The Wife of Bath goes deaf because her fifth husband, Jankyn, struck her on the ear with a heavy book.
The Incident Explained
The key reason behind the Wife of Bath's deafness stems from a violent altercation with her fifth husband, Jankyn. This event is a pivotal point in understanding her character and her views on marriage and male dominance.
- The Book: Jankyn possessed a book of "wicked wives" - a collection of stories portraying women negatively. This book served as a catalyst for conflict between them.
- The Blow: During one particularly heated argument, Jankyn became enraged by the Wife of Bath's defiance and struck her on the side of the head with the book.
- The Result: The blow was severe enough to cause permanent damage to her hearing in one ear, rendering her partially deaf.
This physical assault directly contributes to her partial deafness and also fuels her rebellious spirit and her strong advocacy for female independence within marriage. The incident highlights the power dynamics and the potential for abuse inherent in the medieval marital structure, which the Wife of Bath actively challenges throughout her tale.
