One of the most recognized characters of Geoffrey Chaucer’s “Canterbury Tales,” the Wife of Bath, is known for her novel ideas on marriage and love. Chaucer created a character that inspired future writers of Western literature.
One of the 30 pilgrims featured in these 24 tales, the Wife of Bath represented the changing views about marriage and love in Medieval England.
An Independent Mindset
In “The Canterbury Tales,” characters from all walks of life travel together on a pilgrimage from London to Canterbury. To pass the time, the pilgrims tell each other tales, in a varied collection of literary genres. By using this clever framing device, Chaucer encapsulated English Medieval life and the social classes it harbored….