THE WIFE OF BATH

One of the most significant characters in the prologue of the Canterbury Tales is the Wife of Bath.
She is described as a bold and headstrong woman who has been married five times. Chaucer tells us
that her husband gave her a blow on the ear which caused her deafness. She is an expert in weaving
and is a skilled clothmaker. It has been said that she weaves the cloth so fine that even the weavers
of Ypres and Ghent seem outdistanced. She is also considered the most charitable woman in town.
She wore a headband that was made of the finest cloth. It stands testimony to the fact that she was
wealthy and could afford expensive clothes. Her clothing also symbolizes that she is not timid or
shy and also shows off her expertise as a weaver. Chaucer's description of the Wife of Bath involves
the mention of her clothes, hips, cheeks, facial expressions and the gap-teeth. Her face is red and
glowing which indicates that she does not lack nutrition like most women of her time. She is
wearing a pair of sharp spurs on her feet which indicates her dominant personality. She has been
respectable all her life despite being married five times. The reader may think that going on a
pilgrimage makes her a religious woman, but the reason behind her pilgrimage might not be due to
religion. She wears a protective outer skirt about her broad hips and is mounted on an ambling horse
that was trained to walk in a manner that is comfortable for the rider. Her wealth has allowed her to
travel to many places around the world. She has been to Jerusalem thrice and has crossed many
streams of foreign countries.
She is described as a jolly lady who is very popular among people. She has also been fond of men in
her youth and knows all the "cures of love." Her being fallen in love many times made her
experience the art of love. Her personality and appearance also looked vital and energized because
of her experiences in life.

THE PARSON
The next pilgrimage is a Parson of a village. He is the most compassionate and selfless character in
the prologue till now. He might be poor in wealth but is rich at heart. In contrast with the satirical
portraits of the mincing Prioress, the hunting Monk, and the hypocritical Friar, the Parson is
described in sincere terms as a devoted servant of the Lord. He is educated and spreads the word of
Jesus Christ in his parish. The Parson devotedly teaches the members of his parish but is loathe to
tithe them. Unlike the Friar, who takes money from rich landowners, the Parson is reluctant to make
poor people pay, instead covering the tithes himself if necessary. He was a simple man who did not
have many needs. His parish was very wide with many households however, he never neglected any
of them. Neither rain nor thunder nor sickness prevents him from visiting his parishioners: he picks
up his staff and walks to all corners of his parish. He set an excellent example for the other parsons
and friars. His attitude is that of a shepherd who never leaves his sheep alone and goes to St Paul's
Cathedral. He is described as a devoted servant of God who never wishes ill for anybody. By giving
the example of the flock of sheep, he says that a good parson always looks after his parish and never
leaves them at the time of sickness and misery, as rightly said by Chaucer, "He was a shepherd, not
a mercenary." The parson is kind with sinners and saints alike. He follows the teachings of Jesus
Christ and is loyal to Christianity. He also encourages and inspires people to believe in the kindness
and graciousness of the Almighty. If somebody seemed to be obstinate, and raised questions over
the religious beliefs of people, the parson rebuked him then and there. He never adopts a fussy
manner and always stays true to Christ’s teachings.