Power of Women in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

985 Words2 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Marriage in the middle ages

Female sovereignty was uncommon in Renaissance England. The social structure of the family assured the subjugation of woman under man. Daughters remained under the care of their fathers until they were married, at which time they became subject to their husband's authority. Economics ensured the wife's dependence on her husband. Unmarried and widowed women retained far more legal rights than married women, therefore, "for a woman, marriage meant the loss of her legal and economic rights, and therefore a dependence on the (chosen) man" (Motte 29). Even though marriage often meant a loss of legal rights, those daughters who had the good fortune to choose their mates faired better than those whose marriages were arranged. Arranged marriages most commonly occurred "among London-born daughters of gentlemen or wealthy tradesmen" while "marriages of personal choice took place farther down the social scale and were more egalitarian" (Diefendorf 669).

Property was a central concern in most marriages. Among the upper classes, marriage meant the transfer of a great sum of money through the dowry. Renaissance England lacked a well-defined mode of marriage. They followed canon law, which "declared marriage a sacrament dependent only upon the consent of the man and woman to be wed, secret marriages - marriages without the presence of parents or other witnesses and even without priests - were legal" (Diefendorf 670) and allowed for much ambiguity and personal freedom. Even though such marriages were legal, sanctions were often imposed against priests who performed secret ceremonies as well as the couple. Renaissance parents took preventative measures to ensure the security of the family name and property by ...

... middle of paper ...

...09.

Cox, Marjorie K. "Adolescent Process in Romeo and Juliet." Psychoanalytic Review 63 (1976): 379-92.

Diefendorf, Barbara. "Family Culture, Renaissance Culture." Renaissance Quarterly 40:4 (1987): 661-681.

Massai, Sonia. "From Pericles to Marina: 'While Women Are to Be Had for Money, Love, or Importunity.'" Shakespeare Survey: An Annual Survey of Shakespeare Studies and Production 51 (1998): 67-77.

Matchinske, Megan. "Legislating 'Middle-Class' Morality in the Marriage Market: Ester Sowernam's Ester

Hath Hang'd Haman." English Literary Renaissance 24:1 (1994): 154-83.

Motte, Brunhild de la. "Shakespeare's 'Happy Endings' for Women." Nature, Society, and Thought 1:1 (1987): 27-36.

Shakespeare, William. Measure for Measure. Greenblatt 2021-2090.

---. Romeo and Juliet. Greenblatt 865-941.

Show More
Related

  • Much Ado About Nothing - A Feminist Perspective of Hero

    915 Words  | 2 Pages

    Neely, Carol Thomas.  “Shakespeare’s Women: Historical Facts and Dramatic Representations.”  Shakespeare’s Personality.  Ed. Norman N. Holland, Sidney Homan, and Bernard J. Paris.  Berkeley: University of California Press, 1989.  116-134.

    Read More

  • Reverse Gender Roles In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    397 Words  | 1 Pages

    In the play The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare, a quintessential pair of teens fall in love, but their fate ends in misfortune. The pair falls in love in a time where women are seen as unimportant and insignificant. In spite of this, Romeo breaks the boundaries of male dominance and shows a more feminine side. Throughout the play, there is an interesting depiction of gender roles that is contrary to the society of the time period.

    Read More

  • Ophelia as a Foil to Shakespeare's Hamlet

    870 Words  | 2 Pages

    Pitt, Angela. "Women in Shakespeare's Tragedies." Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint of Shakespeare's Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.

    Read More

  • How Did Thomas Jefferson Reflect The Ideals Of The Democratic Republicans

    974 Words  | 2 Pages

    Many believed this for Thomas Jefferson as shown in Document D, his point of view on the federalists was that he was completely against their ideals (Doc D). However this was completely wrong due to the fact that as soon as he had the opportunity to buy the Louisiana Territory from France he bought it. He took the opportunity due to the fact that he believed it would be in the best interest of the country, but of course many, if not all democratic republicans opposed the purchase, since they believed it was unconstitutional and an expansion of the federal government's power. Thomas Jefferson argument to these accusations was that he claimed that it was constitutional and supported his claim with the federalist idea of loose construction, which was contradicting to his ideals. James Madison was also believed to be a very strong Anti- Federalist, he was one of the drafters of the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions. As shown in Document C, James Madison's believed that the Federal Government's power was to be limited just it what was stated in the constitution(Doc

    Read More

  • Lady Macbeth: A Dynamic Character

    1263 Words  | 3 Pages

    Kemp, Theresa D. Women in the Age of Shakespeare. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood, 2009. Print.

    Read More

  • Gender Bias in Othello

    1865 Words  | 4 Pages

    Pitt, Angela. “Women in Shakespeare’s Tragedies.” Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Shakespeare’s Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.

    Read More

  • Love and Marriage an Affliction or an Alliance: Deceit and Betrayal in Shakespeare’s Richard III

    859 Words  | 2 Pages

    During the Middle Ages and Renaissance period marriage and love were idealized, divine and celebrated. Weddings were large events that included the entire families of both the groom and the bride. Reality was different; women were viewed as being fickle, inferior to men and a possession of men. Women had very little, if any, choice in who they would marry. Marriages were arranged so that both families would benefit in gaining wealth or power. Even though the ruler of England for over 4 decades was female, women were still not respected. Women were kept at home and not allowed to take place in public events. In Shakespeare’s Richard III, male and female relationships are displayed as deeply cynical and are based on lies, lust and political gain.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson Analysis

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    One man envisioned a world free of persecution, where all men were created equal while being governed by respected leaders guiding their country to new heights. Thomas Jefferson, one of the most influential founding fathers of America, was a Democratic-Republican who loved to read and write eventually inspiring the draft of The Declaration of Independence after being elected in one of the most crucial votes in American history. In a time where our country was being transformed, Jefferson molded it in ways that had never been done before. He put freedom of the people before the government, their future leaders would be elected upon popular vote not through family relations. He created the foundation for what would would be one of the most powerful countries to date.

    Read More

  • Thomas Jefferson's Idea Of Having A National Bank

    436 Words  | 1 Pages

    Jefferson was a firm believer that people were good and able to make the best decisions for the country and for what they wanted. Jefferson voiced his opinion saying, “... according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the

    Read More

  • The Treatment of Women in Romeo and Juliet

    1577 Words  | 4 Pages

    Shakespeare wrote Romeo and Juliet in the 16th century, at a time where the role of the woman was to be subservient to men and act as a wife to their husband and a mother to their children. Women were expected to conform to the expectations of society, and were seen as possessions by their fathers and husbands. Fathers arranged their daughters’ marriages, usually for financial or social gain for the family. In Romeo and Juliet, the unfair treatment of women is conveyed through characters such as Juliet, a young girl who is growing into the expectations of society, and Lady Capulet, who represents a traditional side of love and values social position rather than men themselves.

    Read More

  • The Influence of Jazz Around the World

    2089 Words  | 5 Pages

    Jazz music is formed within improvisation and other aspects of black music such as blues and ragtime to make a particular form of music (scholastic.com). In jazz, musicians often play whatever comes to mind on the spot, or they playback a specific melody or chord sequence. Before there was jazz, there was blues. It is an African American derived genre of music that displayed the pain of the lost and injustice and gave expression of relieving a broken heart and facing down adversity. The blues included hymns, work songs, and field hollers. Although this may not sound like it could be jazz, it very well is. Blues is actually the foundation of jazz as well as the prime source of rhythm and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, and country music. Even today it is still evolving and widely played.

    Read More

  • Justification of Death in Hamlet

    2588 Words  | 6 Pages

    Pitt, Angela. "Women in Shakespeare's Tragedies." Readings on The Tragedies. Ed. Clarice Swisher. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, 1996. Reprint from Shakespeare's Women. N.p.: n.p., 1981.

    Read More

  • The Power Of Women In Shakespeare's As You Like It

    1356 Words  | 3 Pages

    During Shakespeare’s time, women lived in a patriarchal society where they were limited in power and dependent on men. Women in this society were expected to be submissive and to let men pave their path to a successful life by being passive. For Rosalind and Celia, the two main women in Shakespeare’s comedic play As You Like It, their identities through their disguises challenge this social construct by elevating their power as women rather than weakening them by allowing them to explore multiple facets of their behaviors that they could not do before. Despite being belittled by the male characters, such as Touchstone or Duke Ferdinand, Rosalind and Celia do not allow the men to suppress or influence their identities. These independent

    Read More

  • Romeo And Juliet: Gender Roles In The Elizabethan Era

    1012 Words  | 3 Pages

    The Elizabethan era gender roles were much different than they are today. Women were regarded as the weaker sex, and men were always dominant. These “rules” are shown prominently throughout Romeo and Juliet, and paved way for obstacles they went through in their relationship. The gender conventions for women and men were prodigiously stereotypical and unreasonable, as they made men out to be the superior gender. Women should not have been perceived as inferior to men, and these unwritten rules for masculinity and femininity were shown throughout the play. Romeo acted very feminine which contradicted his gender conventions while Juliet did not abide by rules and disobeyed her parents. Romeo and Juliet had many ways in which they followed and

    Read More

  • The Role Of Women In William Shakespeare's Othello

    1023 Words  | 3 Pages

    Forced by predominant men in Elizabethan society, women conform to a facade based on an socioeconomic status rather than character. As expected, women in William Shakespeare’s Othello demonstrate obedience in their behavior in accordance with a man’s expectations. Throughout this tragic play the once formidable Othello, becomes crazed with jealousy based on his ensign 's puppet master. Determined to murder his wife, Desdemona, because of her alleged infidelity, Othello fights against being a cuckold. Critical in Venetian society, Desdemona’s reputation no where compares to her husband’s reputation, which demonstrates a woman’s status as subordinate to men including servants and paramours. William Shakespeare reveals the influential males in a woman 's life govern the way the world

    Read More

More about Power of Women in William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet

Open Document