Final answer:
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale," the transformation of the old crone into a beautiful woman is used as a metaphor to convey that true nobility arises from character and virtue, rather than from social status or lineage.
Step-by-step explanation:
In "The Wife of Bath's Tale" from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales, a metaphor is used to illustrate the message that true nobility comes from one's character, not from one's lineage or social status. This concept is conveyed through the story of a knight who must learn what women most desire, leading him to an old crone who teaches him valuable lessons about respect, power, and the importance of looking beyond outward appearances.
The crone in the tale transforms into a beautiful woman after the knight agrees to marry her, demonstrating that true worth and nobility are not tied to physical beauty or social rank, but rather to the goodness within. This transformation acts as a metaphor for the idea that noble behavior can manifest in unexpected forms, and that true gentility arises from one's deeds and moral fiber, not from their noble birth.