religion, or her husbands to completely define who she is. Although she sometimes reflects traditional stereotypes about women, her confidence, independence, and willingness to openly embrace her sexuality make her an important challenge to medieval expectations of femininity. Through the Wyfe of Bath, Chaucer presents a woman who demands control over her own life and insists that her experiences and desires have value. In this way, she can be viewed as a surprisingly feminist figure, even though she does not fit neatly into the modern definition of feminism.
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