Canterbury Tales -- Role of Women

Chaucer's motley crew of pilgrims offered a vast deal of insight into life during the 14th century. Many aspects of society were revealed throughout the tales of the many characters. One such aspect prevalent in many of the tales was the role that women played in society during this time. The tales give the clearest images of women are the Knight's, the Miller's. the Nun's Priest, and the Wife of Bath's Tale. In the Knight's …

…display of cunning would not be necessary for her to feel like her life had a purpose. This dependency on the male sex binds the Wife of Bath's Tale to the portrayal of women found within the other tales. While all the stories were quite different in the manner in which women were portrayed, a rather clear picture can be formulated of the 14th century idea of women - creatures reduced to objects and possessions.