The priest and Tyb then go to eat pie at the table together, while John is left to polish and rub the hard wax candles alone by the fire so they will be soft enough to repair the cleft.
To theatre goers of the time, this would have been a significant role reversal, and the constant emasculation of John would have been extremely humorous.
However, as a relatively early Renaissance work, its influence on later pieces of the period can be seen in many significant plays, especially the character of the domineering wife.
This theme is present in notable Renaissance plays such as Epicœne, or The silent woman, by Ben Jonson, and The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare.
Clearly this reversal of roles was a popular source of comedy and conflict in early modern England.
[4] It is notable that the play contains a negative portrayal of a Catholic priest during a time of religious upheaval, The Reformation, which may have contributed to its popularity.