How we cite our quotes: (Line Number)
Quote #4
And for that nothing of hir olde gere
She sholde bringe into his hous, he bad
That wommen sholde dispoilen hire right there;
[…]
But natheles, this mayde bright of hewe
Fro foot to heed they clothed han al newe. (372-374, 377-378)
Grisilde passively submits to Walter's women here. The verb "dispoilen" can also be used to refer to rape. Well, that's cheery. The fact that Grisilde then has to put on the clothing Walter has supplied is symbolic of the way a husband supposedly "covered" his wife both legally and financially in the medieval period, so that once married she would be legally considered a dame couvade (covered lady).
Quote #5
She seyde, "Lord, al lyth in youre plesaunce;
My child and I with hertely obeisaunce
Ben yores al, and ye mowe save or spille
Youre owene thing: werketh after youre wille." (501-504)
Grisilde places herself and her child in a position of ultimate passivity by portraying both of them as Walter's possessions. She's basically saying that she's just an object, a piece on a chessboard to be moved around as Walter wills. Of course, legally, that's pretty much what she was. How different do you think the situation would have been for other wives during this period?
Quote #6
Grisildis mot al suffren and al consente;
And as a lamb she sitteth meke and stille,
And leet this cruel sergeant doon his wille. (537-539)
By calling Grisilde a lamb, the narrator draws on the phrase "like a lamb to the slaughter," thus emphasizing the imposed helplessness of Grisilde's position. Or is it imposed? After all, Grisilde is the one who has chosen to be passive.