I agree with the notion that the Wyf of Bath represents herself as an old hag in her tale because of her insecurities and her wishes to stay young and beautiful. I found that on Monday when we talked about governance and how it applies to the Wyf of Bath quite interesting. I really believe that she told this tale as a wish fulfillment of what she always wanted in life. The fulfillment being that she wanted to stay young, beautiful and want to be in a good marriage. We can see this through what the Knight finds out in his quest, that women want power and sovereignty in a marriage. We can also see evidence of this through the Wyf's prologue. She constantly wanted control by playing hard to get or chasing after men who played hard to get; or ripping out pages in one of her husband's books so that he would stop being annoying and pay attention to her. Throughout both the Wyf's prologue and tale I see a reoccurring aspect that she wants to be noticed, loved, and have control and will do anything she can to get it; whether that be sleeping with multiple men, ripping out pages in a book, or faking how badly she was abused by one of the men she "loved".
-Elise Van Dam