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The Wife Of Bath And Sir Gawain's Tale Essay

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The Wife Of Bath And Sir Gawain's Tale Essay
The story the Wife of Bath and Sir Gawain tell are the same general plot and climax. The sequence of events that occur happen in the same order just to the different characters. King Arthur rules both stories and give the decision of the punishment to the different girls to decide what is to be done to each knight. The question arises, what is it that women desire most? In each of the stories, the knight finds the answer on the last day of hunting. The knight in the Wife of Bath’s tale saves his own life, whereas the knight in Sir Gawain’s tale saves King Arthur. Each of the tales differ in focus and literary themes, due to the power and position of the Wife of Bath, and the true test of an honorary knight . This question dawns on the entirety of the theme of both tales and the symbol that makes up the Wife of Bath. Alisoun differs from most women in fifteenth century England. At this point in time, women were merely viewed as objects. Throughout the journey, there are many stories told, and Alisoun, being one of three women to tell a story, explains her story of life. She threatens the race of men by being so controllable and wise in her being. Alisoun uses her husbands to …show more content…
Although she had only been in true love once, She feels what it is like and what women most desire. “I think i loved him best, I’ll tell no lie. He was disdainful in his love, that’s why.” The answer to the knights question is that women want to be in control of their husbands love. The knight in Sir Gawain’s tale eventually figures this out at the end when he comes to enjoy the being of the old Dame Ragnell. The thematic contrast between the stories bring out the true colors of the Wife of Bath and Sir Gawain. Both want to be in control, but that is the long fight of any happy marriage, the true struggle for power. To gain a happy life there needs to be a happy
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