The Wife of Bath's Tale

The Wife of Bath's tale begins with a knight, who fell to lust and raped a beautiful young maiden. The king ordered a death, however the queen insists to give the ill faithed knight another chance. With the king's approval, the queen sent the knight on a mission. His mission, to answer one question. The knight starts his mission with the question, what do women want most in the world. After one year the knight must report his findings to the court. If he is correct he is spared his life, but if found wrong, off with the head.

The knight immediately beings his search for the answer. With every woman in his path, he would question, what do woman want most in the world? As the women answer, his worst fear became a reality. Every answer was different. The knight began homeward in vain. Upon entering the forest, the knight saw a small group of ladies dancing among a fire. He decides this is his last chance to live. As he neared the ladies, they ran away in fear. All except an ugly old woman. Upon his arrival the woman asks if she can help him with anything. The knight then promises the woman he will marry her if she saves him. Both agree and travel to the courts.


The knight and the old woman arrive from their travel to the court, where, the knight tells the queen the answer with which the old woman told him. What women most desire is to be in charge of their husbands and lovers. The women agree that this is the answer, and the queen spared the knight’s life. The old ugly woman proceeded to ask her knight for her hand in marriage in front of everyone. The knight cried out in horror. He begged her to take his material possessions rather than his body, but she refused, and finally the knight agreed to wed by force. Later that day, the knight and the old ugly lady were wed; that very night they consecrated their vow. During this special night, the woman asked the knight why he was so sad. With his response came two insults. Firstly, the fact he was married to her and secondly that she was horrifically unattractive. Surprisingly, the woman ignored the knight's bashing and began to explain to the knight; would he rather be with a young, beautiful, unfaithful woman or a loyal, good hearted woman, who will be by your side. The knight sat in silence then explained his trust in her judgement for the right answer. He left her with the most desired thing among woman. The authority to chose for herself. The two lived a long happy marriage, happy with each other.


The Wife of Bath concludes her story with a plea for woman to gain young husbands who can keep her happy in the bedroom. And the desire to out live the husband. The Wife of Bath's Tale in general summed up the Wife of Bath's opinion in general.