It is difficult for the modern reader to enjoy a tale that is consistently hostile to women’? Many writings during the middle-ages were anti-feminist and these beliefs were often based on the biblical story of Eve being tempted in the garden of eden, causing mankind to be banished from paradise. Women were commonly believed, during these medieval times, to be deceitful, unduly emotional and unfaithful. Anti-feminist writings would highlight the lack of rights of women in contrast to the superiority of men. The main female character in the Merchants Tale, May, is portrayed as being deceitful and unfaithful in her affair with her husband’s page, Damyan. May is shown to be ‘bought’ by her husband Januarie into a marriage whereby her main purpose is for sex and of providing an heir to Januaries estate. May is also of a lower social status than Januarie and can therefore be viewed as being powerless in the marriage arrangement as she is dependent on him.
Based merely on these points the tale could be viewed as being consistently hostile to women, however Chaucer does provide the reader with differing perspectives and an overview of love and marriage. I feel that Chaucer remains objective in the tale of Januarie and May through the use of irony, mythology and references to other literature and in doing so criticises and makes fun of all the characters, male and female, especially Januarie. Chaucer often makes fun of Januarie’s self-delusion and ignorance and so the reader is able to see May progress to a more powerful position within the marriage. In contrast Januarie becomes increasing reliant and dependent within the marriage. Therefore I feel that although in part the tale is hostile to women, it is not consistently hostile and does provide an objective perspective on the subject of love and marriage which enables the modern reader to enjoy the tale.
The Essay on Women Reader Attention Stephen King
What would be the first thing that comes up to your mind when you think about Stephen King With no doubt. Scary x, will be a first description that pops up in your mind. I remember, at young age, watching a movie named. IT x story written by Stephen King. As a young age I was so scared by the movie. But then I was so into the plot of the movie that when I arrived in the States, that was the first ...
The tale begins with a passage that is clearly anti-feminist, whereby the merchant expresses his views of women to the other pilgrims. ‘ I have a wife, the worst that may be. For though the feed to hire y coupled were, she would overmacche, I dare wel swere’. The merchant ends his introduction by stating that he can tell no more of his sorry story, ” Gladly’ quod he ‘but of men owene store, for story here, I tell may namoore’. Instead the merchant goes on to tell the story of a knight called Januarie and his ‘lovely May’. I feel that Chaucer uses the aforementioned quote to give the reader insight that the story of the knight will be similar to the experience of the merchant.
This may lead the reader into shaping their opinions and views of the characters in relation to the anti-feminist introduction. In other words, the reader will be waiting in anticipation for the female character, May, to live up to the female stereo-type created by the passage, of behaving in a deceitful and unfaithful manner. Based on this first passage the tale can be viewed as being hostile to women although it is not yet possible to comment on the consistency of the hostility. The merchant progresses to tell his tale about a knight called Januarie, who lived in Lombardy, notably renowned for its banks and brothels (which highlights the central themes of the tale of money, power and sex).
Januarie lived much of his life in a care-free and promiscuous manner.
On reaching sixty, Januarie decides that he wants a wife, ‘ and namely whan a man is old and of hour, thane is a wyf the fruit of his tresor’. Januarie wants a wife like ‘warm wex’ that he can shape and control. The way in which Januarie embarks on choosing a wife can be likened to a financial transaction and one in which the chosen girl is powerless. To enable Januarie to choose an appropriate girl, he seeks the conflicting advice of his brothers Placebo and Justinus. The passage (lines 259 to 483) can be viewed as being hostile to women as the men discuss the virtues and danger of marriage and women. Justinus provides Januarie with cautionary advice about women and tells him to find out beforehand ‘wher she be wyf, or drokelewe or a was tour of thy good’.
The Essay on Should women work after marriage
A good relationship between husband and wife depends on the level of mutual respect they have for each other. This means never taking each other for granted or simply expecting certain things for each other without asking or having a discussion around roles. For example in a relationship, the husband automatically expects the wife to know where his clean shirts are or assumes that all housework or ...
He advises that ‘with any wyf, if so were she had de mo goode the wes than hire vices badde’ and gives Januarie three years of happiness at most. The advice of Justinus is particularly hostile to women as he assumes all women to be bad and requires proof of any virtues they might have. January goes against the advice of Justinus, with the blessing of Placebo (who lives up to his name) and seeks a wife of his own choice ‘ cheese hir of his owene auctoritee and he discovered ‘ a may den in the to un of beautee’ who despite her ‘smal degree’s o cially would appear to have desired attributes of a ‘mydd el small, and armes long and sclendre’. Justinus again urges caution that ‘Para unter she may be youre purgatories. She be Goddes meen e and Goddes whipped, thane shal youre soule up to heaven skipper sifter than dooth an are out of a bowe’. Based on the fact that Januarie chooses a girl and endeavours to ‘own’ her in what is represented as a financial transaction of marriage, makes this part of the tale hostile to women.
The feelings or wants of May are not taken into consideration and the decision process is based merely on the wants and desires of Januarie. May is therefore portrayed as being powerless in the marriage, which takes place later on in the tale. As previously mentioned, this passage read in isolation is hostile to women whereby they are negatively stereo-typed and are given no rights. Januarie views marriage, purely for economic and personal gain. However it is necessary to take into consideration the tale as whole to determine whether it is difficult for the modern reader to enjoy. The merchant’s tale is told from a male perspective and I have illustrated passages that are hostile to women.
However, Chaucer does provide the reader with different perspectives on love and marriage through the use of irony, humour and sarcasm. Chaucer uses humour and sarcasm to make fun of Januarie ‘He was al coltish, ful of rage rye, and full of jargon as a flecked pye. The slake skin about his ne kke shake th. While that he sang, so chaunteth he and craketh’. Chaucer also highlights Januaries self-delusion and ignorance of entering into a marriage with a young beautiful women ‘Whan tender you the hath wedded stopping age, ther is switch mir the that it may nat be writen’ and so the tale is not merely hostile to women. After Januarie and May get married, Damyan is properly introduced to the reader and can be compared to the serpent in the Garden of Eden.
The Term Paper on Unmarried Women Marriage Family Time
English - Pride and Prejudice Social and Historical context of the Novel The social context in which Jane Austen's novel, Pride and Prejudice operates, is one of firm class divisions, formality, and extreme importance placed on knowing what was considered proper behaviour. It reflects many accepted beliefs of the time - in early nineteenth century England. There were very strict distinctions ...
Damyan demonstrates traditional courtly love and is ‘dying’ from the pain of love / lust he feels for May. The passage, lines 686 to 754 clearly shows how Chaucer repeatedly uses irony and humour to present Januarie as being ignorant and stupid as he becomes instrumental in bringing Damyan and May together to have an affair and thus introduces the serpent into his own Garden of Eden (the paradise he created on earth through marriage and his walled garden).
On hearing of Damyan absence, (due to the pain of love) Januarie declares to his wife that she must go and visit him. ”Dame,’ quod this Januarie ‘talk good here, at after-mete ye with youre women alle, whan ye han been in chamber out of this halle, that alle ye go se this Damyan. Dooth him disport-he is a gentile man.’ . The reader is given an insight into what will happen with Damyan and May and so Januarie is presented as being ignorant and stupid.
Januarie is consistently made to look old and undesirable to May which makes him vulnerable in the marriage. ‘But lest that precious folk be with me wroth, how that he wroghte, I dar nat to yow telle; or whether hire thought it paradis or helle.’ Chaucer places May in a more powerful position within the marriage as Januarie becomes increasingly vulnerable, especially after he becomes blind. This passage proves that Chaucer is not merely hostile to women but also to the men in the tale and so enables the modern reader to enjoy the Merchants Tale as it is a very humorous story. To conclude, although the tale can be viewed as being hostile to women and May does actually live up to the negative stereotypical behaviour of becoming unfaithful, I feel that the tale is equally hostile to men. The balance means that the reader is able to enjoy the tale in the manner that it was meant, to provide humour and fun on the serious subject of love and marriage.
The Essay on Compare and Contrast between Arranged Marriage and Love Marriage
Comparison and Contrast between Arranged Marriage and Love Marriage It is believed that marriages are made in heaven. It might be true while in reality the couples who are married are either in love with one another or the marriages are finalized or arranged by their family members. Debate about whether love marriage or arranged marriage is better is never ending as both sides have their ...
