Gender Roles In Much Ado And Juliet

Much To Do About Women, Men and Rank

Shakespeare at its core is all about an open mind. Many issues are open for discussion within his plays, and sonnets, whether it be a discussion on the issues regarding, politics, romance, reputation, honor and even redemption. However, I would like to specially discuss the roles of gender in not one but two of his plays. Much Ado About Nothing and Henry VI Part II. In comparing and contrasting these two plays I found that weak Claudio and Witty Benedick almost seem like saviors compared to the notorious grime of the streets, aging knights such as Falstaff and Justices such as Shallow and Silence. Furthermore, you have poor innocent Hero and no filter Beatrice who seem to be the definition of respected women

In other words Pistol is saying he will ejaculate on Doll Tearsheet. However, Tearsheet has some words to say to him and that is for him to get lost. Although we are talking about gender roles when discussing this it is hard not to mention rank because it does play a big role on what to say and what not to say as a woman and even a man. Evermore so, it is also hard not to take into consideration the psychological aspect of prostitution. To me, it all comes down to self-esteem and self worth there is no doubt in my mind words exchanged in the following scene was meant to keep both Quickly and Tearsheet in their place. After re-reading this scene I also found that Falstaff wasn’t going to fight with Pistol because of his heinous words toward the ladies but because of how he was embarrassing his image as a man of some level of power. After their little quarrel Tearsheet then sits on Falstaffs lap and says how brave he is as if he was defending her honor. In reality, she is there on his lap as a misunderstood on her part, trophy. In comparison to Much Ado About Nothing we have Beatrice and I think Shakespeare placed her in this play as a refreshing approach to the role of woman. She says whats on her mind and does not hold back and oddly enough I think this part of why she is also respected even while being high in rank. However, at the wedding why did she not defend Hero? Even if she is known to be extremely witty and straightforward her role as woman still has affect. I think she didn’t say anything because she knew that one, they wouldn’t believe her and second she would be seen as out of