# The Wife of Bath’s Tale explained — The Canterbury Tales

> Chapter companion for The Canterbury Tales by Geoffrey Chaucer.

## What happens

The Wife of Bath tells a tale about a knight who must discover what women most desire to avoid execution. After learning that women desire sovereignty over their husbands, he marries an old, wise woman who transforms into a beautiful and faithful wife once he grants her mastery.

## Themes in this chapter

### Gender and Power

The tale centers on female sovereignty and the power dynamics between men and women in marriage.

### Marriage and Sovereignty

Explores the idea that a wife's mastery over her husband leads to marital harmony.

## Character check-ins

### The Wife of Bath

Narrator of the tale, known for her views on marriage and female sovereignty.

### The Knight

Protagonist who must find what women most desire to save his life.

## Key lines

> What is the thing that women most desire?

What do women want most of all?

_Central question of the tale posed to the knight._

> Wommen desiren to have sovereynetee / As wel over hir housbond as hir love.

Women want to have sovereignty over their husbands as well as their love.

_The answer the knight learns from the old woman._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters/the-wife-of-bath-s-tale
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_canterbury_tales_se/chapters