The Wife of Bath's Prologue is a meticulously crafted and dramatically effective piece, and its structure is key to its power. The relationship with Jankyn, the fifth husband, forms the crucial climax and resolution of this intricate monologue. Structure of The Wife of Bath's Prologue The Prologue, though appearing as a free-flowing, rambling confession, is actually organized with rhetorical precision, moving through a series of arguments and personal anecdotes that build to a dramatic peak. 1. Theological and Philosophical Justification (Lines 1-188) Alisoun begins by immediately asserting her authority based on "experience" , rather than traditional "auctoritee." Defense of Multiple Marriages: She launches into a spirited defense of her five marriages, directly challenging the Church's idealization of virginity and celibacy. She uses selective biblical citations (Abraham, Jacob, Solomon) to argue that marriage and procreation are God-ordained and ne...
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