Introduction
Though the impression that numerous Shakespearean plays on fathers and daughters are very similar to each other is awaken, however this is not true. Many plays depict the same situations with similar circumstances, still it is a great fallacy to suppose that there is only few variation. Indisputably each play has different essential themes, different focus and particulars. Many elements seem similar or actually are really similar, however Shakespeare’s subtle works are nevertheless unique and ingenious - each peace of work its own way.
Among Shakespeare’s tragedies and comedies there are a lot of plays in which the relationship between parents with their children is focussed. Particularly interesting is the relationship between fathers and daughters as it is most controversial.
Shakespeare destines most of the father- daughter pairs to fail. Usually the father proves to be inept and incapable as he neither knows his own child’s nature, nor is he able or willing to get to know her. His paternal authority does not allow him to descent on his daughter’s level and make an attempt to understand her will and her needs. All the inept fathers of the further discussed plays undergo punishment - the death, either his daughter’s or his own or both die. On that account he can be empathised with, of course, but yet it is often his lack of wisdom which results in a tragedy.
Most of Shakespearian daughters are rebels who contradict their father’s word and will. Obedience is every daughter’s main duty and those who make an exception to the rule are definitely just as incapable daughters. However in comedies it is perfectly legitimate for a daughter to make her own choices and still be happy. Whereas in tragedies Shakespeare is not very generous with his heroines and does not bestow them such a lucky lot - pretty much as their fathers.
The present essay consists of two parts. The first chapter concentrates especially on the father figures and the second one on their daughters. The selection of the works is undertaken according to the plots in which the interaction between fathers and daughters is central. In this essay following plays are analysed in detail: Romeo and Juliet, Othello, the Moor of Venice, King Lear, Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tempest. Six various father-daughter constellations arise from the four tragedies and two comedies.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Inept and capable fathers
3. Rebellious and obeying daughters
4. Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
The primary objective of this essay is to analyze the complex and often controversial relationships between fathers and daughters in selected Shakespearean plays, examining how paternal authority and filial disobedience drive the tragic or comic outcomes of the narratives.
- Analysis of father-daughter dynamics in both tragedies and comedies.
- Evaluation of the "inept" versus the "capable" father figure.
- Examination of the conflict between paternal expectation and daughters' personal desires.
- The impact of patriarchal conventions and societal laws on female agency.
- The role of love and biological drives in shaping character choices.
Excerpt from the Book
Inept and capable fathers
“Shakespeare created two of his most memorable father-daughter pairs at the beginning and end of his career” (Hamilton. 2003:13). Romeo and Juliet in 1596 and The Tempest in 1611. The conflict situations between fathers and daughters, caused by the discord on the choice of the right partner for the young girl, are very similar in both plays, as well as the fathers’ and daughters’ personal characters. However, these are the two of his most contrasting plays regarding the father figure. Juliet and Miranda have many things in common, for example their beauty and intelligence. Besides that they are both the only child in the family and due to this fact they constitute the only hope and that is why the main focus for their father’s attention.
As already pointed out before, most of Shakespeare’s generation conflicts first appear when it comes to choice of the future husband and in these plays they constitute the main plot. The entire plays are actually about finding out if the lovers succeed to marry or not, unlike Othello which does not end immediately after Desdemona’s marriage. Infact, the last one is rather about the tragic outcome of such a marriage without her father’s blessing.
Both Juliet and Miranda unconsciously finds her object of love in the son of her father’s bitterest enemy and remain loyal to her genuine feelings. Shakespeare puts an end to their fathers’ feud in both plays, but in one of them the newly established peace does not matter any more.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: This chapter provides an overview of the thematic focus on the often-controversial relationships between fathers and daughters, establishing the argument that paternal lack of wisdom frequently leads to tragedy.
Inept and capable fathers: This section compares father figures across different plays, contrasting the failures of fathers like Capulet with the benevolent, wise approach of Prospero in The Tempest.
Rebellious and obeying daughters: This chapter analyzes the roles of daughters, exploring how they navigate the conflict between societal duty, filial obedience, and their own romantic desires.
Conclusion: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, asserting that Shakespeare’s portrayal of these family conflicts remains relevant due to the consistency of human nature across different epochs.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Fathers and Daughters, Paternal Authority, Filial Obedience, Rebellion, Tragedies, Comedies, Romeo and Juliet, The Tempest, King Lear, Othello, Gender Roles, Family Conflict, Literature, Human Nature
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this essay?
The essay explores the recurring theme of the father-daughter relationship in selected Shakespearean plays, specifically focusing on the conflicts that arise from the clash between paternal authority and the daughters' pursuit of their own romantic choices.
Which Shakespearean plays are analyzed in this work?
The author analyzes six specific plays: Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Tempest.
What is the primary research question?
The essay investigates how the interaction between fathers and daughters serves as a central plot device and how the fathers' ability—or inability—to understand their daughters' needs influences the eventual outcome of the play.
What methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, examining text-based evidence and character interactions within the framework of patriarchal conventions and biological human drives.
What does the main body of the text cover?
The main body is divided into two primary sections: the first examines the characteristics and flaws of the father figures, while the second focuses on the rebellious or obedient nature of the daughters.
Which keywords best describe this research?
Key terms include Shakespeare, Paternal Authority, Filial Obedience, Gender Roles, Rebellion, and Father-Daughter relationships.
Why does the author consider Prospero an ideal father?
Prospero is highlighted as a model father because, unlike his counterparts, he maintains his paternal authority while being wise and benevolent enough to prioritize his daughter's happiness.
How does the author relate Shakespearean themes to modern cultural contexts?
The author suggests that the relevance of these plays persists because conflicts between generational values, tradition, and personal autonomy remain a fundamental part of the human experience across different cultures.
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- Lorianna Sarbailowa (Autor:in), 2009, Fathers and daughters in selected Shakespearean plays, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/140427
