Dbq Elizabeth 1

Queen Elizabeth I ruled England during a turbulent time in its history. She was beset on all sides by those who wished to take her throne for themselves, whether it be through marriage or outright treason. With these threats, as well as the unstable political atmosphere across much of Europe, Elizabeth I could not afford for others to see her as weak. Although she distances herself from the stereotypes of women at the time, and even paints herself as a masculine figure to give herself an aura of strength that would deter potential usurpers, Elizabeth I’s language indicates that she is not ashamed of her femininity.

Elizabeth I is considered a Machiavellian queen; she placed the political unity of England above any other aspect of her kingdom, including religion. Elizabeth I’s reign was influenced politically and religiously, in respect to ideas about gender. Elizabeth, daughter of Henry VIII, responded authoritatively to any opposition she faced.

When Elizabeth was queen in England the treasury lacked the revenue to support the routine costs of government, and the economy was poor.

One significant remark of the Elizabethan era and our time is the role of women. During that era, women were obliged to sit still and look pretty. Women did not go to school and were educated only by their mothers. They were taught how to be a good wife and mother. Marriage for love was not valued at that time; many women are given away for social status. Many young women were married off to men that were selected by their parents and were much older than them. These women were treated by their husbands as slaves, or their property rather than wives. At that time,

The subject of gender appears as one of the main topics these three samples of Elizabeth I’s speeches. While she commonly mentions gender to sound humble and motherly, she also combines her gender with her knowledge to drive her points when explaining or avoiding topics, influencing the people’s opinion, and rallying the people. Some of these ideas have been captured in her portraits.

When looking at much of Tudor History especially at the earlier reigns of Henry VII and his successor Henry VIII many historians have neglected to explore the agency of women in this period. More specifically the agency of women in the aristocracy is something that can be heavily debated. Aristocratic women in the Tudor period while often presented as side actors who get acted upon are were actually dynamic individuals who forged their own paths. When looking at these women it is important to analyze it in terms of their religion, family, and social position.

Throughout all of Queen Elizabeth’s writing, such as her speeches, she demonstrates all the qualities of an influential and inspiring leader. Time and time again, she proves that she can be just as much of a leader than any man, an incredible feat even in the present day. The undermining of women in the workplace did not start with Queen Elizabeth and it did not end with her. Her advisers were constantly telling her how to lead, what she should do in regards to the relationship with other nations, but she truly became a leader of England when she took matters into her own hands; she no longer needed to be told what to do, which is what set her apart and above other queens. “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general”. This quote is one of the most inspirational and memorable pieces of rhetoric from her speech “Speech to The Troops at Tilbury”. She uses convoluted metaphors, imagery, and diction in her writing and its one of the most essential things that make her into a great queen.

Although many women were expected to act “appropriate” to their society, Lady Catherine De Bourgh picked her own social roles to live by (Armstrong 59). Lady Catherine, a patron, inherited all of her husband's’ money after he perished and became she one of the richest women in the regency period. She never lifted a finger, and many people assisted her (“Pride and Prejudice”). Not only was she wealthy, but many looked up to her as a role model. This was not always a good thing. Her wealth and idolization made her always think about herself instead of others. For example, she also told Mr.

Women of the Elizabethan society, such as in Shakespeare’s Othello, are particularly not considered as equal. Women were more often seen as less of people who need to be helped and aided by man. This ideology was spread by both men and women of that time by them playing into the gender roles of male and female. Othello gives a relative example of the male and female ideology being accepted and spread throughout society in the Elizabethan age.

Patriarchy grounds itself in the complete subordination and exclusion of women in politics and power, limiting the full potential of women. Within Marie de France’s Breton lai, Lanval, Lanval’s lady subverts the role of patriarchy in the court by presenting her beauty as a powerful force that her husband is completely dependent on. Although her subversion of patriarchy in court is admirable, her characterization as an authoritative woman mimics a male’s vision of an ideal woman. In contrast, the cunning queen Elizabeth I easily steps over the conventional norms of patriarchy through her invocation of both male and female power. Throughout her assuring speech, “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury,” Elizabeth emphasizes that although she may appear to be physically female, she is no less capable of ruling the country than her male equivalent. By appearing to be unconventional in her position of power, Elizabeth I is able to replace the stereotype of docility in women into capability in women. Thus, whereas Lanval’s lady subverts patriarchy in politics by conforming to male standards of hypersexuality, Queen Elizabeth I pushes further by rejecting societal norms of women and represents a progression in instilling a sense of agency for women.

For centuries, the status and perception of women has been a disputed and controversial subject. Due to precarious political or social standings, even women in power were subject to the judgement and power of men. When considering the portrayal of exceptional women throughout history, rarely has a woman been able to fully embrace the stage without reservations. An analysis of research texts and journal articles reveals and connects the way that a queen of ancient times and one of the English Renaissance controlled their image, were affected by societal views of women, and were ultimately depicted. Scholarship on Cleopatra and Queen Elizabeth I relays the idea that society and patriarchy led to their respective authorities and depictions.

The Elizabethan Era was a time of social reform for women. Though women became more educated and seen in a different light than what they were used to, the era in no way brought them to the equivalence of a women in today’s society. Women were still seen as inferior by men and men still believed they were the greatest creation in the world. Tim Stretton states, “In almost every context in

In the Elizabethan Era in England, there was a great difference between the treatment of men and women. Elizabethan women were to be subservient to men and relied on a male relative to support them. After a marriage, the women were expected to run households and take care of children. On the other hand, men dealt their jobs and were allowed to go around and have fun. Women in this era were, although treated with respect, still somewhat looked down on and it was very difficult for a woman without a male relative to live well. This is very different from today’s society, as there are many independent women living around the world. I am quite shocked at the way the Elizabethan women had practically no say in things, as in many cultures, and that they had no choice over their marriage. Everything

Despite having a female ruler, Elizabethan age somehow was like a patriarchal society; where chief roles were generally enjoyed by men and women were their subordinate. Women were considered to be frail and delicate as compared to men and as a result of being "the weaker sex", it was somehow considered that women needed men to help them in different pursuits. Married women were the responsibility of their husband whereas all single females were expected to live under the predominance of their father or brothers. Females in general, were having fewer roles in the public affairs; rather they were meant to be perfect for the domestic concerns. That was

This statement by the Scottish protestant leader John Knox in The First Blast of the Trumpet shows the role that Elizabethan women were expected to fulfil. Women in the Elizabethan era and therefore in the time when Shakespeare wrote his plays were subservient to men and had no will and choice of their own. As they were not allowed to go to school and enter university, they remained completely dependent on their male relatives, believing that they were inferior to them and thus following their will. This included that marriages were usually arranged by a powerful male relative instead of giving the woman the opportunity of choosing a husband that she loved. In this essay I will focus on two major female characters, Hermia and Helena, to gain knowledge about their relationship to men and their own identities, personalities and relationship.