The representation of gender in Shakespeare's 'Macbeth' and 'Antony and Cleopatra'

Term Paper , 2006 , 14 Pages , Grade: A

English Language and Literature Studies - Literature

Building on the assumption that differences between the sexes in tragedy are defined through competing representations of heroism, this paper shall take a closer look at the representation of gender in two premodern tragedies, Shakespeare's Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. The aim of this paper shall be to provide a short introduction to (Shakespeare) feminist criticism, which will be supplemented with an overview of various notable instances of the representation of gender in these two works.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• THE REPRESENTATION OF GENDER IN MACBETH
• THE REPRESENTATION OF GENDER IN ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA
• CONCLUSION

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This paper investigates the representation of gender in Shakespeare's tragedies, focusing on Macbeth and Antony and Cleopatra. It examines how Shakespeare's plays depict the competing notions of heroism and the social constructs of masculinity and femininity within a patriarchal society.

• The representation of gender in Shakespeare's tragedies
• Competing representations of heroism
• Social constructions of masculinity and femininity
• The influence of patriarchal culture on sexual identity
• The role of ambition and power in shaping gender roles

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

• Introduction: This chapter introduces the concept of Shakespeare feminist criticism and its significance in the field of literary studies. It also explores the historical context and theoretical frameworks surrounding the analysis of gender in premodern literature.
• The Representation of Gender in Macbeth: This chapter delves into the representation of gender in Macbeth, focusing on the paradox of Macbeth's character and his ambition. It examines the roles of Lady Macbeth and the witches in challenging traditional gender norms and their impact on the play's themes of power, masculinity, and violence.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The main keywords and focus topics of this paper include: Shakespeare feminist criticism, gender representation, premodern tragedy, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, masculinity, femininity, ambition, power, patriarchal culture, social constructs.

• College: University of Edinburgh
• Course: Tragedy, History and Sovereignty in Late Medieval and Early Modern Poetry and Drama
• Grade: A
• Author: Verena Schörkhuber (Author)
• Publication Year: 2006
• Pages: 14
• Catalog Number: V64092
• ISBN (eBook): 9783638569866
• ISBN (Book): 9783638767491
• Language: English
• Tags: Shakespeare, Macbeth, Antony, Cleopatra, Tragedy, History, Sovereignty, Late, Medieval, Early, Modern, Poetry, Drama