Argumentative Paragraph

Women in “The Knightʼs Tale”, “The Millerʼs Tale”, and “The Wife of Bathʼs Tale”
are portrayed very differently by the different authors, as some give her power and
others object-like characteristics. In “The Knightʼs Tale”, told by the Knight of course,
the woman who seems to be at the center of attention is the fair Emily, young and
beautiful. Neither Palamon or Arcita spoke a word to her, but they both fell in love at
the sight and fought to death for her love. Without Emilyʼs consent, her brother-in-law
Theseus made a deal with the gentlemen as to how to decide who would marry Emily.
She had no voice, and was subordinated to men in her time. Then, in “The Millerʼs
Tale”, Nicholas and Absalom both covet the heart of Alison, who is already married to
John. She is viewed as a prize for the two trying to win her over, and both go to great
lengths just to get a kiss from her. Once again, the story is based on two lovers fighting
for a girl they know close to nothing about, and how one of them gets the “prize” when
itʼs all over. In “The Wife of Bathʼs Tale”, however, a woman took a chance to tell her
story and reveal her thoughts on how women were treated. A young knight rapes a
woman and is sentenced to death but pardoned on one condition, and later runs to
dancing fairies in the forest to find the answer to his question. To his dismay, all that is
left is an old hag, ugly and poor. In her grace, she gives him the answer he was
looking for. The knight returns to his queen and says, “Women desire to have the
sovereignty/As well upon their husband as their love,/And to have mastery their man
above” (pg 96, 132-134). Itʼs obvious that the wife of Bath feels like women are looked
down upon and have no power, and power over men is what she desires most.
Through all these stories, the role of a woman is somewhat provincial, like an object
with no control, however, in her own mind, she wants to be in power and have
sovereignty over men.