t only over husbands but in fact over all authorities. There are many stories that go along with her prologue. The story of Midas is used to show that women cannot keep a secret and the emphasis on the sovereignty of women (the knights case is transferred to a jurisdiction presided over by ladies, and it is also a woman who tells him the answer). Whenever topics like these arise, the vitality of the prologue returns. I feel Chaucer uses the female gender to shape his text by instilling many feminist ideas in his female characters. He takes the typical women of her time and transforms her into strong, rebellious, headstrong women who would do anything to gain control and power. Her wittiness is shown in her tale and her prologue by her quotes as well as her deceitful ways she actually did gain control. Chaucer gives the Wife of Bath many characteristics that are well know by her gender. She finds herself jealous of the old lady in her tale because of the power she has over men. He portrays the wife of Bath as a female who over time and experience had been through a lot and has learned over time what to aspire for. Her main concern was to have power over her husband as well as others. Chaucer uses the female Wife of Bath to portray a woman who had been married five times and looks at the marriage sacrament as a misery, however is still looking for her sixth husband. I feel Chaucer is showing how important the Wife of Bath needs a man in her life not only to control but also for her own personal fulfillment. Chaucer uses the female characters to show the type of lady that was trying to change her status but inside felt the same womanly feelings and emotions as any other. Although she wants to be in control over her husbands she realizes the importance of them in her life but is reluctant to emit this. Chaucer uses her clothes to show her strong-minded character. He takes the female gender and combines real character traits of most women a ...
