Malyne's Wife Analysis

Both women are victims of instrumentality by the men in the tale since Malyne and her mother are used as pawns. Due to Symkyn’s dishonesty and his notorious swindler behavior, Malyne and her mother become the casualties of the power struggle between all of the men. Kohanski argues in reference to Malyne which could also apply to Symkyn’s wife, “If she is treated as currency, or as a vehicle through which other people’s sins are punished, it is because of society’s inability to recognize her humanity” (236). Everything the men do is about maintaining control over, not only the women, but over the other men as well. Consequently, this adds to Aleyn’s and John’s motives for going after Malyne and her mother. Not only are they seeking to recoup