The Representation of Medieval Women In The Canterbury Tales :: Literary Analysis, Geoffrey Chaucer

The Representation of Medieval Women In The Canterbury TalesGeoffrey Chaucer, and English writer and civil servant, began physical composition his most famous work The Canterbury Tales in 1386 (Chaucer iii). The story is about a group of pilgrims who journey together to Canterbury to seek the shrines of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was killed by post of Henry II in 1170 (1). During this pilgrimage, each character is introduced and is given a chance to tell a story to pass the time. In The bucks Tale, and The Wife of Baths Prologue, Chaucer represents cardinal very divers(prenominal) type of medieval women by representing women who differ in billet oer men and virtues. In The Knights Tale, Chaucer describes a womans power over men as residing in her spectator. The story is told by a courageous and chivalrous horse who lives by a command of truth, honour, freedom, and all courtesy, (Chaucer 2), therefore, he represents women in a respectable way. He do es finished the description of his main female character. He describing her as, She is sweeter than any flower that blows, (31) and, same(p) a heavenly angels was her song, (32). Emily is young and beautiful and her beauty makes men immediately fall in do with her. In the tale, two Theban cousins were imprisoned by Emilys brother in law, Thesus, after a battle in Thebes, and locked away in a tower. In this tower, some(prenominal) cousins catch a glimpse of Emily and fall madly in love with her. They ultimately fight a battle over her. Through this, Chaucer shows the power of beauty and the influence that it may have on men. Also in The Knights Tale, the knight helps represents medieval women through Emilys virginity and purity. The knight proceeds with his story and tells how both cousins fought for Emily as their bride, but Emily did not privation to be anyones bride. She prayed in the temple to the goddess Diana,before the two cousins battled for her hand in marriage, a nd pleaded to Diana, Chaste goddess, well indeed thou knowest that I/ Desire to be a virgin all my life/ Nor ever wish to be mans love or wife, (Chaucer 63). Emily wishes to be a inaugural to better serve her deity and her religion. For Emily, virginity is virtuous, and for that reason she wishes to remain a virgin.