On the other hand, the Wife is more than willing to share her secrets with not only Alisoun but also any other “worthy wyf”, parting with even the most intimate details of her relationship with Jankin. There is a surprising moment when the Wife admits that she has told her friends that he had “pissed on a wal”, contrasting hugely with Giovanni’s reserved nature. She is entirely unashamed by her actions, which is surprising both to us as a modern audience but even more so to Chaucer’s medieval audience. Women were expected to be meek and mild whilst married, and hold utmost respect for their husbands who were widely regarded as their superiors. It would be therefore unthinkable for a medieval Wife to openly reveal her husband’s shameful secrets in such a way, although from this we can establish that the Wife of Bath is far from being a typical medieval
On the other hand, the Wife is more than willing to share her secrets with not only Alisoun but also any other “worthy wyf”, parting with even the most intimate details of her relationship with Jankin. There is a surprising moment when the Wife admits that she has told her friends that he had “pissed on a wal”, contrasting hugely with Giovanni’s reserved nature. She is entirely unashamed by her actions, which is surprising both to us as a modern audience but even more so to Chaucer’s medieval audience. Women were expected to be meek and mild whilst married, and hold utmost respect for their husbands who were widely regarded as their superiors. It would be therefore unthinkable for a medieval Wife to openly reveal her husband’s shameful secrets in such a way, although from this we can establish that the Wife of Bath is far from being a typical medieval