The Clerk's Tale: Who is the truer villian?
To give a brief recap of The Clerk's Tale:
Quote:
A marquis who has been enjoying his life of bachelorhood is eventually pressured into marriage out of the need to produce an heir to be lord of the land after his death. He happens to see a beautiful young village girl Griselda and falls in love with her, and in her agreement to marry him he makes her swear a vow that she will be unquestionably obedient to him and that they will always be of one mind and she will have no will against his own and never defy or disagree with him whether he brings pleasure or woe.
After they are married though he feels the need to put his wife's obedience and oath to the test, and tells her that he must take her daughter away to be killed, giving some story about the publics disapproval of their marriage (Which is a lie he made up to give reason for his actions) and so she pretty says, yes of course dear, if you say that killing our daughter is best, than be all means I support you in your choice do what you must.
But of course that is not enough for him so they have another child, a son this time, and once more he comes to her with the same basic story telling her that he has to take her son away to be killed, and again she compliantly agrees without so much batting an eye and with a smile on her face.
Though he does not actually have the children killed but rather just sends them away at the time she does not know this and is not told and sincerely believes that both her children have been killed by the order of her husband.
Eventually in a final last test he does reveal the truth and reunites her with her children and they live happily ever after (of course).
Grieslda is meant to appear to be this pure, virtuous woman who is a great heroine for her long suffering patience and her steadfast obedience to her husband's wishes and her unquestionable devotion while being subject to such cruel treatment by her husband whom does not have proper fait in her love and obedience is intended to be sympathetic. Everyone is suppose to applaud Grieslda for her consistency and sigh as she endears without resentment toward her lord, whose love she keeps in her heart no matter what he may do or demand of her.
But I found Grieslda to be absolutely despicable and I think between the two she is by fore the worse villain over her husband. She is perfectly willingly to stand by idly and watch her children be led off to slaughter (as she sincerely believes is what is to be their fate) all in the name of a vow she gave her husband, but does not the bond of motherhood, and should not the natural need and desire to nurture and protect ones own children come before any mortal vow given to a man?
Is not her betrayal to her children whom are innocent and rely upon her protection and her love, and whom nature demands she should preserve at any personal sacrifice and any cost to herself supersede devotion to her husband when his actions are of the most vile unjust nature?
And even in his need to have ultimate loyalty, and well complete and total power over his wife and to hold her very will within his hands, truly love and respect a woman who would be so willing to stand by and allow their children to be killed.
