Final answer:
The transformation of the old lady in Wife of Bath is suggested not only by the disappearance of elves but also by the association of elderly women with magic and the underlying cultural attitudes that link old age to supernatural abilities.
Step-by-step explanation:
In Wife of Bath, while the disappearance of the elves hints at the transformation of the old lady, several additional clues foreshadow this change. The significant clues apart from the elves include the involvement of magic and the association of elderly women with magical practices, as evident in historical and literary context. The transformation is not an isolated event but part of a larger narrative trope in which older women, often marginalized or deemed foolish, become vessels of powerful magic and change.
One clear indicator is the context in which older women are viewed, particularly the nexus between old age and magic. This context is established by examining cultural attitudes towards elderly women, as reflected in the reference to witches in Horace, where they are not merely old but possess magical capabilities. This societal view makes the prospect of transformation thematically consistent with the old lady's character. Furthermore, the mention of the old lady's broomstick and her discussion of magical recipes with Goodman Brown allude to her possessing some otherworldly knowledge or power, suggesting a potential for her to undergo a magical change.
Therefore, in addition to the vanishing elves, there is a thematic underpinning throughout the narrative that elderly women can be more than they appear, often being linked with transformative magic and the supernatural.