Wife of Baths Tale:

medieval Venus Fly trap Traits borrowed from Romance of the Rose Only woman on voyage who is not a nun

Wife of Baths Prologue Defends her numerous marriages, asking anyone to show her place in scriptures against successive legal marriages; believes she is more of an authority on marriages than anyone else in pilgrimage (holy men and women)

6 -Wishes to speak of woe that is in marriage7 - defends multiple marriages: God told us to increase and multiply 8 better to wed than burn (Cor. VII) 9 says God counsels virginity but nowhere demands it 10 if virginity were for everyone, why do we all have sexual organs (used for duty and pleasure) 11 plans to have another husband 12 Pardoner interrupts (I wouldnt want to marry this year); wife of Bath says she hasnt even begun tale 13 she says she will begin, but warns crowd to not take too seriously what she says, because her aim is to play 16 W o B accused husbands of jealousy, possessiveness, and cheapness 17 W o B suggests sexual freedom 20-21 would escape room by flattering accusation or withholding sex 22 says she doesnt sell her body 23 4th husband = reveler 24 5th husband married for love 27 at funeral of 4th husband, mind wasnt on dead