illustration of a clergyman with Canterbury cathedral behind him

The Canterbury Tales

by Geoffrey Chaucer

Start Free Trial

Editor's Choice

Which pilgrim from The Canterbury Tales would you like to meet most?

Quick answer:

The Wife of Bath is the most intriguing pilgrim to meet due to her independence and defiance of societal norms, representing the evolving middle class in her era. Her wealth and experience make her a compelling character with many stories to share. Others find the Pardoner interesting for his paradoxical nature: despite low morals, he tells a highly moral tale, sparking curiosity about his persuasive abilities and true personality.

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

The most interesting of the pilgrims by far is the Wife of Bath. She's an independent woman at a time when most women were shackled to their menfolk. And though she's a tad ostentatious in her clothing, her jewelry, and her whole demeanor, she's no less interesting for that. She's a woman of the world, with a rich store house of experience; I'm sure she'd have quite a few more tales to tell than the one she tells to the other pilgrims.

Though still somewhat rigid by today's standards, society was in the process of considerable change, and the Wife of Bath is symbolic of this. The Black Death had cut a swathe though the population of Europe, claiming the lives of millions. Among other things, this created new economic opportunities for a rising middle class, which stepped into the dead men's shoes of an aristocracy decimated by the plague....

Unlock
This Answer Now

Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.

Get 48 Hours Free Access

The Wife of Bath is a member of this class, enjoying untold wealth and the material benefits that it brings.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

I would want to meet the Pardoner.  I find the hints at his true personality intriguing, and while I think he has some of the lowest morals on the trip, he tells, by far, the most moral tale.  I am curious about the seeming paradox and would like to see if I would be drawn in by his way with words.

Approved by eNotes Editorial
An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

For me, the Wife of Bath would be the most interesting character to meet.  This is because of her relationship to her society.

I think that people who go against the values of their society are inherently interesting.  This is especially true if they are people who fight back when their society tries to keep people like them down.  The Wife of Bath is a person like this -- she tries to have more power than women are supposed to have in her society.

So I would like to find out from her what her life has been like -- why she has chosen to be this way, what obstacles she has encountered, etc.

Approved by eNotes Editorial