Sexuality
Sexuality is a prominent theme in the prologue to "The Wife of Bath's
Tale." The Wife of Bath, a character created by Geoffrey Chaucer, is
unapologetically open about her sexual experiences and desires,
challenging societal norms and expectations regarding female sexuality in
medieval England.
Throughout the prologue, the Wife of Bath speaks candidly about her five
marriages and her views on sex and marriage. She presents herself as a
woman who enjoys sex and asserts her right to pursue pleasure within the
confines of marriage. Her narrative challenges the notion that women
should be passive or chaste in matters of sexuality.
One key aspect of the Wife of Bath's characterization is her insistence on
her own sexual agency. She asserts that women should have control over
their bodies and desires, even within the institution of marriage. She
proudly declares:
"For hadde God commanded maidenhead,
Then had he cursed beth that there were wed;
And for that marriage is a thing so sweet,
Ymakin in Paradise, so like to meet,
I hold it best that each wight may take
His own delight, ere ever that he stake
His person thralled, lo, where it liketh him." (lines 171-177)
In these lines, the Wife of Bath challenges the idea that virginity is a
prerequisite for marriage, arguing that marriage itself is a divine
institution and therefore sexual pleasure within marriage is not sinful. She
advocates for individual freedom and pleasure in matters of sexuality,
rejecting the idea that women should be constrained by societal
expectations of chastity and modesty.
Overall, the Wife of Bath's prologue presents a nuanced exploration of
female sexuality and agency in medieval society, challenging traditional
norms and advocating for women's rights to sexual autonomy within the
institution of marriage.
“Church and husband are five in number” in Prologue to Wife of Bath's
Tale
The line "church and husband are five in number" from the prologue to
"The Wife of Bath's Tale" in Geoffrey Chaucer's *Canterbury Tales* refers
to the Wife of Bath's five marriages.
In this line, the Wife of Bath is drawing a parallel between her experience
with marriage and her relationship with the Church. She likens her
husbands to the sacraments of the Church, which are traditionally
considered sacred and essential for spiritual well-being. By equating her
husbands with the Church, the Wife of Bath suggests that her marriages
hold a similar significance in her life as religious rites do for devout
believers.
This comparison also serves to emphasize the Wife of Bath's perspective
on marriage as a central aspect of her identity and experience. By
acknowledging her multiple marriages in the same breath as the Church's
sacraments, she asserts the validity and importance of her own marital
history, despite societal judgments or expectations.
Furthermore, by highlighting the number "five," the Wife of Bath
underscores the significance of each of her marriages. Each husband
represents a distinct chapter in her life, contributing to her personal
growth and shaping her understanding of love, marriage, and female
agency.
Overall, this line encapsulates the Wife of Bath's bold and unapologetic
attitude towards her marital history, framing her experiences within the
context of both personal and religious significance.
