Shakespeare also uses Petruchio to emphasise his misogynistic view, as he is able to act very aggressively towards her, and says ‘I’ll cuff you if you strike again’. This could imply how men ‘trap’ women and hold them as their property- again showing how sexist Shakespeare is that he is presenting it as okay to ‘cuff’ women as they deserve it (because she hit him first). Shakespeare could be implying that if women
However, Desdemona is also depicted as aggressive and opposing to Shakespeare’s context through Othello’s story. Othello explains that Desdemona has “with a greedy ear, devour[ed] up [his] discourse.” This metaphorical characteristic of Desdemona challenges cultural assumptions about women in Shakespeare’s context. When Desdemona speaks for herself, in a very assertive and intellectual manner she states, “I did love the Moor to live with him”. This statement expands on Desdemona’s sexual nature. Shakespeare has challenged his own context in this scene, providing an opportunity for Orson Wells to also develop a controversial Desdemona – appropriate to his own context.
Despite common belief that Ophelia and Gertrude merely serve as subservient, foil characters among the men in the play, many critics see strong glimmers of feminism within the two. Many feel that the weaknesses in the women are highlighted solely to take attention away from the atrocities that the men commit. In other words, the men fear the weak, feminine characteristics within themselves, so they project the image of promiscuity onto the females in order to secrete their masculine bloodshed. This is found evident in Hamlet’s reaction to Polonius’ death in his infamous scene with Gertrude, where he attempts to “speak daggers to her, but use none.” (3-2-378) Upon the murder of Polonius, Gertrude’s "supposed sin is made to overshadow his actual sin and somehow to justify it." Moreover, it’s only when Ophelia dies that she is finally able to escape the “whore” image that the men in the play had branded her with.
The noun ‘Queen’ reflects royalty, elegance and patriotism; Gertrude’s character should be a symbol of a respectable monarchy and stable country. The comma used after ‘Queen’ adds a greater emphasis on her status, and highlights her wrongdoing, by allowing a pause after the powerful noun, creating a sense of irony showing his disdain. Due to the evil conflict being caused by the Queen’s sexual encounters, the play conforms to a Shakespearean tragedy as it involves a person of high
Throughout the play Lady Macbeth is the driving influence behind Macbeth and the immoral path that he chose to follow. To put it simply Lady Macbeth started the rot and persuaded the hesitant and indecisive Macbeth to “be a man” and do the deed of killing Duncan. Macbeth initially decided to “proceed no further” in the matter of killing Duncan because he had been kind to him of late bestowing the position of Thane of Cawdor on him. She responds to this by saying that if he can lose his ambition so readily, his love for her must also be changeable. Then she insults his masculinity and questions his courage.
The analysis of women characterisation in Othello restores the focus of the tragedy to Desdemona, whose character is essential “for the completion of the tragic pattern” of the play. Desdemona’s exclusion, not only from the title, but from the male bonding that condemns her as a whore, is her tragedy. The success of Iago’s manipulation lies largely in his use of beliefs that are sanctioned by the Venetian society and refuse Desdemona the agency to make her own choices. Iago voices his disbelief in the union when he calls Othello one of the Moors who “are changeable in their wills” and Desdemona as a woman who “must change for youth”. The conviction with which he is able to designate Desdemona’s fidelity to a questionable stand underlines the reductive understanding of a woman’s character.
Today, name of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are closely associated with betrayal of friendships as these two former friends of Hamlet is doing everything in favor of Hamlet’s top enemy, Claudius to destroy Hamlet’s influence. Ther is no doubt that Shakespeare inserts these two characters to be comic relief but the appearance of these two character in the play also symbolizes his mix emotion of ridicule and sympathy. The appearance of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is not doubt to be comic relief just as the courtier Ostric is. Unlike Ostric who panders to whoever that are powerful enough for him to benefit from praising them even though he might contradicts himself, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are less of this clownish style on the surface in term of their acts, language and tone. Notice that these two friends of Hamlet in University of Wittenberg never make any assertions or statements during the course of the play.
“Which of you shall we say doth love us most” Act 1, Scene 1, Line 52. Through this, both King Lear’s and Gloucester’s rage and rashness can be seen, resulting in them both loosing sight of what is important. Despite this, their weak characteristics have a small influence on their tragedy and suffering. After King Lear bestows all his possessions to his daughters, rather than being grateful, Goneril and Regan’s lust for power causes them to turn on their father. In Act 2, Scene 4, Goneril and Regan diminish his retinue, disregard his authority and Goneril instructs her servants to treat King Lear with the utmost disrespect.
This is an example of the mocking of Petrarchan language that is a constant feature throughout the play, and possibly even a hint towards Shakespeare’s attitude towards the Petrarchan language that was a norm of the time. This is also directly expressed in Shakespeare’s Sonnet 130, which denotes Petrarchan poetry to the point where Shakespeare is basically saying that their ‘language of love’ actually demotes and degrades the women, as rather than celebrating features a women actually has, it celebrates things that they can’t possibly achieve. This is subversive because it is completely opposes the conventions of the language in that era. Beatrice could have been created just for
The play ‘Macbeth’ by William Shakespeare uses an array of characters to show the corrupting power of uncontrolled ambition. Lady Macbeth is essential to the play as she drives Macbeth’s wavering conscience to commit regicide because she generally thinks that it is best for her husband. It is only later when she realizes that they have gained nothing from it, and begins a down spiral into madness. Even though Lady Macbeth is initially the driving force of Duncan’s death and the downfall of her and Macbeth’s death, many admirable qualities are shown through her. Lady Macbeth’s admirable traits can be characterized in three groups: ambition, persuasion and loyalty.