Look at the portrait of the Wife of Bath, and consider: · the physical and moral presentation of the character and how Chaucer achieves this. · her place in medieval society

Sharp, intelligent and remarkably astute; Chaucer the author is evidently as fascinated by the Wife of Bath as the naïve, impressionable narrator through whom her portrait is related. A shameless, outspoken woman, she could quite feasibly claim the most complete portrayal; appearance, behaviour and spirit are discussed – and Chaucer even delves into intimate personal history. Yet, despite her flaws being laid bare, readers – and, more significantly, Chaucer himself – respond to this character with such delight that the Wife of Bath has become one of the Canterbury Tales’ most celebrated pilgrims. I intend that our study of the character’s physical and moral presentation will reveal why.

Chaucer opens the Wife of Bath’s portrait by remarking rather unexpectedly that – while assuredly a good woman - she is, sadly, ‘somdel deef’. The pecul...