Yasmine makes a good point in her post regarding medieval women. We have seen many different types of women, each illustrating different aspects of women and how they are perceived in the Middle Ages.
What is most interesting with "The Man of Law's Tale" are the women and how they compare to women we have seen thus far.
The main character, Custance, is the ideal medieval woman. She desires to be pure and good, but she knows that she has a duty, and she exercises this duty twice: she is to obey the man "in charge of her" so to speak. She marries the Sultan according to the command of her father even though she does not want to. Then, once in England, she obey the wishes of her husband (or so she thinks) and leaves with the child. Custance is another Emelye: everything a woman should be.
However, we also have examples of women who choose to be the exact opposite. Her first mother-in-law plots to murder the Sultan and everyone at the feast and take control of the country. She succeeds and sets Custance in a rudderless boat, leaving Custance at the whim of fate. Custance's second mother-in-law tricks the king and Custance. The mother-in-law's purpose is strictly trickery in this case; she plays no other role. Both of the mothers-in-law have more in common with Alisoun from "The Miller's Tale" or the mother and daughter from "The Reeve's Tale."
This brings to mind the Ave/Eva concept. Custance is the ideal woman doing her duty or duties based on her subordination to man. She also resigns herself to the will of God. She trusts that God has a plan for her, and she is willing to turn over all control to Him. On the other hand, the mothers-in-law are the root of all evil in this tale. They are guilty of conspiracy and trickery, and one is guilty of murder. There are several parallels here to Eve and the serpent. Trickery is the work of Satan according to Christian thought, and Eve is guilty of original sin.
It is interesting how women take on more complex roles at leasts in "The Man of Law's Tale." Is it an accident that as we are moving along we see more complex development of female characters that not only have characteristics of their own but somehow encompass characteristics of all the women who have come in the tales previous?
Great thoughts on duality here, Jessica. It is interesting to see when and how Chaucer breaks through those two extremes to try and find a middle ground. Ultimately, I think Chaucer shows us how both ends of the spectrum make it hard for real medieval women to get any respect. It doesn't happen all the time, but we'll certainly see if in some of the tales, including WoB (both herself and in the wise woman) as well as in the Franklin's Tale and in the Clerk's explanation of Griselda. But more on that to come!
ReplyDelete