The Wife of Bath was a very unusual character, especially for the time of the novel.  In the first place, she had five husbands, four of whom died.  In the fourteenth century it was seemingly unacceptable to marry more than once, much less five times:  "He taught me by example there to see that it is wrong to marry more than once."  For a women who hated marriage, she certainly had a variety of experiences with her many husbands.  It seemed that she did not mind having more than a few husbands.  In a day and age where women were supposed to be subservient to men, she frequently was able to gain control when she wanted it.  When she gained control, her husband seemed to die on her.  Bath, cheerfully boasted about her experiences:  Five husbands have I had...