Feminine Portrayals in the Works of Shakespeare

             The plays of William Shakespeare are, at first glance, seemingly underdeveloped and unrealistic portrayals of women. However, with careful analysis of his plays concerning women such as Taming of the Shrew, Twelfth Night, and Measure for Measure, one can conclude that Shakespeare most definitely had a defined purpose for women in his works. But what was this purpose? Was it to spark controversy in the minds of his audience or was it a method to indirectly expose the unequal treatment of women in society at the time? Although the answer to that may be unknown, the roles of women in his plays were prominent for that time. In the plays mentioned, Shakespeare created the main female character with a determined personality and a strong sense of self. Hence, they ultimately present tales of sexual equilibrium between men and women.
             In the play Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare presents a female character, Katherine, who is unwilling to accept the female role of passivity in society (Wells 49). The play centers on this woman, and the fact that suitors are turned off by her attitude as a shrew. Her sister Bianca who symbolizes a conformist woman in society counters Kate's shrewish personality. The question as to why Kate behaves in such a way is never developed in the play. However, according to John Bean, "it is enough to say that the actions of her father do not relieve the situation as well. Throughout the play, Kate's father treats her as a commodity to be bargained away to whoever is willing to take her (68)." Here, Shakespeare indirectly expresses how a woman could have a price put on her happiness. Accordingly, Petruchio agrees to be Kate's suitor in exchange for wealth from her father. It is from this point in the play that the evolution in Kate's character begins. Through an elaborate series of humiliating behavior, Petruchio resolves in taming her. Such actions are marked as "terribly cruel (Bean 69)," but in the end, Petruchio is ...

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Feminine Portrayals in the Works of Shakespeare. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 09:53, March 28, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/23447.html