REPRESENTATIONS OF FOOD AND SEXUALITY IN GEOFFREY CHAUCER’S FABLIAUX
Öz
This paper aims to analyze Chaucer’s use of food as a sexual metaphor in the carnal universe of his fabliaux, namely, The Miller’s Tale, The Reeve’s Tale, and The Merchant’s Tale. Fabliaux usually narrate the adulterous relationship revolving around a young wife, her old husband, and a young virile man. Therefore, sex plays an essential part in the dynamics of these tales. This paper argues that food is both associated with female characters’ sexual escapades in a positive way denoting their sexual power and also reveals their husbands’ unsuccessful efforts to satisfy their young wives sexually. Thus, metaphors of food implicitly reflect the husbands’ impotence because of old age. In this regard, this paper engages with Chaucer’s subversive use of food in The Miller’s Tale, The Reeve’s Tale, and The Merchant’s Tale and investigates how Chaucer overturns the gendered power struggle between wife and husband with regard to their sexual activities by employing metaphors of food.
Anahtar Kelimeler
Geoffrey Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, food, fabliau, sexuality
Kaynakça
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