Physical
Description
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Big booty
Gap between her teeth
Broad Hips
Red Face
Wide
“Bold was her face, handsome, and red in hue.…. She
had gap – teeth, set widely, truth to say… She had a
flowing mantle that concealed large hips, her heels
Spurred sharply under that.” (Lines 468 – 483, Page
101)
Clothing &
Accessories
Always dresses in expensive clothes especially
her velvet red stockings. The Wife wears shoes so
soft, brand new leather. Her hats are as big as
boats, that is her trademark. Her taste for her
headgear is expensive, Chaucer estimated that
her headgear weighed about 10 pounds. She
always had to be wearing her red stocking
wherever she went.
“Her kercHiefs were of finely woven ground… Her
hose were of the finest scarlet red and gartered
tigHt; Her sHoes were soft and new.” (lines463-467, Page 101)
Personality &
Experiences
When she is in company she laughs and chats very much.
The Wife of Bath represents the medieval stereotype of what a
lustful person looks like. She cannot control her passion for men.
She becomes angry when other wives go before her at the
church offering (where going first is a sign of respect given to
the most highly-regarded woman in the parish), and by hinting
that the Wife had numerous lovers before her five husbands.
The Wife is a fun-loving type of person, ideal to have on the
pilgrimages.
“In company she liked to laugh and chat and knew
the remedies for love’s mischances, an art in
which she knew the oldest dances.” (Lines 484486, Page 101)
Job
She is a clothes maker and is very successful, you can
say she is more well known and is used more than the clothes
makers of Ypres and Ghent. Ypres and Ghent were renowned
for their trade. From the money she got from her trade, she
was able to buy the expensive clothes and accessories she
wears. Everyone can assume she is a widow because only a
widow would have the freedom to run her own business and
travel on the pilgrimages to Rome, Bologna, Cologne, and
Gaul.
“In making cloth she showed so great a bent she
bettered those of Ypres and of Ghent.” ( Lines
457 – 458, Page 101)
Chaucer’s comments &
Social Class
 The Wife’s social class was the middle class with the merchant,
doctor, etc.
 If you couldn’t figure it out, the Wife of Bath’s deadly sin was
lust!
 Yes she upholds her social class because she has more money
than the lower class and she acts like she is supposed to be in the
middle class.
 Chaucer criticizes how giant her hats are and they weigh about
ten lbs. She used her body to control her husbands
Citation
"The Canterbury Tales: General Prologue & Frame Story Quotes."
Shmoop: Homework Help, Teacher Resources, Test Prep. Web. 19
Nov. 2011. <http://www.shmoop.com/canterbury-talesprologue/quotes.html>.
"Geoffrey Chaucer The Wife of Bath's Prologue and Tale Criticism."
ENotes - Literature Study Guides, Lesson Plans, and More. Web. 19
Nov. 2011. <http://www.enotes.com/wife-baths-tale-criticism/wifebaths-prologue-and-tale-geoffrey-chaucer>.