Using reader-response theory, explain how different readers…
Using reader-response theory, explain how different readers might interpret the Wife of Bath’s character and motivations based on their own experiences and cultural backgrounds. How might a medieval audience’s reception of her five marriages differ from a modern feminist reader’s interpretation? Consider how your own position as a 21st-century reader influences whether you view the Wife of Bath as an empowered woman challenging patriarchal norms or as a problematic stereotype. What does this suggest about the role of the reader in creating meaning from the text?
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