The tale is relevant to contemporary society because of the wisdom of the wife and the queen. Both characters have proto-feminist attributes, and provide the same logic for women in modern society. The knight has to figure out what a woman desires or be put to death by the queen. First, the power of another life is in the hands of a woman. Men traditionally had the power to determine women’s lives. That the knight has to go on this journey to find out women’s desires makes a strong proto-feminist point; what women want is as important as men’s desires. The queen made it a point to tell the knight that his mission was a matter of life or death, so he has to learn to see from a woman’s point of view from his journey. In today’s western societies, many men have some difficulty understanding feminism because they do not take the time to learn what it means. Power had been patriarchal for the last few centuries and there is a slow shift in viewpoints. Some men, however, have started to see the world through a woman’s eyes, understanding the need for feminism. During the journey, the knight learned that women crave many things and each one is different. Different women want different things from feminism, but most of the time it is treated as one movement instead of being a broad concept.
The wisdom from the wife of the knight is different aspect of Feminism. When she still looks like an ugly old, she asks him why he is unhappy with their marriage, even though she saved his life. He admits that it is about her appearance. In a patriarchal viewpoint, woman’s physical appearance is central to her desirability. The wife’s photo-feminist view point insists on finding beauty in all forms of femininity. The wife told the knight about how their marriage is more than her physical appearance. He learned that she will be a faithful wife and he saw her beauty through loyalty. The wife tells the knight that their marriage should mean more than her physical appearance. He learns that she will be a faithful wife and he begins to see the beauty in her loyalty. Today, women have to show there is more to them than their physical appearance. The Feminist characteristics throughout the tale have the same affect. The wife explains to the knight about her faithfulness and sincerity; she explains how a younger wife might not behave the same way. Chaucer’s depiction of the marriage is relevant to today because narcissism still exists. Some women have chosen to use their appearance to gain wealth or social status. This tale should teach women to respect themselves and men will learn that physical appearance does not show a woman’s personality.
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