The Wife of Bath Thesis statement and the Supporting Research
During discussion in our last class period I began wondering about the seemingly contradictory words of The Wife of Bath. Was she really searching for love and just lost? Was she a sex addict? Was either one of those even a main point? What does the story have to do with the subsequent Tale? I say the Wife of Bath loved pursuit of passion itself more than those with whom she shared it.
She portrays herself as very intentional in her choice of husbands, choosing them based upon physical characteristics.
1. “With ech of hem, so well was him on live./ Blessed be God that I have wedded five./[of whiche I picked out the beste/ Bothe of nether puts and of hir cheste…] (lines 43-45)
During her marriages to the first three the WOB instantly loses interest after she posses their land and wealth.
2) “and, by my fey, I tolde of it no stoor./ They had me yiven hir lond and hir tresoor/ Me neded not do lenger diligence/ To winne hir love or doon hem reverence./ they loved me so well, by God above, That I ne tolde no deynett of hir love.” (lines 203-08)
She portrays herself as very intentional in her choice of husbands, choosing them based upon physical characteristics. Even Janekin, whom she appears to have shared love with, is first appraised through her tear ridden eyes of his appearance at her former husband’s funeral, “…me thought he hadde a paire of legges and of feet so clene and faire/That all mine herte I yaf unto his hoold” (lines 597-98).
“low, here the wise king, daun Salomon,/I trowe he hadde wives many oon!/ As wolde God it were leveful unto me to be refressed half so oft as he.” Lines 35-38
“With ech oh hem so well was him on live/ Blessed be God that I have wedded five/ [ Of whiche I have picked out the beste/ Bothe of hir nether purs and hir cheste.” Lines 43-45
“Diverse scoles maken parfit clerkes/ And diverse practik and many sundry werkes / Maketh the werkman parfyt sikerly/ Of fyve husbands scoleiyng am I/ ] Welcome the sixte, whan that evere he shall!” Lines 46a-45f
“And in swich wise folwe him and his fore./ He spak to hem that wol live parfitly,/ And lordinges by your leve, that am not I!/ I wol bistowe the flour of all mine age/ In th’actes and in fruit of marriage.” Lines 110-114
“They loved me so well, by God above/ That I ne tolde no deyntee of hir love” Lines 207-208
“But sith I hadde hem hoolly in mine hond,/ And sith they hadde yiven me all hir lond,/ What shoulde I take kepe hem for to plese/ But it were for my profit and mine ese?” Lines 211-214
“ To her, and to another worthy wif,/ And to my nece, which that I loved weel,/ I wolde han toold his conseil every deel./ And so I dide ful often, God it woot” Line 536-549
“Yet was I nevere withouten purveyance,/ Of marriage, n’of othere thinges eek” Lines 570-571
“My dame taughte me that soutiltee-/ And eek I seyde I mette of hime all night,…/But as I folwed ay my dames loore,/ As weel of this as of othere thinges
“As help me God, whan that I saugh him go/ After the beere, me thoughte he hadde a paire” Lines 596,97
“Of legges and of feet so clene and faire/ That all mine herte I yaf unto his hold” Lines 698-99
“And I was fourty, if I shall seye sooth,/ But yet I hadde alwey a coltes tooth.” Lines 601-02
“[ For certes, I am Venerien/ In feelinge, and mine herte is Marcien./ Venus me yaf my lust, my likerousnesse,/ And mars yaf me my sturdy hardinesse.]” Lines 609-612
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