The Wife of Bath in “The General Prologue”: A Detailed Character Study
In The General Prologue to The Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer introduces his readers to a colorful array of pilgrims who journey together to the shrine of Saint Thomas Becket in Canterbury. Among these characters, the Wife of Bath stands out as one of the most vividly drawn and controversial figures. She is introduced with a richness of detail that signals her importance not only within the pilgrimage but also in Chaucer’s broader exploration of social roles, gender dynamics, and individual agency. Through Chaucer’s description of her appearance, attire, profession, behavior, and marital history, the Wife of Bath emerges as a complex and compelling character, emblematic of both empowerment and transgression in a medieval context.
Physical Description and Attire
Chaucer presents the Wife of Bath, whose actual name is Alisoun, as a woman who takes pride in her appearance and is not afraid to flaunt her sensuality. She is described as being somewhat deaf, which may symbolize her selective hearing or unwillingness to heed traditional moral teachings, especially those concerning women’s roles. Her clothing is notably extravagant: “Her coverchiefs ful fyne weren of ground; / I dorste swere they weyeden ten pound.” The sheer weight and richness of her head coverings suggest both wealth and a desire to be noticed.
Her attire is described as being of “scarlet reed,” a vibrant and costly color, signifying both affluence and sexual boldness. She wears finely woven kerchiefs and tightly laced red stockings, along with “shoon ful moyste and newe,” indicating she pays close attention to fashion. The careful description of her dress serves not only to highlight her prosperity but also to suggest her vanity and confidence in her sexual allure.
Her face is “bold” and “fair,” and she has “gat-toothed” teeth, which in medieval physiognomy could imply sensuality and a lively nature. Combined with her large hips and broad hat, the physical description Chaucer provides underscores her sexual confidence and strong presence.
Profession and Social Role
Though not a member of the clergy or nobility, the Wife of Bath occupies a notable position within her community. She is described as a cloth-maker “of clooth-making she hadde swich an haunt, / She passed hem of Ypres and of Gaunt,” suggesting she is more skilled and prosperous than the famed Flemish cloth-makers. Her success in this trade positions her as an independent and economically powerful woman—an anomaly in a patriarchal society where most women were economically dependent on their husbands.
Her business acumen is further emphasized by her prominent place in her parish. She is always the first to offer at church, and if anyone dares to go before her, “so wrooth was she, it seemed for to be.” This indicates not just religious devotion but a strong need for visibility and dominance in her community, even in spiritual matters.
Marital History and Experience
Perhaps the most defining aspect of the Wife of Bath’s character is her marital history. Chaucer tells us that she has been married five times: “Housbondes at chirche dore she hadde fyve.” In an era when women were expected to be chaste and submissive, the Wife’s multiple marriages set her apart as a figure who challenges societal norms.
Rather than expressing regret or shame, she embraces her experience with pride: “Experience, though noon auctoritee / Were in this world, is right ynogh for me.” This line from her later prologue is hinted at in the General Prologue, suggesting that she values personal experience over the traditional authority of religious or scholarly teachings. Her repeated marriages also imply a strategic use of the institution of marriage for personal gain—be it financial security, social standing, or sexual satisfaction.
Her travels are another indication of her autonomy and boldness. She has been on pilgrimages to Jerusalem three times, as well as to Rome, Boulogne, and Santiago. Such extensive travel, especially for a woman of her time, would have been unusual and indicates both her wealth and her desire to live on her own terms.
Character Traits and Symbolism
Chaucer imbues the Wife of Bath with a mix of traits that make her one of the most dynamic characters in the Prologue. She is bold, assertive, worldly, and unapologetically sexual. Her physical features and dress are not just signs of vanity but symbols of her independence and refusal to conform to the expectations placed on women in medieval society.
She is also a figure of contradiction. On one hand, she is devout enough to go on pilgrimages; on the other, she seems to treat these pilgrimages as opportunities for social interaction and perhaps even romantic pursuits. She is successful in her business yet keenly interested in dominating her husbands. These dualities make her not a caricature but a fully fleshed-out character who resists simple categorization.
The Wife of Bath can be seen as a proto-feminist figure—she asserts her right to bodily autonomy, sexual agency, and financial independence. Yet she is also a product of her time, using the institution of marriage to gain power in a society where other avenues were largely closed to women.
Chaucer’s Tone and Purpose
Chaucer’s portrayal of the Wife of Bath is marked by both admiration and irony. He allows her a voice and a presence equal to or greater than most of the male pilgrims, giving her one of the longest and most detailed introductions in the General Prologue. However, his tone is also tinged with humor and perhaps even skepticism. He draws attention to her loudness, her manipulative tendencies in marriage, and her unabashed worldliness, which may have been intended to amuse his audience as much as to provoke thought about gender norms.
Through the Wife of Bath, Chaucer invites readers to consider the complexities of women’s lives in the Middle Ages. She challenges the ideal of the submissive, silent woman and instead offers a portrait of female strength, resilience, and agency. Whether Chaucer saw her as a model to be admired or a cautionary figure to be laughed at remains open to interpretation, but her enduring presence in literary history attests to the power of her character.
Conclusion
In The General Prologue, the Wife of Bath emerges as one of Chaucer’s most memorable and provocative creations. Through detailed description and careful attention to her personal history, Chaucer presents a woman who defies societal expectations and asserts her identity through wealth, experience, and bold behavior. As a cloth-maker, a traveler, and a woman with five husbands, the Wife of Bath symbolizes both the opportunities and the constraints faced by women in medieval society. Her character not only adds richness to the tapestry of Chaucer’s pilgrims but also invites ongoing reflection on gender, power, and individuality.
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