In Friday’s class, we briefly
discussed what is means to have agency. I believe that Chaucer used one obvious
example in “The Canterbury Tales” so far, that being the old lady whom the
young knight came across on his journey to figure out what women truly desire.
Even from the very beginning of their conversations, she basically ruled over
him and had an agenda all of her own: she wanted to be married and finally have
power. This is a direct example of how to have agency, and what that would look
like in an old story.
Between the pages 287 to 297, she
was able to manipulate the young knight and get what she ultimately wanted. She
said, “…you me take unto your wife, for well you know that I have saved your
life” (p. 287). She showed that she outsmarted the young knight and got what
she wanted. As a result of that outsmarting, she showed her agency and how even
though she is a woman, she matters and can gain power from nothing. “I must
conclude: albeit that my ancestors were humble…” (p. 293). Many pages later,
she gained the power she wanted. The old woman said, “Then have I gotten over
you mastery,…since I may choose and govern as I please?” (p. 295). It is
important that she started out as no one of any patronage who came from nothing,
because from that nothing, she became the alpha over the young knight and
gained a small amount of power. This idea of agency is explicitly shown through
the character of the old woman.
Questions: Why did the kingdom used
to be filled with fairies?
What is a limitour and why is he
barely mentioned?
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