The Prioress Tale

The Nun from the Prioress tale is very elegant, and had good table manner, Introduced by Geoffrey Chaucer, as the head of the convent she seems to want to live a lifestyle above what was expected from Nuns. “she would weep, if she saw a mouse, caught in a trap, if it were dead or bled” (144-145). she was very kind heart when it  came to living things. fancy she was since she cared for the jewel(broach) she owned around her neck, such misconduct of a Nun who should be setting an example. thus the importance of her appearance which makes the reading ironic because she wasn't a pretty lady; by the description of her forehead by Chaucer. she sang for divine service but didn't show much interest in g.

Nuns

The reading by Geoffrey Chaucer "Nun" introduces to us a Prioress who is the head of the convent, unlike the peasant nun she tries to be sophisticated and fit it a higher social status which is renounce in the convent,  Thus her love for material things, Nuns were expected to behave appropriately,. She tried to pass for french but didn't quite sound original, although she was describe as well put together;she was said to have a ugly forehead(154-155). The prioress adores pets and showed compassion towards them knowing that pets weren't allowed in the convent. The prioress is a woman who is not ready to make such a commitment in the convent since she tries to do all the opposite of what is expected, she carry traits of the wife from "The Shipmans Tale" who adored the nicer things in life.

The Nun's Priest Tale

In Geoffrey Chaucer " The Nun's Priest Tale" a widow who lives with her two daughter in a cottage. survives off her produce and animals in which she holds in her possession. Although her story is different from the previous tales that were read of wives and widow; hers is seen as a peasant woman who lives a simple and humble life, and unlike the peasant girl from the movie "Name of the Rose", the widow did not have to use sexual politics to get food to eat. "No wyn ne drank she, neither whit ne reed", the widow no lavish and expensive living in her life, and although her life was so simple and hard she didn't allow it to keep her down and so she danced to enjoy herself.

THE WIFE OF THE BATH'S

Chaucer introduce to us Alison, a widow and a merchant woman who gained wealth because of her husbands death, thus the fact that she had been through several marriages. She is describes as a woman that dresses extravagant which gives us an image on her social status. " She is bossy and willful, and uses sexual politics to get what she wants in the relationship", the description of her personality brings us back to "The Shipmans Tale" where the wife uses sexual favors to get what she desire from the Monk. However, Alison desire control and power in the marriage and uses sexual favors as a way of accomplishing that goal; which is the opposite of what was read in the comportment books of women conduct. Alison seems to be a very smart and determine woman who gets what she wants and gained riches and social status from it.

Femme Sole

 Femme Sole was a turning point for women where they gained control whether they were married or widowed. They owned property and was very independent and able to socialize. women didn't have to depend on men or husbands anymore, thus they were capable of running their own business. Before the femme sole men had more control over women  properties and bushiness. This information gave women a lot of opportunities to take advantage of their rights, women standing on their own feet and interacting more with the public.

Wifely Duties

     Sometimes when a woman gets married it’s a signed contract with their husbands. The reading of “Margaret Paston” was a good example of wifely duties   which I found a little more modern but too overwhelming with duties for the wife. Married at a young age of eighteen, her duties consist of taking care of the children, making the clothing, oversea the estate and collect the rent, while the husband was away. Her husband trusted her enough to take care of his business and made sure that everything ran smoothly. Margaret had more of a normal family relationship where the women had access to the assets of the husband, although there was a lot to do, women in these times didn't depend on servants but  made use of their own skills in their daily life. I look at this in a positive light because Margaret keeping herself busy helps to keep her out of negative activities.

Shipmans Tale

     The Shipman’s Tale reading written by Geoffrey Chaucer introduced the deceiving activities of a wife while her husband is away. Woman greed for money to pay her dues results in her paying back with sexual favors; similar to the behavior of the peasant girl in “The Name of the Rose”.  Such degrading behavior from a woman with opportunities but to have the finer things in life she lowers her standards as a wife. “That in his hous as famulier was he” line no.31 describes how she brought this man in her home of matrimony to have intimacy. If this woman was busy as Griselda she would have found no time to engage herself in such activities; selling her body like a prostitute.