An identity is what distinguishes every human being from one another. There are a plethora of identities, since no two people are identical in their character. Hence, there is no true female identity. It is an assumption or a stereotype based on one's perception. That is why in Chaucer's [u]Wife of Bath[/u], there are variations of the `female identity'.

14th century idea of a female identity differs significantly from the views of today's society. It was a society where patriarch dominated the institutions; hence it was not accepted for women to voice her opinions so crudely and confidently especially when her views were set in opposition to men. In Chaucer's [u]Wife of Bath[/u], Alison is not a conventional woman, who is conservative and submissive. She is bawdy, lusty and controlling. [i]"Which shal be bothe my dettour and my thrall"[/i]. Throughout her argument...