Why should one choose to examine the female characters of three of the most prominent Shakespeare plays although men are the protagonists in all of them ? Maybe because one may find certain parallels in the construction of woman characters in these Shakespeare plays which reflect the Elizabethan image of women in general. Maybe because Desdemona, Ophelia and Lady Macbeth are rather tragic figures with a developed character.
All main female characters seem to have the same tragic element attached to them – namely their early unnatural death. Potter sees this early death as an erotic quality which seems to be inherent in all of Shakespeare’s female characters1. All women seem to have loaded guilt upon them prior to their death. Lady Macbeth is guilty of at least helping in carrying out a murder. Gertrude is guilty of remarrying so quickly after her husband’s death. But finding guilt in Desdemona and Ophelia seems rather hard to manage. Desdemona is found guilty by her husband but the audience knows she is not, while Ophelia may be found guilty by the reader to have betrayed Hamlet by not requiting his love. Apart from guilt obedience seems to play a major role in the context of the female characters. Othello wants his wife to be obedient and fears she is not – independent of whether he is present or not – but when he is present he uses force to make her obedient. Ophelia is also very obedient to her brother and her father, which constitutes the falsehood of her character and may thus play a major role in Hamlet’s development. Gertrude is obedient to her husband the way a wife is supposed to be obedient. She does not have to be reminded and just blindly follows her husband in her words and deeds until the end of the play. Lady Macbeth may be an eception, but in the light of the reversal of order in Macbeth we may state that Macbeth is the obedient figure when he follows his wife’s command. When we consider Macbeth to be a photonegative of the world we can find the obedience motive again. One may argue that when a lack of obedience persists “chaos is come again” which is exactly the consequence of all acts of disobedience of women in the three plays. The three witches who are not obedient to anyone, Lady Macbeth and the consequences of Desdemona’s felt disobedience may serve as an example for the consequences of female disobedience.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- I Introduction
- II The female characters in Macbeth
- II.I Lady Macbeth
- III The female characters in Othello
- III.I Desdemona
- IV The female characters in Hamlet
- IV.I Gertrude
- IV.II Ophelia
- V Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to analyze the portrayal of female characters in three of Shakespeare's major tragedies: Macbeth, Othello, and Hamlet. By comparing Lady Macbeth, Desdemona, Gertrude, and Ophelia, the study seeks to explore how Shakespeare constructs female characters and to what extent these portrayals reflect Elizabethan societal views on women. The analysis will focus on the recurring motifs of obedience, guilt, and the consequences of female disobedience within the patriarchal structure of Elizabethan England.
- The construction of female characters in Shakespeare's tragedies and their relation to Elizabethan societal norms.
- The role of obedience and its consequences for the female characters.
- The exploration of guilt and its impact on the female characters' fates.
- The consequences of female disobedience within the patriarchal structure of Elizabethan society.
- A comparative analysis of the characters across the three plays highlighting similarities and differences.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
II The female characters in Macbeth: This chapter focuses primarily on Lady Macbeth, examining her atypical female traits within the context of Macbeth's "reversal of order." Lady Macbeth's ambition, manipulation of Macbeth, and active role in the murder of Duncan are analyzed, contrasting her with the more conventional female figures in the play. The chapter explores her descent into madness as a consequence of her actions and the ultimately tragic consequences of her ambition and rejection of traditional femininity.
III The female characters in Othello: This section centers on Desdemona, examining her independence in defying her father to marry Othello and the subsequent tragic consequences. The analysis explores how her actions are misinterpreted within a patriarchal society, leading to her unjust accusation of infidelity and murder. The chapter also discusses the societal expectations placed on women and the limitations imposed on their agency within the play's context.
IV The female characters in Hamlet: This chapter analyzes Gertrude and Ophelia, focusing on their roles within the patriarchal structures of the play. Gertrude's actions as queen and her relationship with Claudius are examined, exploring her perceived guilt and her limitations in challenging the patriarchal order. Ophelia's obedience to her father and brother, her vulnerability, and her tragic demise due to societal constraints and Hamlet's actions are also discussed.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Shakespearean tragedy, female characters, Elizabethan society, patriarchal structures, obedience, guilt, disobedience, Lady Macbeth, Desdemona, Gertrude, Ophelia, gender roles, social critique, tragic fate, masculinity, femininity.
Frequently Asked Questions: Analysis of Female Characters in Shakespearean Tragedies
What is the main focus of this academic paper?
This paper analyzes the portrayal of female characters in three of Shakespeare's major tragedies: Macbeth, Othello, and Hamlet. It compares Lady Macbeth, Desdemona, Gertrude, and Ophelia to explore how Shakespeare constructs female characters and how these portrayals reflect Elizabethan societal views on women.
What are the key themes explored in the paper?
The paper focuses on recurring motifs of obedience, guilt, and the consequences of female disobedience within the patriarchal structure of Elizabethan England. It examines the construction of female characters in relation to Elizabethan societal norms, the role of obedience and its consequences, the exploration of guilt and its impact on the characters' fates, and the consequences of female disobedience within the patriarchal structure. A comparative analysis of the characters across the three plays, highlighting similarities and differences, is also included.
Which female characters are analyzed in detail?
The paper provides in-depth analyses of four key female characters: Lady Macbeth from Macbeth, Desdemona from Othello, and Gertrude and Ophelia from Hamlet.
What is the analysis of Lady Macbeth?
The analysis of Lady Macbeth examines her atypical female traits within the context of Macbeth's "reversal of order." Her ambition, manipulation of Macbeth, active role in Duncan's murder, descent into madness, and the tragic consequences of her ambition and rejection of traditional femininity are all explored.
How is Desdemona portrayed in the paper?
The paper examines Desdemona's independence in defying her father to marry Othello and the subsequent tragic consequences. It explores how her actions are misinterpreted within a patriarchal society, leading to her unjust accusation of infidelity and murder. The analysis also discusses societal expectations placed on women and the limitations imposed on their agency.
What aspects of Gertrude and Ophelia are discussed?
The analysis of Gertrude and Ophelia focuses on their roles within the patriarchal structures of Hamlet. Gertrude's actions as queen, her relationship with Claudius, her perceived guilt, and her limitations in challenging the patriarchal order are examined. Ophelia's obedience to her father and brother, her vulnerability, and her tragic demise due to societal constraints and Hamlet's actions are also discussed.
What are the main keywords associated with this paper?
Key words include: Shakespearean tragedy, female characters, Elizabethan society, patriarchal structures, obedience, guilt, disobedience, Lady Macbeth, Desdemona, Gertrude, Ophelia, gender roles, social critique, tragic fate, masculinity, femininity.
What is the overall objective of this research?
The overall objective is to provide a comprehensive analysis of how Shakespeare portrays female characters in his tragedies, considering the societal context of Elizabethan England and exploring the recurring themes of obedience, guilt, and the consequences of challenging patriarchal norms.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured with an introduction, chapters dedicated to the female characters in each play (Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet), and a conclusion. It includes a table of contents, objectives and key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
- Quote paper
- Timm Gehrmann (Author), 2006, Female Characters in "Macbeth", "Othello" and "Hamlet", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/68982