In the time period between 1066 and 1485, better known as the medieval age, a set of standards and how people are placed into order of importance in society is known as feudalism. In this caste system there are four groups; Kings, Barons, Vassals, and Serfs. The main individual of focus comes from the vassals, better known as the knight. Knights from this time period start out around 7 years old and are taught a code of chivalry (code of conduct) and the basics of knight hood. The knight in the Wife of Bath’s tale forcibly violates a young madden and punished with execution by decapitation. He is saved by the queen but is sent on a twelve month and a day quest. The knight in the Wife of Bath’s Tale doesn’t display chivalry by his actions of violating an innocent woman and continues to dishonor this code by being demeaning and crass to an old woman who helps save his life yet at the end allows the old woman to make a decision regarding his life.
At the begging of the story a young knight comes across a beautiful madden. Overcome by lust and power he rapes her. The court is defamed by his actions and they condemn him to death. He was going to be executed but “the queen and the other ladies too, implored the king to exercise his grace so ceaselessly, he gave the queen the case and granted her his life, and she could whether to show mercy of refuse.” (70-74) His actions are unchiviric because he forcibly violates a young lady. Any code of conduct should say that rape is unjustified by anyone, especially by a knight. The queen is intrigued by the case and asks to grant his punishment. Before his time the king’s queen offers a proposition. The question he is asked is “What is the thing that women most desire?” (80-81) This question Shows the true chivalry of a man because if a man is chiveric he will know what a woman wants most. He goes out on the quest like it is a job. He never thanks the queen for her offer and displays no chivric behavior towards the ladies who helped save him from death.
On his way back to deliver his answer to the queen he comes across twenty-four women. As he approaches they disappear and only an old lady is left. He thinks “A fouler looking creature I suppose could scarcely be imagined.” (175-176) Even though he is not outright rude he is “judging a book by its cover” and gives her an awful tone to start out with just because of her age and her features. They both return to the court in where the knight provides his answer. After being spared for his answer the old woman comes up and asks for his hand in marriage. The knight cries out in horror saying “I know indeed that such was my behest, but for god’s love think of a new request, take all my goods buy leave my body free.” (235-237) It is both being rude to the old woman for refusing to marry her because of her looks but also he is being un chivalric because he is breaking a pack he made earlier with her. This in unchivric because people who make pack to women, kind of like vows, are intended not to break them.
At the end of the story the knight finally shows his better side. After the night of the weeding the knight slumps into a depression. The old woman asks the knight what is wrong. He replies “Nothing can ever be put right again! You’re old, and so abominably plain, So poor to start with, So low-bred to follow.” (275-277) Even though he is being rude his is telling his wife the truth of why he is so upset and doesn’t lie about it or back out of it. Part of being chivric is telling the truth to someone even though it may hurt them. The woman offers the knight a choice; to have her old, ugly and faithful or young beautiful and unfaithful. The knight shows his true chivric colors by saying “My lady and my love, my dearest wife, I leave the matter to your wise decision.” (406-407) By allowing his wife to chose for him he displays true chivalry. He is also allowing to choose what she wants for her husband; this is a recall to the answer she gave him to save his life.
The knight in the Wife of Bath’s tale doesn’t display chivalry by his actions of violating an innocent woman and continues to dishonor this code by being deeming and crass to an old woman who helps save his life yet at the end allows the old woman to make a decision regarding his life. Chivalry is a code of conduct on how to treat and respect women. Raping a young madden is probably back in the medieval ages illegal and against the code of chivalry for a knight. Chivalry is also a way of how to behave, when acting rudely towards the old woman he breaks that code, even if it was not direct to her face. At the end we see the knight finally display chivalry by allowing the old woman to decide his fate and because he was chivric he got what he truly wanted.