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Part of the book series: Macmillan Master Guides ((MMG))

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Abstract

The theme of marriage announced so resoundingly in the second line presents two issues: first, marriage as an institution, the legal and religious union of two people, is portrayed in the text; and second, emotional and sexual relationships become a complex theme as the Wife describes her ‘experience’. Both aspects of the marriage theme have to be treated carefully because Alison’s narrative is full of digressions and covert red herrings.

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© 1987 Nicholas Marsh

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Marsh, N. (1987). Themes and Issues. In: The Wife of Bath’s Tale by Geoffrey Chaucer. Macmillan Master Guides. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-08913-0_5

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