'Abuse of Innocents' as a Theme in The Canterbury Tales: Dorigen as an Instance

Author / Editor
Roney, Lois.

Title
'Abuse of Innocents' as a Theme in The Canterbury Tales: Dorigen as an Instance

Published
Parentheses: Papers in Medieval Studies 1 (1999): 17-33. [Web publication.]

Description
Argues that Dorigen of FranT is educable and capable of philosophical speculation but, as a woman limited by her culture, "she is unable to reason out ethical choices for herself." Through Dorigen (and other female characters), Chaucer criticizes the social conditions and practices that keep women innocent and obedient.

Chaucer Subjects
Franklin and His Tale