Female characters play an important role for the dramatic run of events in Shakespeare’s plays. Just as in reality, women of Shakespeare’s dramas have been bound to rules and conventions of the patriarchal Elizabethan era. Therefore, it was very common back in Elizabethan England to compel woman into marriages in order to receive power, legacy, dowry or land in exchange.
Even though the Queen herself was an unmarried woman, the roles of woman in society were extremely restricted. Single women have been the property of their fathers and handed over to their future husbands through marriage.
In Elizabethan time, women were considered as the weaker sex and dangerous, because their sexuality was supposedly mystic and therefore feared by men.
Women of that era were supposed to represent virtues like obedience, silence, sexual chastity, piety, humility, constancy, and patience.
All these virtues, of course, have their meaning in relationship to men.
The role allocation in Elizabethan society was strictly regulated; men were the breadwinners and woman had to be obedient housewives and mothers.
However, within this deprived, tight and organized scope, women have been represented in most diverse ways in Shakespearean Drama.
The construction of female characters in Shakespeare’s plays reflects the Elizabethan image of woman in general. For all that, Shakespeare supports the English Renaissance stereotypes of genders, their roles and responsibilities in society, he also puts their representations into question, challenges, and also revises them.
Table of Contents
- 1. INTRODUCTION
- 2. WOMAN IN SHAKESPEARE'S PLAY HAMLET
- 2.1 THE CHARACTER OF OPHELIA
- 2.2 THE CHARACTER OF HAMLET'S MOTHER: GERTRUDE
- 3. WOMAN IN SHAKESPEARE'S PLAY OTHELLO
- 3.1 THE CHARACTER OF DESDEMONA
- 4. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of female characters in Shakespeare's plays, specifically Hamlet and Othello, through a feminist lens. It examines how these characters are shaped by the patriarchal constraints of Elizabethan society and explores the tragic fates they often meet.
- The portrayal of women in Elizabethan society and its reflection in Shakespeare's plays.
- The limitations and restrictions placed upon women in Elizabethan England.
- Analysis of Ophelia, Gertrude, and Desdemona as tragic female characters.
- Examination of the themes of obedience, sexuality, and power in relation to female characters.
- The use of feminist criticism to interpret Shakespeare's work.
Chapter Summaries
1. INTRODUCTION: This introductory chapter sets the stage for the paper by establishing the context of Elizabethan England's patriarchal society and its impact on the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's plays. It highlights the restrictive roles and societal expectations placed upon women at the time, emphasizing their limited power and autonomy. The chapter introduces feminist criticism as a valuable lens through which to examine Shakespeare's work and questions how gender shapes meaning and representation in his plays. It establishes the focus on Ophelia, Gertrude, and Desdemona as tragic female characters, whose fates are central to the argument. The introductory section posits that while Shakespeare reflects existing gender stereotypes, he simultaneously challenges and revises them. The chapter establishes that these women are resourceful and self-confident yet ultimately meet tragic ends due to societal constraints and their own inherent 'guilt'.
2. WOMAN IN SHAKESPEARE'S PLAY HAMLET: This chapter delves into the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's Hamlet. It analyzes the character of Ophelia, highlighting her role as the ideal Elizabethan daughter, obedient to her father and brother. The chapter emphasizes Ophelia's tragic fate – her descent into madness and death – and explores the ambiguity surrounding her actions and motivations. The analysis considers the limited power and autonomy of female characters within the play and investigates the constraints imposed by societal expectations. Ophelia's story is framed within the larger context of other young women in Shakespeare's tragedies, who frequently suffer isolation, abuse, and untimely death. The chapter explores the critical perspectives regarding the challenges of reconstructing Ophelia's life solely from Shakespeare's text.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Female Characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Othello
What is the overall focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of female characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet and Othello through a feminist lens. It examines how these characters are shaped by Elizabethan society's patriarchal constraints and explores their tragic fates.
Which plays and characters are specifically examined?
The paper focuses on the female characters in Shakespeare's Hamlet (Ophelia and Gertrude) and Othello (Desdemona).
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
Key themes include the portrayal of women in Elizabethan society, the limitations and restrictions placed upon women, the analysis of Ophelia, Gertrude, and Desdemona as tragic figures, the examination of obedience, sexuality, and power in relation to female characters, and the application of feminist criticism to interpret Shakespeare's work.
What is the purpose of the introductory chapter?
The introduction sets the context of Elizabethan England's patriarchal society and its impact on the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's plays. It highlights the restrictive roles and societal expectations placed upon women, introduces feminist criticism as an analytical tool, and establishes the focus on Ophelia, Gertrude, and Desdemona as central tragic figures. It also suggests that while Shakespeare reflects gender stereotypes, he also challenges and revises them.
How does the paper analyze Ophelia's character in Hamlet?
The paper analyzes Ophelia's character as the ideal Elizabethan daughter, obedient to her father and brother. It emphasizes her tragic fate, descent into madness and death, and explores the ambiguity surrounding her actions and motivations. The analysis considers the limited power and autonomy of female characters within the play and the constraints imposed by societal expectations, placing her within the context of other young women in Shakespeare's tragedies who suffer isolation, abuse, and untimely death. The limitations of reconstructing Ophelia's life solely from Shakespeare's text are also discussed.
What other chapters are included in the paper, and what do they cover?
Besides the introduction and the chapter on women in Hamlet, the paper includes a chapter on women in Othello (focusing on Desdemona) and a concluding chapter. The chapter on Othello likely provides a similar feminist analysis of Desdemona's character and her tragic fate within the context of the play and Elizabethan society. The conclusion would summarize the findings and offer a final interpretation of the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's works.
What is the methodology used in this paper?
The paper utilizes a feminist critical lens to analyze Shakespeare's portrayal of women. This involves examining how gender shapes meaning and representation in the plays and considering the societal and cultural factors that influence the characters' lives and fates.
- Citar trabajo
- Sara Ekici (Autor), 2009, Feminist Criticism: Female Characters in Shakespeare’s Plays Othello and Hamlet, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/137842
