The Wife of Bath story is from The Canterbury Tales, written in 1400 by Geoffrey Chaucer. Not very relevant today, you might think. However, The Wife of Bath is a remarkably independent-minded woman—an early feminist, in fact—making her story especially timely around International Women’s Day on 8th March 2024.

Did you read The Canterbury Tales at school? This collection of stories was told by a group of pilgrims journeying to Canterbury in or around 1400. Written in medieval English, it can be challenging to read, but its themes remain surprisingly relevant.

The Wife of Bath’s Story: A Lesson in Female Empowerment

In her prologue, the Wife of Bath speaks about her life, revealing that she has been married multiple times. Her husbands came with the usual challenges and flaws, yet she has outlived them all. She is now searching for another, but only if he possesses the right qualities. Some of the men in the group heckle her, but she refuses to be silenced.

She then shares her tale, which centers on a young knight convicted of raping a young woman. Instead of being sentenced to death, the women of the court persuade the judge to give him an opportunity to redeem himself. He is given one year to find the answer to a crucial question: What is it that every woman wants?

As the deadline nears, he still lacks an answer. On the last day, he encounters an unattractive old woman who claims to know the solution. She agrees to reveal it—on one condition: he must marry her and grant her what every woman desires. Desperate, he accepts.

She tells him that all women want control—control over their lives, their bodies, their money, and their relationships. Women desire the freedom to choose.

When he delivers this answer to the court, he wins his freedom. Upon marrying the old woman, he discovers that she transforms into a beautiful young woman. The implication? By allowing her autonomy, he has secured both her happiness and his own.

A Lesson That Still Resonates

Today, we may not use the word control, as it can carry negative connotations. Instead, we might say agency or the freedom to make her own choices—without societal or male-imposed obligations.

Geoffrey Chaucer, a medieval man, wrote this astute analysis of what women want. Feminists today often question how a man from the 14th century could possess such insight into women’s desires—not just of his time, but of all time. This proves that wisdom about human behavior can emerge from any source, regardless of gender.

What do you think? Feel free to email me at [email protected].

Love,
Jean