Attitudes Toward Marriage in Chaucers the Canterbury Tales

Attitudes Toward Marriage in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Chaucers The Canterbury Tales demonstrate many different attitudes toward and perceptions of marriage. Some of these ideas are very traditional, such as that discussed in the Franklins Tale, and others are more liberal such as the marriages portrayed in the Millers and the Wife of Baths Tales. While several of these tales are rather comical, they do indeed give us a representation of the attitudes toward marriage at that time in history. D.W. Robertson, Jr. calls marriage the solution to the problem of love, the force which directs the will which is in turn the source of moral action (Andrew, 88). Marriage in Chaucers time meant a union between spirit and flesh and†¦show more content†¦The Franklin suggests a marriage of equality, a marriage where the laws of courtesy rule (Huppe, 167). The knight in the Franklins Tale promised his wife that he would never try to dominate her or show any form of jealousy, and at the same time he would obey any command she gave him (Lines 745-750): Of his free wil he swoor hire as a knight That nevere in al his lif he day ne night Ne sholde upon hime take no maistrye Again hir wil, ne kithe hire jalousye, But hire obeye and folwe hir wil in al, As any lovere to his lady shal-- Arveragus and Dorigens love and respect for each other is apparent at many times throughout the course of the tale. Dorigen reciprocates his vow to her in lines 753-760 of the Franklins Tale: She thanked hym, and with ful greet humblesse She seyde, Sire, sith of youre gentilesse Ye profre me to have so large a reyne, Ne wolde nevere God bitwixe us tweyne, As in my gilt, were outher werre or strif. Sire, I wol be your humble, trewe wyf, Have heer my trouthe, til that myn herte breste. Thus been they bothe in quiete and in reste. 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