Geoffrey Chaucer wrote The Canterbury Tales, a collection of short stories in the 14th century. The collection of stories is told by different characters within the narrative as part of a game proposed by the host. Each individual must tell two stories about their journey and two stories about the way back. Each story recounts some aspect of English life at the time and often adds satirical qualities to English life. In particular, Chaucer often tells stories with elements of the relationship between man and woman. It provides a clear representation of what behaviors are expected at that moment for men and women. Men are the more dominant, control the relationship more and provide for their wives, while women are submissive and should do what they are told. However these elements are presented in Chaucer's work, a role reversal often occurs in his writings. Chaucer makes most of his female characters stronger and reverses the roles between men and women. The Wife of Bath's Tale is an excellent representation of how Chaucer demonstrates the role reversal between man and woman. The roles of men and women were clearly defined during the 14th century. Women were thought to serve only minimal purposes. These included marriage, having children, and pleasing her husband. Women were essentially treated without the rights they have in current times. Most if not all marriages in Chaucer's lifetime were arranged, and the women who were to marry had little or no say in choosing a husband. The man could obtain consent to marry her through her parents, no matter how much the women opposed the union. This is hinted at in the wife of Bath's tale when our narrator says “forever since I was twelve yes……middle of the paper……at home. Each story plays on the roles of people in the time in which it is told. The stories vary as do the characters who travel. One story stands out in particular when it comes to the relationship between men and women in Chaucer's time. This story is told by the character of Allison who tells the story of the Wife of Bath. The story and prologue examine Allison's life and her views on what relationships between a man and his wife should be. He believed that women should be in charge of the relationship and that men should be subservient to them. This is reflected in his story in many ways. His views on what relationships should be like were different than what would have been normal for the time period in which Chaucer lived. Bibliography. Chaucer, Geoffrey and David Wright. The Canterbury Tales. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2011.Print.