Women roles in Shakespeare's works

The role of women in Elizabethan era

Women had very little authority, autonomy, or recognition.
They gained their status based on the position of either their
father or their husband.
Shakespeare uses them in many significant ways.
The bawdy women
The Nurse in Romeo and Juliet

I must another way,
To fetch a ladder, by the which your
love Must climb a bird's nest soon
when its dark. (2.5.9)
Audrey in As you like it

AUDREY
I am not a slut, though I thank
the gods I am foul.

TOUCHSTONE
Well, praised be the gods for thy
foulness!

Sluttishness may come hereafter.
(3.4.6)
The Tragic Innocent Woman
Juliet from Romeo and Juliet
> Madam, I am here. What is your will? Act 1 Scene 3 L78
> Then have my lips the sin that they have took. Act 1 Scene 5 L107
Ophelia from Hamlet
> "I shall obey my Lord" (Act 1.Scene 4. Line 10)

> And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,
That sucked the honey of his music vows
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason []
out of tune and harsh (Act 3.Scene 1.line 13).

The scheming Femme Fatale
Lady Macbeth in Macbeth MACBETH: If we should fail?
LADY MACBETH: We fail!
But screw your courage to the sticking-place,
And well not fail. When Duncan is asleep
Whereto the rather shall his days hard journey
Soundly invite himhis two chamberlains
Will I with wine and wassail so convince
That memory, the warder of the brain,
Shall be a fume, and the receipt of reason
A limbeck only: when in swinish sleep
Their drenched natures lie as in a death,
What cannot you and I perform upon
The unguarded Duncan? what not put upon
His spongy officers, who shall bear the guilt
Of our great quell?
Goneril and Regan in King Lear
GONERIL:
Sir, I love you more than words can wield
the matter;
Dearer than eye-sight, space, and liberty;
Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare;
No less than life, with grace, health, beauty,
honour;
As much as child e'er loved, or father found;
A love that makes breath poor, and speech
unable;
Beyond all manner of so much I love you.
REGAN:
Sir, I am made
Of the self-same metal that my sister is,
And prize me at her worth. In my true heart
I find she names my very deed of love;
Only she comes too short: that I profess
Myself an enemy to all other joys,
Which the most precious square of sense
possesses;
And find I am alone felicitate
In your dear highness' love.
Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra
CLEOPATRA Why should I think you can be mine and true,
Though you in swearing shake the throned gods, Who have been false to Fulvia?
Riotous madness, To be entangled with those mouth-made vows, Which break
themselves in swearing!
ANTONY Most sweet queen
CLEOPATRA Nay, pray you seek no colour for your going, But bid farewell, and go.
When you sued staying, Then wasthe time for words. No going then! Eternity was in our
lips and eyes, Bliss in ourbrows bent, none our parts so poor But was a race of
heaven. They are so still, Or thou,the greatest soldier of the world, Art turnd the
greatest liar.
The witty butUnmarriable woman
Katherine from The Taming of The Shrew


If either of you both love Katharina,

Because I know you well and love you well,

Leave shall you have to court her at your
pleasure.

Why, sir, I trust I may have leave to speak;
And speak I will; I am no child, no babe:
Your betters have endured me say my mind,
And if you cannot, best you stop your ears.
My tongue will tell the anger of my heart,
Or else my heart concealing it will break,
And rather than it shall, I will be free
Even to the uttermost, as I please, in words.
(4.3.12)
Women who Dress as Men
Julia in The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Our youth got me to play the woman's part,
And I was trimm'd in Madam Julia's gown,
Which served me as fit, by all men's judgments,
As if the garment had been made for me:
Therefore I know she is about my height.
And at that time I made her weep agood,
For I did play a lamentable part:
Madam, 'twas Ariadne passioning
For Theseus' perjury and unjust flight;
Which I so lively acted with my tears
That my poor mistress, moved therewithal,
Wept bitterly; and would I might be dead
If I in thought felt not her very sorrow! (4.4.18)
Portia in the Merchant of venice

That they shall think we are accomplished
With that we lack; Ill hold thee any wager,
When we are both accoutered like young men,
Ill prove the prettier fellow of the two,
And wear my dagger with the braver grace,
And speak between the change of man and boy,
With a reed voice, and turn two mincing steps
Into a manly stride; and speak of frays
Like a fine bragging youth, and tell quaint lies,
How honourable ladies sought my love,
Which I denying, they fell sick and died (III. iv. 60-77)
Rosalind In As You Like It
Were it not better,
Because that I am more than common tall,
That I did suit me all points like a man?
A gallant curtle-axe upon my thigh,
A boar-spear in my hand; and, ---- in my heart
Lie there what hidden womans fear there will,
----
Well have a swashing and a martial outside,
As many other mannish cowards have
That do outface it with their semblances. (I. iii.
118-25
Viola in Twelfth Night
prithee, and I'll pay thee bounteously,
Conceal me what I am, and be my aid
For such disguise as haply shall become
The form of my intent. I'll serve this duke:
Thou shall present me as an eunuch to him:
It may be worth thy pains; for I can sing
And speak to him in many sorts of music
That will allow me very worth his service.
(1.2.10)
Falsely accused of adultery
Desdemona in Othello
DESDEMON
A:
And have you mercy too! I never did
Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio
But with such general warranty of heaven
As I might love: I never gave him token.
OTHELLO:
By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in's hand.
O perjured woman! thou dost stone my
heart,
And makest me call what I intend to do
A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:
I saw the handkerchief.
The married off women
Miranda in The tempest
PROSPERO:
Then, as my gift and thine own acquisition
Worthily purchased take my daughter: but
If thou dost break her virgin-knot before
All sanctimonious ceremonies may
With full and holy rite be minister'd,
No sweet aspersion shall the heavens let fall [...]
Helena and Hermia in a Midsummer night's
dream
Theseus:
Fair lovers, you are fortunately met:
Of this discourse we more will hear anon.
Egeus, I will overbear your will;
For in the temple by and by with us
These couples shall eternally be knit:
And, for the morning now is something worn,
Our purposed hunting shall be set aside.
Away with us to Athens; three and three,
We'll hold a feast in great solemnity.
Come, Hippolyta