FREE ESSAY ON WIFE OF BATH

WIFE OF BATH

The Wife of Bath, Dame Alice is quite a spiteful woman even though she desires only a few
simple things in life; power and control. Through her prologue and tale, she makes mirror
images of herself , which reflects the person who she really is. 
Dame Alice desires the obvious in life, but what she most desires above all is being more
powerful than her man, her spouse, and her lover. In a relationship, she wishes to be
dominant, the one who has the last to say, the one who has control over all things in the
relationship. This can be first seen in her prologue, I'll have a husband yet who shall
be both my debtor and my slave and bear his tribulation to the grave upon his flesh, as
long as I'm his wife. For mine shall be the power all his life over his proper body, and
not he…(55-59). It is then shown again in her tale when knight returns the castle
and fulfills the task assigned by the queen, a woman wants the self-same sovereignty over
her husband as over her lover, and master him; he must not be above her (174-176). Yet
another example of Dame Alice's wish to be dominant is presented later in the tale told
by her. The old hag, after marrying the knight, gives him a choice. It was either to have
her old and ugly but faithful or young and pretty but wonder off. You have two choices;
which one will you try? To have me old and ugly till I die, but still loyal, true, and
humble wife that will never displease you all her life, or would you rather I were young
and pretty and chance your arm what happens in the city where friends will visit you
because of me, yes, and on other places too, maybe.(309-316) 
By comparing the Wife of Bath's prologue to her tale, it is quite obvious that Dame Alice
wants to be the old hag. In some aspects, Dame Alice can be said to be jealous of the old
hag. After all, the hag was given power and dominance over her husband. In Dame Alice's
true life it was not completely true. The husbands that Dame Alice had, three of them
were good and two were bad. (92) The three that she had were called 'good' because they
were rich and old…(93) Dame Alice had complete control over them. But for her
fourth and fifth husband, there was another story. The fourth one cheated on her and the
fifth one, Johnny, she loved most, the one I took for love and not for wealth…(339)
And it is because she loved him so that she gave up everything to Johnny. I handed him
the money, lands, and all that ever had been given me before; this I repented later. .
.(401-403) From this it can be seen that Johnny had the upper hand. And of course, this
is not what Dame Alice desire. However, in her tale, the old hag has the power in the
relationship. She is given the choice of what to do and when to do it, you make the
choice yourself…(322). Dame Alice had the option of choosing taken away from her
when she gave everything to Johnny. 
The major similarity between Dame Alice and the old hag is the appearance. Both Dame
Alice and the hag are not very attractive and both are old. Dame Alice is describes
herself as I was forty then, to tell the truth. But still, I always had a coltish tooth.
Yes, I'm gap toothed; it suits me well…(394-396). The old hag is described by the
knight in the tale as old, and so abnomably plain, so poor to start with, so low-bred to
follow…(236-237). The old hag is then described as being old and fouler then a
fen(303). 
After Dame Alice's tale is told, it is simple to see that all she wants is what every
woman wants in a relationship, the self-same sovereignty over her husband as over her
lover, and master him; he must not be above her.(175,tale) And it is because of this
desire for power that Dame Alice has created the old hag, whom she identifies with. Dame
Alice wishes that even if she is ugly, as the hag is, she can have the power that the old
hag which was given to her by the knight. My lady and my love, my dearest wife, I leave
the matter to your wise decision.(320) Dame Alice wishes that she can be given the power
from her partner to make decisions and the choices and not have those taken away from
her. You make the choice yourself, for the provision of what may be agreeable and rich in
honour to us both, I don't care which; whatever pleases you suffices me. (322-325)