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Wife of Bath’s Tale

Wife of Bath’s Tale. Background. From the city of Bath She’s a seamstress “Professional Wife” 5 husbands Well travelled Enjoys talking and arguing. Summary of her Tale…. A lusty knight spots a beautiful lady in a meadow and rapes her

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Wife of Bath’s Tale

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  1. Wife of Bath’s Tale

  2. Background • From the city of Bath • She’s a seamstress • “Professional Wife” • 5 husbands • Well travelled • Enjoys talking and arguing

  3. Summary of her Tale… • A lusty knight spots a beautiful lady in a meadow and rapes her • Brought to court for this crime, and is sentenced to beheading • The Queen (and other females of court) step in and offer a different punishment: • He must answer this riddle within a year: “What do women want most in the world?” If he fails, he loses his head. • He sets out and asks the question to every woman he meets, getting several different answers

  4. And then… • The Wife of Bath interrupts her own story to tell of Ovid’s Story of Midas • When she finally returns to the Knight’s story, he meets an old hag who offers the right answer to his riddle in exchange for marriage • They both go back to court where the knight delivers the answer, pleasing the Queen and women at court • The hag ensures he lives up to his promise of marriage, and soon they’re wed

  5. Boo Hoo…or not? • The Knight is very upset he had to marry the ugly old hag • She lectures him on his attitude and about nobility. • She offers him a choice: Have her be ugly and loyal, or beautiful and unfaithful • He says that she may choose whichever makes her happy. • Because he allows her to choose (giving her power) she declares that she will be beautiful AND loyal • They live happily ever after!

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