Quote of the day by Father of English poetry Geoffrey Chaucer: ‘Women naturally desire the same six things as I; they want their husbands to be brave…’ ; lessons on love from British literary icon

What do women want? Men have been trying to decode the mystique of feminine desire for centuries and have yet to reach a consensus. However, iconic English writer and poet Geoffrey Chaucer came up with an ingenious theory of what women desired in a mate. The Canterbury Tales author theorised, that women’s desires were not as complicated as they seem, and that deep down, most women crave a spouse who is wise, brave, patient and generous with their affections.

Quote Of The Day By Geoffrey Chaucer On What Women Want

In a chapter of The Canterbury Tales, the poet explains: “Women naturally desire the same six things as I; they want their husbands to be brave, wise, rich, generous with money, obedient to the wife, and lively in bed…”

Deeper Meaning Of The Quote

The underlying meaning behind this whimsical quote is that aside from financial stability, women, like men also ache for respect, companion ship. Ultimately, the quote suggests that successful relationships require a balance of strength, understanding, generosity, respect, and affection. It highlights the timeless human desire for a partner who contributes to both emotional and practical well-being.

Relevance Of The Quote

Even today, women crave for a companion who respect them and with whom they can rely on in times of crisis. Successful relationships have a combination of mutual support and emotional understanding.

Who Was Geoffrey Chaucer?

Often hailed as the Father of English literature or the Father of English poetry, Chaucer is best known as the author of The Canterbury Tales. He was born in London into a family of viners and merchants. Before becoming a writer, Chaucer was an eminent diplomat, civil servant and courtier. His first major work was The Book Of the Duchess, an elegy for Blanche Of Lancaster.

Some of his other major poems are Parlement Of Foules, The Legend Of Good Women and Troilus and Criseyde.

Chaucer created the rhyme royal stanza form and was among the first English poets to employ a five-stress, ten-syllable line, a poetic structure that anticipated the later development and widespread use of iambic pentameter in English verse. He is also known as the pioneer of satire in English literature.

Chaucer is also considered the inventor of English vernacular tradition. He was a firm advocate of using English language over the-then prevalent use of Latin and French in British judiciary. He was also the first author to have depicted Valentine's Day in a romantic light. In Chaucer's Parlement Of Foules, a parliament of birds are shown to be choosing their mates on Valentine's Day.