Anti-feminist rhetoric in The Wife of BathIn The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer, The Wife of Bath is a strong woman who loudly expresses her opinions on the anti-feminist sentiments popular at the time. Chaucer, however, frequently discredits his arguments by rendering them unfounded and generally compromising his character. This calls into question Chaucer's political intention with the Wife of Bath. Does he support her opinions, or does he mock women who challenge patriarchal society, its restrictions and its distrust of women? The wife's comical character, frequent misquotations of authorities, marital infidelity, and her own (and Chaucer's) anti-feminist sentiments weaken the argument Chaucer was making about the wife's views. Chaucer chooses to make a comedy of the wife, calling into question the seriousness of his character. What opinion should we make of a woman who rambles on about marriage and female domination when she is described as a clown prepared for combat in the General Prologue? Her bright red stockings, bold scarlet face, shield-shaped hat, and pointed spurs paint the picture of a silly, even crazy, woman whose ways are larger than life. The Wife's comedic "larger than life" characteristics also apply to her feminist beliefs. Equal coexistence is not enough; she says that men “will be both my detour and my slave” – something probably unknown at the time this play was written. Much of what makes it comical is the plethora of sexual innuendo scattered throughout her dialogue. For example, when she mentions out of place in her story the enthusiastic brothers who replaced the fairies of old: Women can go up and down except: In every bush or under every tree, There is not. ..... middle of paper. ....easily states Chaucer's support for the Wife's views, it is important to note the neutralization of his arguments and credibility, as this seriously calls into question Chaucer's intention with the Wife of Bath. , 161 A woman's tale, 884 A woman's prologue, 585 M.H. Abrams et al.; ed., The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Sixth Edition, Volume IWW Norton & Company, New York/London, 1993.Wife's Prologue, 149Wife's Prologue, 186-9463Wife's Prologue, 4General Prologue, 465-70Wife's Prologue, 563Wife's Prologue, 549- 68Wife's Prologue, 44-6216-20Wife's Prologue, 233-4Wife's Prologue, 540-4Works Cited: Chaucer, Geoffrey. The Canterbury Tales. Norton Anthology of World Masterpieces. Ed Mack, Maynard et al. WW Norton and Co. New York, NY. 1992.