Comparison methodologies and applications

¶ … Chaucer in favor of the Church or opposed to it? Be sure you provide proof.

Chaucer was very clearly opposed to hypocrisy, in all its forms. He contrasts the Pardoner's unpleasant, avaricious actions and demeanors with "The Pardoner's Tale, which explicitly has a moral that proclaims money to be the root of all evil. Many of Chaucer's tales take a deflationary view of church doctrine. "The Wife of Bath's Tale" suggests that women, not men alone, should rule the household, in contrast to the common medieval idea that the male should be the ruler of the female, and women could only be sanctified through obedience to their husbands. And "The Miller's Tale," takes a playful attitude towards the adulterous wife and her lover, as well as her unwanted, sanctimonious suitor.

Chaucer was clearly against the level of power that the corrupt Church had in his society, and the fact that so many people profited from the church personally, while preaching humility, chastity, and piety to the impoverished masses. He may have supported a more moral form of Catholicism or at least Christianity, but clearly did not support the Church in its current form.

Q2. Among Boccaccio's ten storytellers are seven women, and the Decameron is addressed to women. Comment on the depiction of gender relations in the stories we read this week.

The first 'day' of the Decameron's stories is told under the 'rule' of Pampinea, a woman. A number of the storytellers on the first day are women. Some of the stories, such as I.4, portray the church as patriarchal, corrupt, and venal. The tales frequently feature male clergy members or male rulers seducing innocent women. In these tales, women are often portrayed as less sinful or at least less sexually knowing than their male counterparts.

Q3. How have women been portrayed thus far in literature? Are they ever in starring roles, or merely eye candy? Be sure to give examples to support yourself.

Contrary to the common image of the 'damsel in distress' women often play a very active role in medieval literature. In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the Wife tells the story of a crafty old witch who manages to break a spell that forces the sorceress to appear ugly during the day. The moral of the "Wife of Bath's Tale" is that men should show deference to their wives, and not merely strive to rule the roost alone. Even "The Miller's Tale" shows a woman happily engaging in lustful adultery, and demanding sexual satisfaction in her marriage.