THE MIDDLE AGES

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THE MIDDLE AGES

• THE CONDITION OF WOMEN

Woman feeding chikens, from Tacuinum sanitatis,
an Italian manuscript, ca.1385. Wien,
Oesterreichische Nationalbibliothek.
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TEXTS

• The Prioress
• (G. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, General
  Prologue)?
• The Wife of Bath
• (G. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales, General
  Prologue)?
• The Wife of Ushers Well
• (Anonymous ballad)?

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The prioress

• There was also a nun, a prioress, Who, in her
  smiling, modest was and coy Her greatest oath
  was but "By Saint Eloy!" And she was known as
  Madam Eglantine. Full well she sang the services
  divine, Intoning through her nose, becomingly
  And fair she spoke her French, and fluently,
  After the school of Stratford-at-the-Bow, For
  French of Paris was not hers to know. At table
  she had been well taught withal, And never from
  her lips let morsels fall, Nor dipped her
  fingers deep in sauce, but ate With so much care
  the food upon her plate That never driblet fell
  upon her breast. In courtesy she had delight and
  zest. Her upper lip was always wiped so clean
  That in her cup was no iota seen Of grease,
  when she had drunk her draught of wine.
• ()?

• SOCIAL STATUS/JOB
• Known as Madam Eglantine.
• Nun, prioress.
• Good social position.
• RELEVANT INFORMATION
• French knowledge.
• Prestigious school education.
• Great pleasure in etiquette.
• Very sensitive.

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The Wife of Bath

• SOCIAL STATUS/JOB
• Name not given.
• Middle class.
• Widow
• Important social position in her parish.
• RELEVANT INFORMATION
• French knowledge.
• Prestigious school education.
• Great pleasure in etiquette.
• Very sensitive.

• There was a business woman, from near Bath,
  But, more's the pity, she was a bit deafSo
  skilled a clothmaker, that she outdistancedEven
  the weavers of Ypres and Ghent. In the whole
  parish there was not a womanWho dared precede
  her at the almsgiving,And if there did, so
  furious was she, That she was put out of all
  charity.her headkerchiefs were of the finest
  weave ,ten pounds and more they weighed,I do
  believe,those that she wore on Sundays on her
  head.Her stockings were of finest scarlet
  red,very tightly laced shoes pliable and new.
• ()?

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Compare and Contrast
The Prioress vs The Wife of Bath

• Both representative of the real Medieval woman.
• The wife of Bath is parodized.
• The Prioress is portraited with respect of her
  role.

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The Wife of Ushers Well

• SOCIAL STATUS/JOB
• Name not given.
• Wealthy position.
• Mother.
• RELEVANT INFORMATION
• Desperation because of the loss of her sons.

• There lived a wife at Usher's well,  
•   And a wealthy wife was she  
• She had three stout and stalwart sons,  
•   And sent them o'er the sea.  
•  
• They hadna been a week from her,          5
•   A week but barely ane,  
• When word came to the carline wife  
•   That her three sons were gane.  
•  
• They hadna been a week from her,  
•   A week but barely three,  10
• When word came to the carline wife  
•   That her sons she'd never see.
• ()?

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Medieval Woman
Indipendent
Religious
depending on Men
At the same time admired and disapproved
Supposed to live like Virgin Mary
Supposed to take care of the the house and the
children
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Middle Ages
Most important life's aspects FAITH, SALVATION
Virgin Mary
Women in religious tradition
REAL WOMEN RESAMBLE THEM
Tempter Eve
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Silvia Regolin 3A A.S. 2007/2008