She is the strong feminist in the play, and believes in women’s rights and the fact that women are physically no different to men. While reading the play, it becomes clear that Shakespeare included two female characters, each embracing an extremely different bias about women from the other. However, society in general during the Elizabethan times seemed to put women “in their place” (smartenglish.com). The men in that society treated women as though they were possessions that they could treat however they please. They also believed that they were superior to women and that women should remain obedient and oppressed, and not question their husbands or fathers.
Unknit that threatening unkind brow”, it is amazing that she still holds that same authority, preventing the widow and Bianca from interrupting. She uses language such as “unable worms” and “graceless traitor” where as a proper Elizabethean wife would never use such foul language. Furthermore, throughout the duration of her speech, not one person had dared to interrupt. Katherine has spent all her lifetime filling in the character of a shrew that it would be hard to break her out of that habit. Her speech was for show, knowing that she will be at an
The fundamental source of conflict, between the characters, in the play is the importance to Antigone of honouring her family versus Creon’s determination to establish his authority as King. To each, the honour received or given is highly valued and greatly defines their personalities. Antigone is very dedicated to and loving of her family, in ‘Oedipus at Colonus’ she proves her love and dedication towards her family by accompanying her father as he blindly wandered, an outcast from his kingdom. Antigone’s love for her family, no matter what their previous crimes were, makes her determined that to honour her family was the right path to take ‘...what greater honour could [she] wish?’. Antigone is so determined to honour her brother, and equally certain that her path was the correct one that she believed that the punishment she would receive would ‘...not be any pain’ and would’ve been had she ‘...left [her] mother’s son lie there unburied.’ Antigone appeared to be unafraid of death, as she believed she lived in ‘...daily torment’ due to the inherited family “curse”.
The role of women differs drastically from the poem to the movie version of Beowulf, and it says a lot about what we value as a society, and what the Anglo-saxons valued. While in the epic, the few women that are named in the story are powerful and influential, those same women, along with others that are exclusive to the movie, have nearly no influence on the men at all other than sexually. When analyzed, it can be seen that the role women play in the movie is drastically smaller, and in some ways disappointing, in comparison to their roles in the epic. Arguably the most important woman in the entire story if Beowulf, is Grendel’s unnamed mother. Depending on if viewed in the light of the epic or the movie, she is either an ugly and gigantic water demon, or a seductive humanoid.
Reality would support the opposite, that it is in fact the traits that support the individual. For once chauvinism may actually have worked in favor of women. By forcing women into the supporting roles, society likely gave them exactly what they needed to become successful in ways men cannot. "Women took on the roles of parent, housekeeper, teacher, mediator, bookkeeper, police, plumber, chef, etc. (Women and Work Human Resources comments all while still maintaining the illusion of grace, style and gentility.
Briana Norton Mrs. Nicci Brown-GPS 210 29 January 2013 Women heroes of the Odyssey In Homer’s Odyssey, the women have a major impact within this epic. Though in most stories and even in todays world, women are said to be inferior to men and play minor roles therefor they fall into the background. The two that have had the most effect on me is Athena and Penelope; these women have much in common, both wise and clever in their own sly ways. Athena the daughter of Zeus who is also the goddess of wisdom, craft and warfare, plays a vast role in the fate of the mortals within the epic. While Penelope, a mortal, also has an important role.
Throughout history, women have been treated different than men nether less in The Epic of Gilgamesh women play a small but crucial role. In the story, the females characters have pretty much power as the males, and we are introduced to Aruru, Shamhat, the temple prostitute, Siduri, the goddess of wine, Ishtar, and the wife of Utnapishtim. One of the most interesting aspects of the story is that it shows how men were aware of the power of women, and in consequence they tried not to fall for their temptation. In this paper, the women characters of The Epic of Gilgamesh will be analyzed by their power, wisdom, sensuality, and destruction, as a result it will show the viewed and valued of women in the ancient Mesopotamia. In the beginning of the epic, the first female character that appears is Aruru and she is introduce as the goddess of creation.
All these men here would praise me Were their lips not frozen shut with fear of you. Ah the good fortune of kings, Licensed to say and do whatever they please!” (2. 109-117). This is a great example because typical ancient Greek women were controlled by the men and they were very quiet and did not speak unless spoken to. This is also a great example because women were supposed to manage the household and have children.
While she has been married 6 different times, she considers her multitude of romances to be a declaration of her sexuality and her lack of doubt within herself. If being judged based solely on her willingness with men, she wants to be seen as the type of woman who doesn’t let societal standards delegate how she holds herself and lives. The wife also takes pride in her ability to stand up to her husband’s drinking problem. She is not weak or timid, she wants what’s best for her or which ever poor soul she is married to at a given time, and if that means facing the man in a way that puts her in a dangerous situation, then so be it. She also takes pride in the way she leads men, of course not leading them on, just simply leading them and sure, she’ll leave them eventually, but that’s not what matters.
When Mr. Hale says “Oh well women are used to worrying over trifles” he sums up what the male population thought of women. Martha Hale the first character the audience encounters initially seems like a very practical and efficient wife and mother who “hated to see things half done”. As ordinary as she may seem one can also deduct that she is a smart woman, capable of seeing the bigger picture and when given the chance will stand up for her beliefs. This is apparent through the way Mrs. Hale assess’ the situation that pulled her away