Feminism

One of the most surprising aspects of the "Wife of Bath," is the feminist beliefs of Alisoun. Back then, in the times when the "Canterbury Tales" was written, society was controlled by the will of men. Women usually didn't have a voice and they were always under the dominance of men. But the Wife of Bath is an exception. In a patriarchal society, the wife manages to express her true beliefs and acts accordingly to her thoughts about women in society. She believes that women have the right to get married more than once, just like she has been married five times. Also, she believes that women have the right to control their husbands, stating that she uses her sexual and verbal powers to manipulate her husbands. " A husband I will have -- I will not desist/ Who shall be both my debtor and my slave/...Upon his flesh, while I am his wife/I have the power during all my life/Over his own body, and not he" (154-159).

The Wife of Bath portrays her feminist beliefs as she tells her tale. Her tale is about a man who after he rapes a woman, is sentenced to death unless he figures out what is it that women want most in the world. After a long journey, the man meets a woman who tells him that "Women desire to have sovereignty/As well over her husband as her love/ And to be in mastery above him" (1038-1040). This answer of what women want most in the world fits completely with Alisoun's character. She controls her husband’s in every aspect of their lives and she has complete dominance over them. Her tale portrays her feminist beliefs, which are that women should have absolute power on their husbands.

Alison's beliefs on the power of women depict her feminist character. It was unusual for women in those times to dominate their husbands, but still she manages to make her husbands do anything she wants. As well, her tale is about what women want most in the world. And this is to control their husbands, just like she has done over her life.