Parody in Chaucer's "wife of Bath"

Based on the prologue Chaucer defines how Wife of Bath uses parody. The text focuses on her using references from the Bibal. A woman from the merchant class who is unread, ignorant about certain things talking about and using Bibal to defy her opponents and question the authority . The comic effect is highlighted in the text when she quotes certain saints as Saint Jerome and talks about their opinions and judgements about certain things. The technique she uses is that she uses the same references, modifies them to serve her purpose. Some critics are of the opinion that she is using her sexual attributes even just on her introduction in “The Canterbury Tales” via the Prologue to the Wife of Bath’s Tale, it appears from the onset that The Wife of Bath from “The Canterbury Tales” simply uses her sexual attributes instead of trying to prove her equal status. In general, this female character stereotype is meant to be seen as a parody of sorts since she includes a number of negative female characteristics including stupidity and arrogance; deceitfulness, and lewdness. It can said that she is not helping with creating the perfect image for her sex, as pointed out by some critics.

Although she is striking back at men it is not for any deeper reason other than personal profit. It appears that in this section of the prologue to the Wife of Bath’s tale,to some it appears that  Chaucer wants his readers to laugh at this character rather than admire her for her proto-feminist stances on life and marriage.

In the Prologue to the Wife of Bath's Tale both provide ample evidence of the futility of arguing from Authority. "Experience" she declares from the first . She needs no one to describe it for her.

However, when she discusses and talks about marriage she highlights their words, citing them, contradicting by using the same references . She uses the "sic et non"

Technique,i.e. she demonstrates that conflicting opinions . She replies in kind to her learned opponents,and we get not only these replies: the comic effect is heightened by the fact that it is she, an unread widow, who voices their learned views. In the sic et non technique she quotes the biblical references used by the authorities to demonstrate or define something . She uses the same for her own use , altering the meaning and playing it clever!

As when she talks about the number of times one should marry. She first talks about some saint who said a person should marry once because Jesus Christ just went once

to attend a marriage . She uses the same text today that God wanted people to propagate and flourish and multiply and that could only be possible by marrying

multiple number of times.  

“How many times may one marry. She replies:

              Non technique

But me was toold,certeyn, nat longe agoon is

That with that Christ ne went never but onus

To weddyng, in the Cane of Galilee.

That by the same ensamplee taught he me

That I ne sholde wedded be but ones.

(III.9-13)

             Sic technique

Men may devyne and glosen up and doun,

But wel I woot expres ,withoute lye,

God bad us for to wexe and multiply;

That gentile text kan I wel understonde”.

(III.26-29)

Here,clearly Wife of bath uses the sic et non technique first to explain what “they” say and then defying her argument with the same reference.

In yet another example she talks about virginity :

“What are merits of virginity”

                Non

Men may conseille a woman to been oon,

But conseillyng is no comandment.

Poul dorste nat comanden atte leeste,

A thyng of which his master noon heeste.

(III . 66-67;73-74)

                Sic

Th’ apostel when he speketh of maydenhede,

he seyde that precept thereof hadde  he noon”.

(III . 64-65)

And here Chaucer achieves the irony both by the

incongruity between the speaker and the tone of what

she says and what is her purpose , to support her views