from The Canterbury

Question

Tales: "The Wife of Bath's Tale"
Read this excerpt from the final lines of "The Wife of Bath's Tale":
"And when indeed the knight had looked to see, /Lo, she was young and lovely, rich in charms./In ecstasy he caught her in his arms,/His heart went bathing in a bath of blisses/And melted in a hundred thousand kisses/And she responded in the fullest measure/With all that could delight or give him pleasure."
What is ironic about this conclusion, given the nature of the Knight's crime?

The Knight's quest for knowledge has led to his sovereignty over the old crone.
The Queen, who took his side from the
• beginning, is now his
wife.
The Knight's
O "punishment" turns out to be marriage to a beautiful woman.
The King has become
"envious" of the Knight and will soon imprison him.

Answer 1

The ironic aspect of this conclusion is that the Knight's "punishment" for his crime of is marriage to a beautiful woman. This is ironic because the Knight's crime was a violation of a woman's autonomy and consent, yet he is now rewarded with a young and lovely wife who willingly responds to his desires. It highlights the double standard in society regarding the treatment of women and suggests that the Knight has not truly learned his lesson or been held accountable for his actions.