Chaucer and the Fictions of Gender

In Chaucer and the Fictions of Gender, the poet’s exploration of masculinity and femininity takes center stage, offering a complex interplay between societal constructs of gender and personal identity. Focusing on the Legend of Good Women, the analysis delves into the feminization of male characters, unraveling how their relationships with women reveal vulnerabilities and insecurities. From Antony’s loss of public honor to Pyramus’s emotional fragility, Chaucer presents men as navigating perilous intersections of love, identity, and societal expectations. Their struggles are contrasted with the archetypes of virtuous women, yet these figures also challenge normative gender roles, blending power with traditional notions of sacrifice. Through these layered narratives, Chaucer critiques the rigidity of patriarchal ideals, illustrating the tensions between personal desires and societal demands. This work positions Chaucer as an artist deeply engaged with the “woman question,” while acknowledging the limitations of interpreting his poetry solely through a proto-feminist lens. By examining the poet’s characters—both male and female—the analysis highlights how Chaucer negotiates the instability of gender roles, revealing an intricate tapestry of social critique and literary innovation. The book invites readers to consider how Chaucer’s works resonate with modern conversations about gender fluidity and the cultural pressures shaping identity. This nuanced exploration redefines the Legend of Good Women as a central piece in Chaucer’s oeuvre, one that pushes the boundaries of medieval literary traditions. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1992.