Rigby, Stephen H. "The Wife of Bath, Christine de Pizan, and the Medieval Case for Women." The Chaucer Review 35.2 (2000): 133-165.
Seeking to clarify the purpose of the Wife of Bath as a character supporting a feminist narrative, Rigby asserts that the work and remarks of Christine de Pizan can provide an alternate interpretation of the way the Wife of Bath functions as a feminist. While many may interpret the Wife of Bath as a challenge to authority, Christine de Pizan notes that ways in which authority allowed the character to achieve her goals as a feminist (151). Rigby notes the importance of interpretation and a focus on what can be gleaned from the text. Moving beyond the literal meaning of the tale, we can better understand how the Wife of Bath works her angle as a feminist in ways not immediately clear to the reader. Reviewing the works and remarks of Christine de Pizan offers readers an alternate interpretation of feminism within the tale, focusing on the satire that Chaucer presents to the reader.
-Megan Rogosheske
