Misogyny and the BBC: Alisoun’s treatment in Chaucer’s The Miller’s Tale and the BBC’s modern adaptation

This article compares Chaucer’s treatment of Alisoun in The Miller’s Tale with the British Broadcasting Corporation’s (BBC’s) treatment of Alison in its modern adaptation, which is shown to be more misogynist than the medieval tale. Chaucer’s Alisoun holds sexual power over the men in the tale, and she is more cunning than they are, avoiding any punishment or ridicule at the end of the tale. At the end of the BBC’s version, Alison is left helplessly standing at the side of the road waiting for Nick. Meanwhile, Nick is on a bus to Canterbury and has already found another couple to swindle. The viewers are left to wonder what will happen to Alison, since she has already left her husband, John, and was expecting to run away with Nick. The BBC’s version makes Alison seem foolish for falling for Nick and lets Nick come out on top, rather than Alison. Alison is treated like an object to be used and exchanged among men. The BBC’s ending and treatment of Alison highlights our society’s misogynies and views that women who “misbehave” should be punished in some way. The fact that many of Chaucer’s female characters (including Alisoun) have some sovereignty, and the fact that the BBC’s modern adaptation took away any power or agency that Alison could have had at the end of the story, sheds light on how far we have yet to go in dealing with problems related to misogyny in our society.