Knowledge in Tis Pity and The Wife of Bath

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  • Knowledge
    • Vasques
      • Knowledge is a great source of power
        • This allows him to control many of the other characters
          • The wife uses her knowledge to control men
            • "I governed hem so well, after my lawe"
        • Demonstrated by his use of asides
      • Goffman - dramaturgical model. Everyone is constantly playing different roles
        • Vasques' great knowledge allows him to play roles that will benefit him and allow for the manipulation of others
          • The wife of Bath was also manipulative with her husbands, withholding what they want for her own gain
    • Putana
      • Her knowledge of Giovanni and Annabella's relationship caused her death
        • Burned at the steak as a warning
          • A punishment usually associated with witches
            • Women who knew a lot were often suspected of being witches
          • "burnt to ashes"
        • She was happy about the relationship when it was private, however, once it is at risk of becoming public knowledge she strongly condemned it
          • Act 2, Scene 1: "let her take anybody, father or brother, all is one"
          • Act 3, Scene 3: "we are all shamed forever"
      • Knew a lot of information on Annabella's suitors
    • Giovanni
      • Often uses syllogistic logic when debating his beliefs
        • A deductive form of reasoning written about by Aristotle in which there are two premises and a conclusion
          • Now usually regarded as out of date yet contextually, during the renaissance this was of high interest
      • Giovanni uses his strong knowledge of the classics to argue his beliefs
        • He does this because in the times the classics were written they did not have as much of a damnation on incest as the church does
          • The Wife cites classical theorists to criticise in order to reinforce her own beliefs
            • "conseillying is no comandement. He putte it in oure owene juggement"
        • The Wife of Bath also has a comprehensive knowledge of both Christianity and many classical theorists and uses these to support her points
          • Her knowledge predominantly comes through experience.
            • "Experience, though noon auctoritee"
      • Giovanni lies to Annabella, saying the church approves of their relationship when it does not
        • This allows Giovanni to manipulate Annabella
    • Knight (from the Tale)
      • His purpose was to find knowledge to save his own life
        • This contrasts Putana as knowledge caused her death
        • I grante thee lyf, if thou kanst tellen me What thyng is it that wommen moost desiren"
      • He was reliant upon the information the old woman had to live
        • This caused him to be bound to her and he had to marry her
          • "have heer my trouthe"
          • "thou me take unto they wyf/ For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf"
    • Annabella
      • Naivety
        • Believes the church would approve of their relationship when they obviously wouldn't
          • "I have asked counsel of the holy Church,  Who tells me I may love you"
    • The play as a whole
      • Ford manipulated the emotions of the audience by restricting their knowledge in such a way that it changes their views
        • He makes the audience view all the suitors and their faults before being allowed to meet Giovanni
          • This then portays Giovanni as the ideal suitor, despite being Annabella's sibling
    • Florio
      • The revelation that his children were lovers  and his son killed his daughter was shocking enough to kill him
      • The lack of knowledge concerning his children's relationship allowed for dramatic irony to occur
        • Act 3, Scene 4: Annabella's diagnosis
          • Florio state's that Annabella needs "a brother's love"
    • Friar
      • The friar has an extensive religious knowledge and believes that if both Giovanni and Annabella recognise their sins they will be able to repent and ask forgivenss
      • Believes that Giovanni is throwing away his knowledge and all he has learn in order to sin
        • "Hast thou left the schools Of knowledge, to converse with lust and death?"
    • Richardetto
      • Both Richardetto and Hippolita are attempting to murder Soranzo but neither knows of the other's intent
      • In disguise as a physician (doctor)
        • He does this to spy on his wife Hippolita who he tried to kill him and he suspects of having an affair
          • Does not have a huge amount of medical knowledge. Any he does have is based upon the four humours
  • "thou me take unto they wyf/ For wel thou woost that I have kept thy lyf"
  • Richardetto
    • Both Richardetto and Hippolita are attempting to murder Soranzo but neither knows of the other's intent
    • In disguise as a physician (doctor)
      • He does this to spy on his wife Hippolita who he tried to kill him and he suspects of having an affair
        • Does not have a huge amount of medical knowledge. Any he does have is based upon the four humours

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