Role of Women in Shakespeare's Plays - a Case Study of "Macbeth" and " the Merchant of Venice"

During the period where Shakespeare wrote Macbeth, women were uneducated, forced to act submissively and never expressed their opinions. Shakespeare turned all that around when he used female characters that have powerful roles to turn around from the norm and go against expectations in his time. The witches and Lady Macbeth are examples of female characters that have power in the story. In this quote, it explains how from the point of Macbeth’s confrontation with the witches, tells her his prophesize on how he will become the future king of Scotland. Through, that moment it shows Lady Macbeth’s ability to read as a female character which in her time was abnormal due to a majority of females in 1600 not having the ability to read. Through,

When we learn in the novel how intelligent Portia is we know that her father had given her an education while she was younger, but still he made a test to choose the best suiter for Portis to marry, he didn’t allow her to make her own choices, even if she is very smart (Shakespeare, 2004). Portia is also the one who won the case of Antonio in court by outsmarting all the male characters, even though women were not allowed in the court. Portia is also the one who delivered one of the most famous speeches in The Merchant of Venice: “The quality of mercy is not strain’d. It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven. Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: It Blesseth him that gives and him that takes” (Shakespeare,

In the play “Julius Caesar” by William Shakespeare, women play an important role. The women are important factors in foreshadowing and in the development of many of the characters. To look at the role of women in the play we must look deeper in to the roles of the only two women in the play; Calpurnia, wife of Caesar, and Portia, wife of Brutus. Both of these women are key in foreshadowing the murder of Caesar. After Caesar’s murder we do not hear much of either of them.

Born on approximately April 23, 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, William Shakespeare is considered by many to have been the greatest writer the English language has ever known. His literary legacy included 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and five major poems. Among his many plays is the notable, Twelfth Night, a romantic comedy, placed in a festive atmosphere in which three couples are brought together happily.

Shakespeare, the man who wrote 37 plays and more than a hundred sonnets, is known throughout the world. Many people consider him one of the best English playwrights of our time, others say that he was a genius.

William Shakespeare is an extremely famous English poet and playwright and widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. He was most prominent in the years 1585-1592 writing 38 plays. Richard 3rd is considered to be one of his greatest plays and was written in 1591 depicting the

She is expected to be a good welcoming hostess, but in reality shes plotting to kill King Duncan. "Come, you spirits that assist murderous thoughts, make me less like a woman and more like a man, and fill me from head to toe with deadly cruelty" (Macbeth Act 1 Scene 5).When she read the letter Macbeth sent her her she asks to be unsexed so that she could do what a women would never be allowed to do. Women are also expected to not get their hands dirty. While she planned King Duncan's death she never committed the deed herself; she merely had Macbeth kill him. All of this ambition drove her to a point of insanity; She sleepwalked around confessing to Duncan's murder, and eventually killed herself out of

The role of women and gender representation in Othello challenged the male dominated society in that time period. Women in Shakespeare’s time were seen as being loyal and submissive to their husbands and not going against their husband’s judgment. Shakespeare developed complex and varied female characters in his plays, especially the women portrayed in Othello. In the play, Shakespeare introduces three female characters: Desdemona, Othello 's wife, Emilia, Iago’s wife and mistress to Desdemona, and Bianca, a prostitute who is interested in Cassio. The play examines the positions each woman has in the social hierarchy and also reviews the issue of adultery.

Lady Macbeth is one of Shakespeare’s most frightening and strong-willed female characters. It is she, being far more ruthless, mentally stronger, and more determined compared to her indecisive husband, who takes on the masculine role. After reading Macbeth's letter in which he describes meeting the Three witches and learning of their prophecies, Lady Macbeth's grows ambitious. Viewing such opportunity as grace and favour of the fates, Lady Macbeth embraces the idea of killing Duncan. However, Lady Macbeth believes Macbeth “Is too full o’ the milk of human kindness.” Macbeth is too gentle and weak to murder Duncan, an honoured guest, a fellow kinsmen, the king. At one point, Lady Macbeth wishes she were not a woman, and calls upon the murderous sprits to "unsex me here".

In Macbeth, one of the most tragic and well known plays, William Shakespeare changes women’s part in society. During this time period, women are known to be both mentally and physically weaker than men. Women are called to be only housewives. Shakespeare reflected the image of women in society by giving the men bigger leads in his plays. Only in a few of Shakespeare's plays did he give women strong leading roles. Macbeth is one of the few plays where women play a more powerful role than the men. In Macbeth, he gives the women unusual traits like manipulation and betrayal. In William Shakespeare's play Macbeth, women like Lady Macbeth , the trio witches, and Lady Macduff portray non-feminine traits.

Right before his last battle, Macbeth learned that she had killed herself. Her death caused Macbeth to state, “She should have died another time. There would have been a better moment for such news. Tomorrow, and the day after, and the day after-- the days creep on one after another at a dismal pace until the last word of time’s record is spoken; and all our yesterdays have lighted the way for fools to die and turn to dust. Out, out, brief candle!” (5.5.19–25). His wife was the only person who stood by his side and encouraged his behavior but her guilt for the actions she took part in had finally caught up to her. Lady Macbeth killed herself, showing her final collapse because she couldn't take the guilt caused by her actions any

In Macbeth by William Shakespeare, gender plays a pivotal role in the development of the overall plot and as the play advances, certain characters, including Macbeth and Lady Macbeth experience a reversal in traditional gender behaviors. Additionally, we see gender confusion among other characters that enhances conflict in the play. Originally, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth are portrayed in ways that enforce their respective masculinity and feminism in accordance to the society around them. As Macbeth begins to contemplate his decision regarding the killing of Duncan, his marriage becomes the primary driving force behind his action and thoughts in this matter. Although in some cases, male and female roles in this play remain static, the

Shakespeare is one of the most famous dramatist and poet in England. His literature works have been translated into more than 80 languages. He is the England's pride, and the world's treasure because he not only helped to shape the English we use today, introducing up to 300 words and dozens of well-known phrases but also wrote plays that are known around the world for their universal themes and insight into the human condition. However historians don’t know his date of birth, where he was educated or how he spent seven years of his life and even the playwright of his play is a mystery.

     For thousands of years, humanity has been ruled mainly by a Patriarchal society. In this society women have often been seen as objects or inferior humans through the eyes of their male counterparts. The Elizabethan era was no exception to these beliefs, and works of literature often supported these misogynistic views. In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, however, the author appears to portray the characters of Portia and Calphurnia in a positive light, ignoring the common stereotypes often associated with female characters. Although Portia and Calphurnia have minor parts in the play, their strength is discernible. Both female characters are portrayed as

    When one considers Shakespeare’s female characters, one has to remember that the plays were written in a time when women were considered weak-minded creatures who were apt to make bad choices if given the freedom.  Shakespeare, for the most