The Representation of Medieval Women In The Canterbury Tales :: Literary Analysis, Geoffrey Chaucer

The Representation of Medieval Wo custody In The Canterbury TalesGeoffrey Chaucer, and English writer and civil servant, began writing his most famous realise The Canterbury Tales in 1386 (Chaucer iii). The story is about a group of pilgrims who journey together to Canterbury to seek the shrines of St. Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, who was killed by order of Henry II in 1170 (1). During this pilgrimage, each character is introduced and is given a chance to tell a story to pass the time. In The dubs Tale, and The Wife of tubs Prologue, Chaucer represents two very different type of medieval women by representing women who differ in power over men and virtues. In The Knights Tale, Chaucer describes a womans power over men as residing in her beauty. The story is told by a courageous and daring horse cavalry who lives by a code of truth, honour, freedom, and all(prenominal) courtesy, (Chaucer 2), therefore, he represents women in a respectable way. He does through t he description of his main young-bearing(prenominal) character. He describing her as, She is sweeter than any flower that blows, (31) and, Like a heavenly nonsuchs was her song, (32). Emily is young and beautiful and her beauty makes men immediately total in extol with her. In the tale, two Theban cousins were imprisoned by Emilys brother in law, Thesus, after a battle in Thebes, and locked away(p) in a tower. In this tower, both cousins catch a coup doeil of Emily and fall madly in love with her. They ultimately fight a battle over her. Through this, Chaucer shows the power of beauty and the influence that it whitethorn have on men. Also in The Knights Tale, the knight helps represents medieval women through Emilys virginity and purity. The knight proceeds with his story and tells how both cousins fought for Emily as their bride, but Emily did not want to be anyones bride. She prayed in the temple to the goddess Diana,before the two cousins battled for her hand in marri age, and pleaded to Diana, Chaste goddess, well indeed thou knowest that I/ Desire to be a virgin all my life/ Nor ever wish to be mans love or wife, (Chaucer 63). Emily wishes to be a maiden to better serve her graven image and her religion. For Emily, virginity is virtuous, and for that reason she wishes to remain a virgin.