Often, the idea of women in the Middle Ages is dismissed because people believe that women were so repressed that there is nothing of value to study.

However, women played a vital role during the time period. Despite the many ways that writers and thinkers tried to brush aside women, a true study of the Middle Ages should include all of its inhabitants. The Wife of Bath makes many references to texts and argues against some of the well-known antifeminist tracts of Chaucer's day.

Research the institution of marriage in medieval times and the place of women in medieval society.

Then, respond to the following question: To what extent does an informed reading of the Wife's character, as presented in her "Prologue,"(based on historical evidence of the attitudes toward marriage and women held by Chaucer's contemporaries) impact the reader's understanding of her circumstances?

Is Chaucer holding her up to ridicule? Or does he use her to ridicule the conventions of his own age? Or, does he somehow manage to set her in both perspectives at the same time? Explain.

Assignment Details
Length: 6 pages

Sources: Minimum of 3, meeting the following requirements: 1 primary source (the literature itself), 2 secondary sources (at least one must be literary criticism)

Format: MLA HYPERLINK "https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/"https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/01/
Typed, double spaced, Times New Roman 12 pt font

Properly documented Works Cited page.