{"id":4416,"date":"2018-12-12T14:58:03","date_gmt":"2018-12-12T19:58:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/?p=4416"},"modified":"2025-01-01T11:09:31","modified_gmt":"2025-01-01T16:09:31","slug":"undergrad-wednesdays-big-reputation-reading-the-wife-of-bath-as-the-taylor-swift-of-the-middle-ages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.nd.edu\/manuscript-studies\/2018\/12\/12\/undergrad-wednesdays-big-reputation-reading-the-wife-of-bath-as-the-taylor-swift-of-the-middle-ages\/","title":{"rendered":"Undergrad Wednesdays \u2013 Big Reputation: Reading the Wife of Bath as the Taylor Swift of the Middle Ages"},"content":{"rendered":"
[This post was written in the spring 2018 semester\u00a0for Karrie Fuller's course on Chaucer\u2019s<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>Canterbury Tales. It responds to the prompt posted<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>here<\/a><\/em>.]<\/em><\/pre>\n
Over the years, Taylor Swift has forged an empire, and by doing so, she has become one of the most talked about women in the entertainment industry. From her seemingly endless love affairs to her Grammy nominated albums, the number of headlines she has appeared on have made her a household name across the globe. Through her fame, Swift has been demonized for the decisions she has made in her love\u00a0life<\/a> and has been heroicized for the actions she has taken to connect with her fans. If one looks back to the Middle Ages, they will realize there is another famous woman that also tends to carry with her much inspiration and controversy. The Wife of Bath from Geoffrey Chaucer\u2019s The Canterbury Tales\u00a0<\/em>is quite possibly the most well-known character of the entire work. Her fame amongst scholars and students stems from her remarks on proto-feminist ideals and also from her abrasive and expensive nature. Her character wants to be known, just as Taylor Swift does. Both of these women have attracted widespread attention, and while there is close to 600 years separating them, they have a great deal in common. This blog post will go on to reveal the similarities that the Wife of Bath and Taylor Swift share in order to showcase the timelessness of having a strong female presence in society, and how this presence has the ability to spark radical conversation and eventual change in gender dynamics.<\/p>\n
Look What You Made Me Do<\/strong><\/p>\n
\u201cThe wo that in myn herte was, and pyne?
\nAnd whan I saugh he wolde nevere fyne
\nTo reden on this cursed book al nyght,
\nAl sodeynly thre leves have I plyght
\nOut of his book, right as he radde, and eke
\nI with my fest so took hym on the cheke
\nThat in oure fyr he fil bakward adoun.\u201d (lines 787-793).<\/p>\n
In this excerpt from the Wife of Bath\u2019s Prologue, we learn of a time when one of her previous husbands, whom she loved and trusted, wronged her. After constantly being read books about the problems that her husband believes can arise when wives are not obedient to their husband\u2019s demands, the Wife of Bath finally releases her frustration by attacking her spouse. This quote places the blame for the assault on the husband, not on the Wife. In Taylor Swift\u2019s, Look What You Made Me Do<\/a>\u00a0music video, something similar can be seen. In the video, Swift references specific moments from her professional career and, in turn, passively calls out particular individuals that affected her negatively along the way. Basically, Swift is telling her haters that it is their fault she had to write and release this song.<\/p>\n