The Canterbury Tales: The Wife of Bath's Prologue Lines 121-140 Summary

  • Why were the genitals made, and those by such a perfect maker (God)?
  • They certainly weren't made for no reason.
  • Although some may try to explain the genitals away by saying they're meant for urinating, or for telling the difference between a male and a female, experience says otherwise.
  • In fact, they are made for the purpose of pleasure and procreating (making babies).
  • Why else do writers say that a man should yield the marriage-debt (sex) to his wife?
  • How else would he make the payment without using his penis?
  • Therefore, the genitals are made both for urinating and for procreating.