When examining the Wife of Bath’s prologue and tale, I beg to differ in finding support to take a feminist stance. In general the term feminism refers to the belief that women should have equal rights with men. One of the earliest feminist, Mary Astell, proposes this notion with her text, Some Reflections upon Marriage, in which she advocates equality within the home. If the monarchy shall not exist, then the patriarchy must be removed as well. With the truest form of equality there can appear no paradoxes; however, within The Wife of Bath there seems to exist plenty of contradicting elements. Usually a knight is perceived as noble, but the knight that readers meet in The Wife of Bath’s Tale has failed in our chivalric expectations as he enters onto the scene as a rapist. The Wife of Bath, herself, does not lead a noble life either with her record of five husbands. In my opinion, she nor the woman who marries the knight do not exemplify the “model woman”. I think women who identify themselves as true feminists are strong-willed; they do not compromise or exploit themselves to men, while at the same time still possess class and grace. We do not find this kind of woman in the tale, but instead the traits of manipulation and insecurity resonate throughout the text as they are ill-attributed to women. Apparently, “wommen desire to have sovereynetee as well over her housbond as her love” (lines 1038-1039). But, I think in actuality a woman seeks respect. Manipulation is not equality, but a cheap route to take regardless of gender. As a result, I do not see how such a figure as the Wife of Bath can symbolize that aforementioned concept of the “model woman”. To truly be an empowering text for women, a better figurehead than the Wife of Bath is needed. The conclusion of a “happily ever after for a rapist” is not desirable with the knight getting all the goods of a beautiful and faithful lady. The woman married to the knight does not have freedom, but is actually enslaved. Beauty is not everlasting, and although the knight tells her to decide what she shall be – if he truly loved her he would’ve answered with, “I’ll take you as you are.” Being faithful is admirable, but the allure of beauty is superficial (not that I wouldn’t mind) that ultimately reflects a man’s world as she fulfills his every desire.