The Franklin's Tale

This story reflects how love is something so powerful in this time period. Not only do the people in love with each other respect it but even people who are jealous respect it. I believe the squire was the real hero for not taking advantage of a woman he loved. If only everyone was this faithful in our time period. It seems this story revolves around a chivalric attitude of respect. As the story ends, it seems that a full circle had unfolded of each character’s respect. The story ends with no adultery and no hard feelings, only respect to one another. The reason this short is my favorite is because there seems to be a “system of values” following the chivalric code throughout the story. The woman wants her husband to return safely so makes makes an oath (although she didn’t expect it to be fulfilled), the husband agrees to let her be unfaithful if it meant her reputation would not be harmed, the neighboring man respects the husband and sends the wife back, and the “magician” holds the neighboring man to no debt after moving the rocks.I thought this piece was changing the image of the woman, showing Griselda as a strong, hardworking woman, independent woman looking after her father. It seems as though Walter loves her for these qualities and he truly cares about her, asking permission to marry her from both her father and her. Walter was changing her life. However, as I continued to read, I realized that the image did not change too much. Although she was hardworking, she had no power and was obedient to everything her husband told her to do. She barely had no voice or say in his or her actions, accepting Walter's wishes, even when it came to their children. He was constantly testing her and her love for him. He wanted to see how much she really loved him, testing her patience.