Marriage as Negotiated Power

The Canterbury Tales

This flow compares marriages and vows across the collection, tracing the struggle between sovereignty, service, autonomy, and fidelity.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

Emily’s Forced Choice Emily’s Forced Choice from "The Canterbury Tales". Emily’s Forced Choice Political Marriage Theseus decides that Emily must marry the victorious lover.

Emily’s Forced Choice from "The Canterbury Tales". Emily’s Forced Choice Political Marriage Theseus decides that Emily must marry the victorious lover.

Emily’s Forced Choice Political Marriage Theseus decides that Emily must marry the victorious lover. Her feelings are secondary to the political need to settle rivalry. Stability Through Union The marriage ends public conflict, but it also reveals how female consent is absorbed into male governance.

Griselda’s Submission Griselda’s Submission from "The Canterbury Tales". Griselda’s Submission Absolute Obedience Griselda promises not to resist Walter’s will. Her marriage treats obedience as the foundation of security.

Griselda’s Submission from "The Canterbury Tales". Griselda’s Submission Absolute Obedience Griselda promises not to resist Walter’s will. Her marriage treats obedience as the foundation of security.

Griselda’s Submission Absolute Obedience Griselda promises not to resist Walter’s will. Her marriage treats obedience as the foundation of security. Moral Cost The promise enables Walter’s experiments and leaves her without a legitimate means of protest. Patience becomes both strength and vulnerability.

Dorigen’s Liberty Dorigen’s Liberty from "The Canterbury Tales". Dorigen’s Liberty Mutual Sufferance Arveragus refuses jealous mastery, and Dorigen promises fidelity freely.

Dorigen’s Liberty from "The Canterbury Tales". Dorigen’s Liberty Mutual Sufferance Arveragus refuses jealous mastery, and Dorigen promises fidelity freely.

Dorigen’s Liberty Mutual Sufferance Arveragus refuses jealous mastery, and Dorigen promises fidelity freely. Their marriage defines sovereignty as public appearance rather than private domination. Love Without Ownership The arrangement makes affection durable because neither partner treats the other as property. Its ideals later face a literal test.

The Impossible Vow The Impossible Vow from "The Canterbury Tales". The Impossible Vow Playful Speech Dorigen offers Aurelius a condition she believes cannot occur.

The Impossible Vow from "The Canterbury Tales". The Impossible Vow Playful Speech Dorigen offers Aurelius a condition she believes cannot occur.

The Impossible Vow Playful Speech Dorigen offers Aurelius a condition she believes cannot occur. Her words are meant to end courtship without surrendering fidelity. Literal Consequence Natural magic makes the impossible appear real. The episode shows how language can create obligations beyond intention.

Merciful Release Merciful Release from "The Canterbury Tales". Merciful Release Three Voluntary Renunciations Arveragus releases Dorigen, Aurelius releases Dorigen, and The Magician releases Aurelius.

Merciful Release from "The Canterbury Tales". Merciful Release Three Voluntary Renunciations Arveragus releases Dorigen, Aurelius releases Dorigen, and The Magician releases Aurelius.

Merciful Release Three Voluntary Renunciations Arveragus releases Dorigen, Aurelius releases Dorigen, and The Magician releases Aurelius. Each man gives up a claim he could enforce. Ethical Reciprocity Marriage, courtship, and commerce become honorable only when power is voluntarily limited. The tale defines nobility as the ability to free another person.

After the tournament settlement

At Walter’s marriage proposal

At her marriage to Arveragus

During the garden conversation in May

Near the ending of The Franklin’s Tale