This quote from the Wife of Bath’s Tale, from The Canterbury Tales means, that women are not always as they seem. In that day, women were to be discreet and mild. They were practically property of men and did not have say in much that went on around them. They were the dependable and quiet beings who did as they were told. The Wife of Bath, as portrayed by Chaucer, was exactly opposite of this picture. She knew the truth about women because she was one herself. She, however, was a woman who refused the social norm and spoke freely. In the line that says “Women conceal a thing? For heaven’s sake!”, describes her views on women being quiet little mice and holding all of their secrets and feelings completely.
In some ways I can see a modern woman uttering similar words. Some possess such feministic views that they would never consider denying the truth about women being so strong-willed and breaking their social roles. However, women will be women. Obviously we haven’t changed much from the women in the middle ages. The Wife of Bath says it best when she says, “But that’s not worth the handle of a rake.” Referring to the idea that women discreetly keep to themselves and conceal all secrets. We still lie just like we did before and like we will continue to do throughout all of time.
In some ways I can see a modern woman uttering similar words. Some possess such feministic views that they would never consider denying the truth about women being so strong-willed and breaking their social roles. However, women will be women. Obviously we haven’t changed much from the women in the middle ages. The Wife of Bath says it best when she says, “But that’s not worth the handle of a rake.” Referring to the idea that women discreetly keep to themselves and conceal all secrets. We still lie just like we did before and like we will continue to do throughout all of time.