“I am every woman”—Mutuality in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale and Zadie Smith’s The Wife of Willesden’s Tale

Abstract

This essay undertakes a comparative analysis of two literary works, Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Wife of Bath’s Tale (1386-1400) and Zadie Smith’s The Wife of Willesden’s Tale (2020), with a primary focus on character portrayals and, ultimately, the utilization of the phrase “I am every woman.” Both tales centre around the pursuit of sovereignty within intimate relationships. The discussion delves into the ethereal love between the old wife and the knight, setting the stage for a parallel relationship between Alvita, the transformed old wife, and her youthful and attractive second husband, Darren, the transposed maroon, in The Wife of Willesden’s Prologue. The essay underscores the thematic significance of trust in their love, exemplified by the old wife’s assertion of her extraordinary beauty, which challenges her husband’s disbelief and fosters an elevated sense of mutual affection. Furthermore, the interchangeable roles of housewife and househusband, dependent on the breadwinner’s capacity, highlight the potential for establishing equality in the relationships in general. In its conclusion, the essay posits that Smith’s assertion, “I am every woman,” serves as a communicative device that encapsulates the concept of a just and equitable relationship in the twenty-first century.