The relationship between fathers and daughters is a powerful source of Shakespeare’s plays, which he chose to explore in great depth. By focussing on Shakespeare’s dramas "Cymbeline", "Hamlet", "King Lear" and "Othello", I will try to examine the complex and provocative relationship between fathers and daughters.
These literary works provide four different father-daughter relationships between Cymbeline and Innogen, Polonius and Ophelia, King Lear and Cordelia and Brabantio and Desdemona. The plays have in common that they take up the stories at the point at which the daughter is moving out of the sphere of her father’s control and starts to become independent.
The topic will be introduced by considering the historical background, which will help understand the situation of women at Shakespeare’s times and the cultural dimension of the relationship a woman had to her father. Following this, on the basis of Shakespeare’s dramas I will explore the challenges that daughters had to face by considering the fathers’ responses to transitions in her life like marriage. How do daughters handle the situation of leaving their fathers for the commitment of marriage and filial obedience? Are the fathers ready to release their daughters into adulthood?
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Elizabethan Society as a Patriarchal Society
2.1 The Renaissance Background
2.2 Parents and children in this period of time
3 Family Relationships in Shkaespeare’s plays
3.1 The reactionary father in Cymbeline and Othello
3.2 The egocentric father in King Lear
3.3 The mercenary father in Hamlet
3.4 The jealous father in Hamlet and Othello
4 Conclusion
Research Objectives and Themes
This paper examines the complex and often provocative dynamics of father-daughter relationships within Shakespeare's dramas, specifically focusing on how these interactions reflect the broader patriarchal structures and historical transitions of the Elizabethan era.
- The historical and cultural construction of patriarchal authority in the Renaissance.
- The clash between traditional paternal control and the daughter's transition to adult autonomy.
- Categorization of paternal archetypes, including the reactionary, egocentric, mercenary, and jealous father.
- The impact of emerging female sexuality on the stability of patriarchal family roles.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 The reactionary father in Cymbeline and Othello
The reactionary fathers “stubbornly refuse to acknowledge that their daughters have grown up” (Dreher 44) and are unwilling to release them into adulthood. Their behaviour is due to various reasons. Instead of “moving on to the next stage of their lives, they cling tenaciously to their old power and authority” (44). These fathers are used to their daughter’s submissive and obedient demeanour and “their dutiful and unquestioning observance of their father’s will” (44). Longstanding, the father’s masculine power has been boosted by the courtesy and attention of their sweet and obedient girls. Patently, the fathers “enjoy the role of paterfamilias and do not want to give it up” (44).
The rite of passage of girls, involving the independence and affection for other men, causes an unbearable blow to the father’s bride. Instead of seeing their daughters as growing up women, the fathers still perceive them as children, quite suddenly rude and disobedient children. Upset and “shaken by this abrupt change in their daughters’ behaviour, these men stridently demand unconditional obedience” (44). While the daughters are making progress and are future-oriented, their fathers “cling stubbornly to the past in a desperate attempt to deny the passage of time that seeks to diminish them, transform them from self-important heads of households into the impotence of old age” (44). All in one, fear and injured pride are the main reasons for reactionary response.
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides a theoretical framework regarding the stress of familial transitions and introduces the central theme of father-daughter relationships as a means for Shakespeare to critique possessive paternal authority.
2 Elizabethan Society as a Patriarchal Society: Establishes the historical context of the Renaissance, emphasizing the patriarchal hierarchy where love was a duty and women were essentially viewed as property.
3 Family Relationships in Shkaespeare’s plays: Analyzes specific paternal archetypes across selected dramas, exploring the psychological and social tensions between fathers and their maturing daughters.
4 Conclusion: Synthesizes the findings, noting that while Shakespeare explores the pain of paternal loss, he ultimately envisions a shift from rigid patriarchal control toward mutual trust and individual autonomy.
Keywords
Shakespeare, Father-daughter relationship, Elizabethan society, Patriarchy, Renaissance, Filial obedience, Autonomy, Cymbeline, Hamlet, King Lear, Othello, Gender roles, Paternal authority, Transition to adulthood, Family dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper explores the intricate and often conflict-ridden relationships between fathers and daughters in four of Shakespeare’s plays, examining how these dynamics mirror the patriarchal constraints of the Elizabethan era.
What are the primary thematic areas investigated?
Key themes include patriarchal societal structures, the psychological struggle of fathers to release control over their daughters, the transition from filial obedience to adult autonomy, and the impact of the daughter's emerging sexuality.
What is the core research question addressed by the author?
The research seeks to understand the challenges daughters face during their transition to adulthood and how fathers respond to this shift, specifically asking how these interactions reveal the father's fear, amazement, and pride.
Which scientific or analytical method is employed in the work?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, contextualized by historical and sociological studies of the Renaissance family, to interpret the character dynamics in the selected dramas.
What topics are covered in the main body of the paper?
The main body categorizes fathers into specific archetypes—reactionary, egocentric, mercenary, and jealous—and analyzes how each type struggles with their daughter's pursuit of independence.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
The paper is characterized by terms such as Shakespeare, patriarchy, father-daughter relationship, filial obedience, gender roles, and Renaissance family dynamics.
How does Polonius in 'Hamlet' embody the 'mercenary' father archetype?
Polonius treats his daughter Ophelia as a possession to be manipulated for his own political and social gain, failing to respect her individual personhood.
In what way does King Lear represent an 'egocentric' father?
Lear is classified as egocentric because he perceives his daughters as extensions of himself, becoming shocked and insulted when they exhibit independence or defy his authority.
- Quote paper
- Valdrina Stublla (Author), 2019, Father-daughter relationships in Shakespeare's plays Cymbeline, Hamlet, King Lear and Othello, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/465996
