When You Were Born, They Must Have Thrown The Pattern Away Essay, Research Paper

Of all the characters in The Canterbury Tales, there is one that stands out as being the most interesting. Wearing her red stockings and flamboyant attire, the Wife of Bath makes it clear to her peers that she is “a woman of the night”. Still, readers seem drawn to her as if by a magical spell – capturing their attention and curiosity. A person in the twentieth century who can similarly be compared with the Wife of Bath is Sylvia Brown, the world renowned psychic.

Sylvia Brown frequently makes appearances on the Montel Williams Show. She helps solve baffling unsolved mysteries, and even gives advice to audience members that have questions concerning love, money, or their health to name a few. Though Sylvia Brown lacks the “night skills” of her The Canterbury Tales counterpart, people are still fascinated by her. Not only does Sylvia possess seemingly “supernatural” powers, she also possesses the gift of being very well spoken.

“In company she liked to laugh and chat” describes the personality of the Wife of Bath, but can also be used to describe the personality of Sylvia Brown. Sylvia has been to places all over the world, and everywhere she goes, she attracts fascinated people to her. Though not all over the world, the Wife of Bath has been “around the block” a few times. Nonetheless when they speak, their audiences listen attentively. Montel Williams once said that Sylvia Brown helps raise his show’s ratings. People sometimes “tune in” only when Sylvia Brown is scheduled to be on T.V. This makes it evident that Sylvia Brown has a way with people seemingly unmatched by anyone in her time. This can also be said for the Wife of Bath who also captures the interest and attention of people around her.

If both of these women lived in the same time, it is highly unlikely they would have ever met. Although each one’s moral standards are completely opposite of the other, they share a common character trait that seems to mesmerize the people watching and listening to them. Of all the people one meets in a lifetime, only a handful possesses the personality trait of Sylvia Brown and the Wife of Bath. The saying “when you were born, they must have thrown away the pattern,” fits perfectly with the individuality of Sylvia and the Wife of Bath.