The Canterbury Tales: The Clerk's Tale Power Quotes

The first thing we learn about Walter is that he is a totally powerful guy. Not only is he a marquis, but all his "lieges," or noblemen, are obedient and ready to come at his command. Moreover, Walter is not only loved, but "drad," or feared, by his lords and the people he rules. It looks like Walter's power is real—and that he uses it enough for people to fear him.

By saying that Walter can "doon right as [he] leste," the nobleman who petitions him shows how aware he is of Walter's absolute sovereignty. He is careful to portray his request as nothing more than a humble petition; Walter, he says, can do as he sees fit.

Walter's nobleman is trying to combat a popular perception of marriage as an institution that constrains those who enter it under a "yoke." A yoke is a harness placed on two animals so that they can pull things in pairs. It's not a pretty picture, and it's obviously the view of marriage Walter himself has. It's almost as if, later, he's trying to stay clear of the yoke by placing it solely on Grisilde.

Walter thinks that all fun and freedom end when you get married. It's odd that he thinks he has so much freedom and liberty, though, because as a leader, he has responsibilities and obligations that constantly constrain him. Awareness of responsibility is what his noblemen are trying to awaken in him with their request that he marry.

Janicula gives his definition of what it means to be lorded over: he says, in effect, that he desires nothing that goes against his lord's wishes. This is a submission to power that goes far beyond physical submission; it rules even the desires of the person ruled over. The only desire that matters is the desire of the lord.

Walter seems to view wifehood mainly as a state of obedience to a husband. He says he will ask Grisilde if she wants to be his wife and be ruled by him. He doesn't ask her if she would like to be, you know, honored or loved by him.

So Walter is laying down the terms of the "alliance" he wants with Grisilde here: basically, she's got to do whatever he asks of her without complaining, without ever contradicting him, and without ever even appearing mad about having to obey him. Um. Would  you agree to such an "alliance"? It would sure make us pause, even if it came from Ryan Gosling.

As if Walter's conditions weren't harsh enough, Grisilde makes things even more difficult for herself by swearing not to disobey Walter in works or thoughts. Yes, you read that right. Thoughts, people. All Walter had asked of Grisilde was the appearance of obedience, but Grisilde promises obedience that extends to her very mind. Is that even possible? Is that desirable?

Walter has demanded absolute obedience from Grisilde. Here, though, Grisilde almost makes her obedience seem obsolete by saying that she and her child are Walter's "owene thing." If they are possessions, they're not really entitled to have a will of their own, anyway, so what's all the fuss about, Walt?

The Sergeant's speech raises an interesting question here, and one that reflects on Grisilde as much as on him: are people obligated to obey every command given by someone in power over them? Or might even higher (perhaps moral) considerations play a role in one's decision to obey or not? Remember that the command the Sergeant (and Grisilde) are supposedly obeying here is to commit infanticide.

Grisilde's claim to have discarded not only her liberty but her will with her old clothing further marks her as Walter's possession, rather than as a thinking, desiring being. Since Grisilde sees herself in this way, she quite naturally sees no reason for Walter to clear things with her, to ask her "reed." Walter's insistence on doing so makes it seem as if he is much more uncomfortable and uncertain than Grisilde is concerning her position.

Part of the Envoy's advice to wives is to gain mastery over their husbands, just as the Wife of Bath had suggested they should. On the one hand, the message of the Envoy doesn't seem to fit with the "Clerk's Tale." On the other hand, if we see the Tale as a warning about the torments that can afflict the wife who is patient with a tyrannical husband, the Envoy makes perfect sense... though then we have to wonder why it's suggested in the Envoy that women should make their husbands actually suffer. Is the point perhaps that neither party should have power over the other?