Chaucer’s Medieval Women: A Literary Analysis

Comparing Chaucer’s Clerk’s and Merchant’s Tales

Both The Clerk’s Tale and The Merchant’s Tale are set in medieval Italy within a feudal system. While the characters share a similar social status, their behaviors diverge significantly. This analysis will explore how they confront their problems, offering insights into their distinct personalities.

Religious Influence in Medieval Narratives

The influence and importance of the Church are profoundly present in both tales. Society is conditioned by cultural meanings, indicating a religiously influenced environment where, as seen in the text, marriage holds significant value. Beyond the prominent religious societal structure, other, less prominent, religious references reveal that religion was not only present in the society depicted in the tales but also held immense power during the time of their creation.

Portrayal of Women: Griselda and May

This section will analyze the depiction of women in both tales, focusing on Griselda from The Clerk’s Tale and May from The Merchant’s Tale.

Griselda’s Unwavering Obedience

In The Clerk’s Tale, Griselda completely abandons her will, adhering solely to her husband Walter’s directions. Walter tests her fidelity through a series of extremely harsh trials.

May’s Deception and Independence

In The Merchant’s Tale, May is the main female protagonist, presenting a stark contrast to Griselda. She skillfully convinces January that the gods promised to restore his sight if she committed the adulterous act. In this tale, female characters are often marginalized and, when mentioned, are frequently linked to betrayal. Two goddesses, Venus and Proserpina, are also mentioned with negative connotations. As we know, May commits infidelity with Damian, and January remains physically blind to Damian’s presence and mentally blind to her adultery. The tale concludes with an open ending.

Status of Women in the Medieval Period

Women in the Middle Ages were largely subservient to men in all spheres of life. Marriage was primarily an economic or social contract between two families, and women could not participate in its negotiation. Women typically held no property, and inheritance was unfair and complicated, as their male relatives or husbands maintained total control over any goods they owned.

Criseyde’s Agency and Constraints

Widows often enjoyed slightly more independence than other women. This might be a reason why Criseyde, at first, hesitates to accept Troilus’s love. Nevertheless, she is subsequently forced and emotionally blackmailed by her uncle, who advises her to please Troilus.

Later, Criseyde is forced a second time to leave her town and life, exchanged for a Trojan prisoner to the Greeks. Criseyde decides not to return to Troy. While the reasons may vary, the author initially suggests she chooses to stay with the Greeks because it is more comfortable and safe for her. Her behavior, given her sworn love to Troilus, remains controversial. Chaucer’s portrayal of women in this work is notably negative; he implies that women are traitors, devoid of feelings, and act solely according to their interests. However, at one point in the poem, he apologizes for depicting Criseyde so negatively and clarifies that not all women behave like this character.