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English

In this literature piece by Chaucer, it speaks of a tale told by a lady who had been married five

times before and was advising a man about to get married. The man didn’t want to be controlled

by his wife, and to pass her point across, the lady decided to tell him a story.

In her story, it speaks of the time of King Arthur's age, when the earth was full of supernatural

things like spirits and elves. There once came a time where the times changed, and everything

was consumed with fire. One day, a knight who was traveling came across a virgin lady in his

journey and raped her. When it came to be known of his doing, he was to be put to death, but the

queen requested he is given a chance to redeem himself. The knight was given a year and a day

to go across the whole land to find out what it is women want, failure to do what he is requested

meant he will be prosecuted.

The knight went to every homestead asking the occupants for an answer but got varied

responses. Some said money, others said a place in the society, others said freedom, while others

suggested women want great looks. Finally, the year came to an end, and unfortunately, he did

not have an answer. He was saddened and while he was on his way back to the palace, he came

across a group of dancers in the woods. When he approached them to enquire, they disappeared
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and became one old lady. She offered to give him the answer, and in return, he will grant her, her

first request.

The answer he took to the queen was that women want to have the upper hand over their lovers

and husband. Everyone agreed to it. The old lady requested the knight to marry her as her

request. As much as he did not want to he had to, so he did. On their wedding night he informed

her that he was sad that his wife is ugly. She gave him two alternatives to choose from, a nasty

old and faithful wife or a beautiful young and unfaithful wife. He gave her the freedom to decide,

and she decided to be fair and loyal, and they lived happily ever after.

From this romance literature, we learn that women like to be obeyed and have power over their

men ( 811-819).