One essential element in a happy marriage is mutual respect. If both partners respect each other, they will create a balanced relationship. Both Chaucer and Shakespeare illustrate this idea quite well in their works. In his Canterbury Tales, Chaucer shows the effects of a balanced relationship with the life and story of the "Wife of Bath." The wife tells of her balanced relationship with her husband, and tells about a knight who creates a balanced relationship by giving his wife a choice; Shakespeare shows a balanced relationship in The Taming of the Shrew with Petruchio and Kate and contrasts that balance to the unbalanced relationships of Lucentio and Hortensio.

The Wife of Bath not only presents an amusing tale, but also shares a good portion of her own life in her prologue. She is an excellent example of why a mutual respect is required for a happy relationship...