'That She Was Out of Alle Charitee': Point-Counterpoint in the 'Wife of Bath's Prologue' and 'Tale'

Author / Editor
Cook, James W.

Title
'That She Was Out of Alle Charitee': Point-Counterpoint in the 'Wife of Bath's Prologue' and 'Tale'

Published
Chaucer Review 13 (1978): 51-65.

Description
Alice misunderstands the sacramental nature of Christian marriage--which requires perennial mutual affection and joining of wills, not self-centered egoism--creating a serious obstacle to the sacrament's efficacy in producing grace. Alice does not achieve grace in any marriage in contrast to the loathly lady and rapist/knight, who do.

Chaucer Subjects
Wife of Bath and Her Tale.