"The Clerk's Tale," by Chaucer

The story of Chaucer reflects roles and behaviors of women in a Patriarchal Society. The main character of the story is a poor peasant girl called Griselda who swore to his husband, Walter, to be a faithful and obedient wife. Despite her willingness to respect all her husband commands this, rich man humiliated her with several tests. This was to see if she would actually fulfill the oath she made to him. One way he tested her was by taking her children away from her in a cruel and ruthless way just to see her reaction. To this situation she did not complain or cry, she just accepted it as an obedient wife. Furthermore, she stated, “Lord all is subject to your pleasure. My child and I, with heart-felt obedience, are yours, you may save or kill your own thing; do as you will."(501-504). This cruel man made ​​several attempts to prove his wife until he finally realized all the mistakes he has done to her and then decided to reunite the children with her.

The Target of the Comportment Books

The Middle Ages had a rich history in traditions which helped individuals gain knowledge of how social institutions such as marriage, social class, and education worked at that time. During this time, books like this were created to instill in woman what would be her position inside the house as well as in the church and society. For example, they ought to unconditionally subservient to their husbands; intolerance was punished. Griselda, from "The Clerk's Tale," would be an ideal example because she had endured many humiliations in order to be worthy of her husband.