Shakespeare's women
Table of Contents
ABSTRACT
This research paper is an appreciation of Shakespeare’s portrayal of women in his plays. It examines how Shakespeare’s writings reflect the treatment of women during the 16th century. Does he reveal himself as being sexist and misogynist? In how far are his views about the sexes influenced by the conceptions of gender in the Elizabethan time, and does he support, question or even reject them?
Ch. 1 posits the oppression of women as being a representation of the society in the Renaissance. Further, it criticizes the violence and cruelty inflicted in a patriarchal system.
Ch. 2 points out that negative quality is part of human nature and that attribution of strength to women was unacceptable in Elizabethan time.
Ch. 3 gives a definition of the ideal woman in the Tempest and the Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Ch. 4 rejects the idea that Shakespeare has excluded women by giving them insignificant roles in his plays.
Ch. 5 shows evidence that Shakespeare defy the norms for his female characters.
Ch. 6 argues that Shakespeare might be protesting against the treatment of women rather than expressing his own misogynistic and sexist views regarding the female gender.
Literature Review
With the emancipation of women from the 16th to 21st century, it is common to find that many critics claim that Shakespeare has shown much disrespect towards womanhood in his plays. They suggest that he displayed misogynistic and sexist tendencies towards women. According to the research carried out, It has been observed that Shakespeare’s portrayal of women in his plays reflect to a large extent the conception of women in his era. While some researchers focused mainly on the roles of the female characters and the language used by the male characters to denigrate women, others go beyond what is reproduced in the plays. Those critics took into consideration the factors that influenced the dramatist in the 16th century.
In a critic
ABSTRACT
This research paper is an appreciation of Shakespeare’s portrayal of women in his plays. It examines how Shakespeare’s writings reflect the treatment of women during the 16th century. Does he reveal himself as being sexist and misogynist? In how far are his views about the sexes influenced by the conceptions of gender in the Elizabethan time, and does he support, question or even reject them?
Ch. 1 posits the oppression of women as being a representation of the society in the Renaissance. Further, it criticizes the violence and cruelty inflicted in a patriarchal system.
Ch. 2 points out that negative quality is part of human nature and that attribution of strength to women was unacceptable in Elizabethan time.
Ch. 3 gives a definition of the ideal woman in the Tempest and the Two Gentlemen of Verona.
Ch. 4 rejects the idea that Shakespeare has excluded women by giving them insignificant roles in his plays.
Ch. 5 shows evidence that Shakespeare defy the norms for his female characters.
Ch. 6 argues that Shakespeare might be protesting against the treatment of women rather than expressing his own misogynistic and sexist views regarding the female gender.
Literature Review
With the emancipation of women from the 16th to 21st century, it is common to find that many critics claim that Shakespeare has shown much disrespect towards womanhood in his plays. They suggest that he displayed misogynistic and sexist tendencies towards women. According to the research carried out, It has been observed that Shakespeare’s portrayal of women in his plays reflect to a large extent the conception of women in his era. While some researchers focused mainly on the roles of the female characters and the language used by the male characters to denigrate women, others go beyond what is reproduced in the plays. Those critics took into consideration the factors that influenced the dramatist in the 16th century.
In a critic