The Problem of Defining Sovereynetee in the Wife of Bath's Tale

Description: While the knight of WBT returns from his quest with the word that saves his life - "sovereynetee" - he never understands its meaning: "independence and self-government." The wedding-night conversation between the knight and the "wyf" demonstrates her "sovereynetee" as well as her "power over" the knight; she controls his choices, ensuring that he will never attain "sovereynetee" in relation to his "worldly appetit" for beauty and obedience.