... tale of the medieval woman. Chaucer takes the woman out of the shadows and into the spotlight in the Canterbury Tales, especially in the case of the outspoken Wife of Bath (WB). The apostle Paul writes to Timothy, "Let a woman learn in silence with all submissiveness" (1 Tim. 2:11). In Summa Theologica, Aquinas expands Paul's argument for female inferiority even farther: "As ... hypocrisy. In contrast, the Monk and Friar are clearly the targets of irony, as they do not seem to be aware of the contradictions in their arguments. The Wife of Bath is the character most like her author, "Of ...

• Word Count: 2959
• Approx Pages: 12
• Has Bibliography

... asserted that in a society that is entirely male dominated, gaining power by whatever means necessary is a step in the right direction. The Wife of Bath does not seem to fight for female equality within a marriage, but rather she fights to maintain power within a marriage. This view becomes more apparent ... between married men and women could magically change as well. This point might be wishful thinking on the behalf of the middle-aged Wife of Bath, but the theme remains the same: women should have more power both in relationships, as well as in society. Through the Wife, Chaucer ......

• Word Count: 2555
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography