Loathly Ladies' Lessons: Negotiating Structures of Gender in "The Tale of Florent," "The Wife of Bath's Tale," and "The Wedding of Dame Ragnelle."
- Author/Editor
- Znojemská, Helena.
- Title
- Loathly Ladies' Lessons: Negotiating Structures of Gender in "The Tale of Florent," "The Wife of Bath's Tale," and "The Wedding of Dame Ragnelle."
- Published
- Znojemská, Helena. "Loathly Ladies' Lessons: Negotiating Structures of Gender in 'The Tale of Florent,' 'The Wife of Bath's Tale,' and 'The Wedding of Dame Ragnelle.'"Acta Universitatis Carolinae Philologica (2022): 21-37.
- Review
- Helena Znojemská deftly unravels the complex interplay of gender dynamics, transforming the 'loathly lady' motif from a mere narrative device into a profound commentary on power, transformation, and identity. Znojemská argues that the motif functions to interrogate and destabilize traditional gender roles and power dynamics before re-instating the status quo, even if this is not sustainable. In medieval literature, gender structures are often portrayed as rigid and hierarchical, with women typically positioned within a framework of submission, subservience, or objectification. However, texts like "The Tale of Florent," "The Wife of Bath's Tale," and "The Wedding of Dame Ragnelle" complicate these binaries by featuring women who challenge traditional gender roles through transformative encounters. These stories offer a nuanced exploration of how gender and power are intertwined, reflecting both societal expectations and the potential for female autonomy within the constraints of medieval norms. Znojemská's interpretation of gender structures highlights the ways in which the 'loathly lady' figure in medieval literature serves as both a challenge to and a negotiation of traditional gender norms. Her ability to draw connections between the texts offers a cohesive analysis that reveals recurring themes of transformation, agency, and subversion of gender norms. Additionally, Znojemská's interdisciplinary approach, blending literary analysis with gender theory, enriches academic discussion by providing fresh insights into how these texts interrogate medieval social structures. As academic discourse surrounding the 'loathly lady' figure remains limited, this analysis of the complex implications of gender roles within the text is a valuable contribution to existing scholarship while offering the potential for further discussion. [CM. Copyright. John Gower Society. eJGN 44.1]
- Date
- 2022
- Gower Subjects
- Confessio Amantis
Sources, Analogues, and Literary Relations