First things first, don't get it twisted. I LOVE "The Wife if Bath's Tale". She's my favorite character in the Canterbury Tales BY FAR. She's a strong, independent woman who works her sexuality and femininity. Girlfriend has got it going on!
Focusing on her tale for a minute, though. I've read this before in British Lit and I must have been a walking zombie in that class during this discussion because DAMN, we have our own Stanford Rape Case!! He's everyone's bro and he's hot and he's a bad ass knight. I get it. However, Boyfriend straight up violates a woman (*ahem* NOT OKAY *ahem*). There's a big broo-haha about it, rightly so. But can someone please explain to me why all these courtly ladies are defending his ass? I'm supposing the punishment for a gentleman to rape a maiden is death, since that was going to happen. But all of these chicks gather up in arms to save him. Ladies, he is not worth saving!! He did one of the most horrible things a person can do. Off with his head, I say! I don't care if he's King Arthur's top dog, a great lay, and richer than Midas. Nope nope NOPE. Bye, Felicia!
Can I also mention that I kinda like Queen G in this story? And how ironic it is that she's the one who sets him on this quest? This chick doesn't even know what SHE wants half the time and the fact that she sends a man to practically do the impossible is so in tune with her character. She still should have killed him, but that's neither here nor there. I'm just salty.
I'm so pissed that he gets off. Literally. What does he get for rape? A years vacation and a hot wife who will stay true to him. What did that young girl get? Where's her knight in shining armor? Where's her Happily Ever After? Who is going to want her now that she's not a virgin?
And the Magic-HooHahcomes back again. Of course he will now love his wife because she chooses to be beautiful and faithful to him. Of course that makes everything all better!! Why am I not surprised!?Wifey is a freaking fairy and she can make him miserable! Why does everyone like this guy?!?
Ugh... Now I'm pissed off.
Yet again, I am laughing out loud at the gifs! On a serious note though, WHY DOES THIS MAN GET OFF!? I also, (in my dark and twisty mind) related all of the women who vouched for the rapist Knight to women in today's society who would not tell on their boyfriend or girlfriend who has harmed them in any physical or verbal way because they are being "taken care of" or they are scared. I thought that it was super interesting that the women covered for him and sided with him. Their maturity level is obviously low if they agree that harm to another women is okay. Because I know all of us ladies (and gents too) wouldn"t wish that on our worst enemy today! who knows maybe they were killing him with kindness or something (honestly he should be a goner in my opinion). This tale is definitely dark and twisty and I think it is incredible to read and many some speculations about!
ReplyDeleteGirl you hit it on the nail! Honestly the fact that this dude gets off - and that he is freaking portrayed as the hero of the story - makes me want to throw up hardcore! There are so many elements of this story that I have mixed feelings on, in that I think they are all really interesting and make for good commentary on society, but also they make me want to punch something. Like, what the hell is up with that ending? He spends the whole story being a grade A dick, then is nice for like five seconds and suddenly gets everything he wants? I'm really curious as to whole the readership of the tale was meant to be, because I feel like it would be impossible for any woman to read this and be okay with all of it.
ReplyDeleteI agree, she is one of my favorite characters because she is strong and independent and not many women are put in that light during this time. They are depecited as weak and fragile. This also ties in with why the knight did get off and is the "hero" of the story. I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that he is a man. Men are praised during this time period a lot more compared to today. They can do no wrong apparently. As for what Ellie said about how it would be impossible for any women to read this and be okay with it all, yeah in todays society because we are a lot more empowered and have a lot more rights and can actually think our own thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThe magic hoo-hah rules all! I couldn't agree more with every point of this post. This sorceress is absolutely bad-ass and deserves so much more than some shitty knight who doesn't know how to treat a woman. I'm genuinely convinced that he didn't really think about giving her the upper hand in the situation, because either way he gets something out of it. The frustration is too real. For once, however, I somewhat liked Queen G! I'm sure it will change ASAP though because she's so irritating 99% of the time. I wonder what women of the time felt when they were read this story. I know the tides have changed drastically since then and i may be too femi-forward to see why this was so popular, but I think I'd definitely thing of this story in a different light if I could see it from their perspectives.
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