?Q3: Chaucer is a feminist. Is this true or not? Base your answer on an analysis of any two of the texts on your course. This is a complex question, in which there are arguments for both sides in relation to his two texts ‘The Knight’s Tale’ and ‘Franklin’s Tale’. In both texts we see the main female character in a position of freedom or power at one stage, and also in a position of weakness or restraint. However taking into consideration the era in which these texts were composed, I would be of the opinion that Chaucer was a feminist to a certain extent. Although these women were not totally empowered throughout the plot, they do hold certain domination over men at some point, whether it be in the case of Emelye (‘The Knight’s Tale’) where her allure causes the love-sickness and conflict of the two brothers Palamon and Arcite unbeknownst to herself, or else the more obvious equality that Dorigen (‘Franklin’s Tale’) had with her husband Arveragus and the control over her admirer Aurelius. In ‘The Knight’s Tale’ we see the two brother’s Palamon and Arcite fall deeply in love with Emelye when they spy her in the garden whilst being imprisoned in the tower. They view her as this powerful and irresistible creature; however it could be said that they love her ability of movement more that Emelye herself. She symbolises what they crave in life whilst being imprisoned, which is : freedom. However, this very thing that they adore about her is taken away from her in the terms of the tournament, the fight amongst men for her hand. At the beginning she is portrayed by them as an other-worldly creature, this forces unreasonable expectations upon the female. Palamon and Arcite perceive Emelye in lyrical self-absorption for many years before ever meeting her in person. (Crane, 51) Not only are they imprisoned by the tower walls, but are also imprisoned by her love. This experience of love seems to be restricted to the perspective of the two brothers; Emelye is not taken fully taken into consideration in this situation. Courtship in the Fifteenth Century seems to be more about the male relating their own desire to a life threatening adventure. Both brothers are willing to fight against each other and die, to find out whether she is “my lady” or “thy lady”, even before she has had the chance to requite either of their love. (lines 1581, 1617,1619). This shows the male sense of entitlement toward the opposite sex that seemed to be present in the Fifteenth Century, this does not necessarily mean that there is misogynistic tone overall to the text , but maybe it’s Chaucer’s way of expressing the social norms that existed at that time. Emelye is portrayed as a timid young woman, forced into a situation where bearding a child would be expected of her (Crane, 52). She pleas with Diana the goddess of chastity to disallow the results of her having to accept the winner of the tournament as her husband, however the goddess tells her she cannot perform her wishes, even though we find that both Poloman’s and Arcite’s wishes are grante