Since the beginning of time women have fought against the oppression and prejudices facing them. Geoffrey Chaucer is one who berates the status and tendencies of women, consistently reinforcing the judgment that females are the root of all evil. Chaucer uses his work The Canterbury Tales, to criticize the female persona. The Wife of Bath's Tale is a prime example of Chaucer's predilection on the status and standing of women in society during his time: …showed first 75 words of 1157 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1157 total…shall conclude that it is better for me to slay myself than to be so defiled. (327) Chaucer uses Dorigen to criticize the female persona by portraying a woman of a weak and equivocal nature. Chaucer portrayed his misogynistic views wonderfully in The Canterbury Tales. By using witty yet slanderous descriptions and creating situations which were effective in portraying the woman character as being evil, weak, or a temptress, Chaucer effectively criticizes the female persona.