In addition, Petruchio’s determination to transform Katherina is disturbing to modern-day ethics, because of the methods and reasoning of taming her he employs and their connotations to animal imagery. The late 16th century was harsh to nonconformists of social role and standing, and the penalty of having an association with the stigma of a shrew was certain humiliation and public ridicule. As Baptista’s second, more desirable daughter, Bianca’s quiet submission in the presence of her potential suitors – Gremio, Tranio, and Hortensio, immediately draws comparisons with Katherina. Shakespeare uses the literary device of juxtaposition through the characters of Bianca and Katherina and their romantic encounters. As Holly A. Crocker describes, ‘Her aggression arises from the category of shrew itself because the behaviour her sister displays can look desirable only in comparison to extreme displays of feminine aggression.’(2003) In contrast to Bianca – who enjoys the pleasures of being wooed by a number of suitors, deceiving her father, and the ability to manipulate her husband before and after marriage; Katherina is presented
Shakespeare fostered his own tradition of women who control events in their plays – sometimes aided by disguise sometimes relying on sheer force of wit and wisdom. How far do you agree with this statement in relation to ‘much ado about nothing’? In much ado about nothing we are shown the culture and tradition of Elizabethan society at the time. We are shown the roles of men and women in society and the roles of different people in different classes. We are shown these aspects through Shakespeare’s use of comedy.
The Shakespearean lover can be seen in many of Shakespeare’s plays in many different forms. However while the forms may be different the role of the lover is still easily recognisable. In the excerpt from Shakespeare’s Richard III Richard of Gloucester can be seen playing the role of the lover in his speech to Queen Elizabeth, as he attempts to persuade her to be his ally in securing her daughter, Elizabeth, as his future wife. In the excerpt from the play A Midsummer Night’s Dream the role of the lover is played very differently by Hermia and Lysander, who plan to elope, the only way to get around the obstacles that their love is facing. These two excerpts from the plays, while both recognisably depicting the Shakespearean lover, are doing so in very different forms, with language and theatrical issues creating different forms of ‘the lover.’ Several distinctions between Richard’s exchange with Queen Elizabeth and Hermia and Lysander’s conversation easily highlight the differences between the Shakespearian lovers.
2. Explore the male/female relationships in A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. What are the traditional roles for males and females in the Renaissance? How are they depicted in A Midsummer Night’s Dream”? How does Shakespeare upsetting the ‘traditional roles’ add to the play?
It appeared in many literary works and was aiming at changing the world by encouraging gender equality. Purpose of the Research The purpose of this research was to analyze tow of the most important plays in the 19th &20th century which deal with the theme of feminism and through this analyze we get to know more about the feminist theory and the conditions of women under the suppression of a male dominated society. Statement of the Problem The problem presented in this research is to identify the feminist theory and how it was represented and reflected in some literary works like Ibsen’s play "A Doll’s House" and play George Bernard Shaw "Pygmalion" .Also analyzing the two plays to know about the female conditions in the 19th and the 20th century. Significance of the Problem It is an urgent thing that students should identify the feminism and the feminist theory and how they appeared in many literary works to reflect the women harsh social conditions and to call for change. Methods and Procedures A brief review of the literature related to the research at the beginning, the meaning of feminism as general was demonstrated.
I think Chaucer was trying to voice his opinion about feministic ways through a female speaker, hence Alisoun (the Wife), though contradicted his ideas in both the Prologue and Tale. In my opinion this lead to both feminist and anti-feminist thing about the text. Some essayist also address the anti-feminist views present in” The Canterbury Tales” and that maybe Chaucer’s use of the character Alisoun was meant to overthrow these views or possibly reinforce them (Trudeau). Chaucer begins the Prologue with Alisoun, the Wife of Bath, described as bawdy, lusty, strong-willed and one of the most fully developmentally discussed women in medieval literature (Trudeau). Viewed as an early precursor of feminist thought, some scholars argue that the majority of her Prologue can be seem as anti-feminist rhetoric (Trudeau).
The Methods Shakespeare uses to allude to homoeroticism in As You Like It William Shakespeare’s plays cover an array of topics focused on sexuality, from gender reversal to adultery to bestiality. But perhaps the most consistent and emphasized topic is homoeroticism. This focus on homoeroticism proceeds from the prohibition of women on the English stage and the subsequent female roles young boys would play.When looking at As You Like It Shakespeare is subtly hinting at the acceptance of Homoeroticism. When Rosalind decides to dress up as a man ‘And therefore look you call me Ganymede’ she is highlighting gender as a main theme in the play and showing women as clever and powerful who are capable of looking after themselves, but the idea of cross-dressing brings homoeroticism into the themes. In this essay I am going to talk about the different methods Shakespeare uses to allude to homoeroticism in As You Like It.
Ironically, nowadays some of the most interesting work on gender is happening in the Early Modern specialties. How would you characterize the ways in which the figure of Ophelia now works as a cultural trope? How do you think your play has added to the discursive resonances around Ophelia? Ophelia is the stereotypical female victim. If you look closely at Shakespeare's play she is a girl neglected by all who should hold some responsibility for her: her father, her brother, her boyfriend and the court.
It is this gender status that many plays of the Elizabethan Era were obsessed. Catherine Belsey believes that it is “Shakespeare’s comedies that can be read as disrupting sexual differences which calls into question what it means to be a woman. ” In many of Shakespeare’s comedies he creates female characters that cross dress to “escape the constraints and the vulnerability of their femininity” . The cross dressing can be a way for women in which to escape the tyranny and the nature of the patriarchal family and can also enable heroines to get control of their own lives. Julia, in Two Gentlemen of Verona, Rosalind, in
Does the verbal sparring between Kate and Petruchio show Shakespeare in a misogynistic way? Shakespeare presents Kate with a very ugly and ‘unladylike’ personality which I believe is Shakespeare trying to show the Elizabethan audience why women need taming so they act more like the beautiful Bianca. This is implied in Kate’s dialogue for example when she says to Petruchio ‘best beware of my sting’ what’s ironic is that Shakespeare presents Kate to know she is unpleasant and has this untasteful ‘sting’. I think Shakespeare uses her dialogue to create a very bad impression of Kate and women in general, in that he is showing the audience why she must be tamed by these men as she is out of hand and needs to be controlled by a man. However this could have quite a sad undertone and that Kate is putting on this harsh front to prevent her from marrying into an even more dominant male world.