William Shakespeare's Presentation of Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra

The Character of Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing Many would believe this to be a understated summary of the way Shakespeare presents her character in Much Ado About Nothing because Beatrice is not just a humorous character but a strong role model for both Shakespeare’s time and for a modern audience defying social expectations and being equal to her male counter parts, she is the heroin of the play and even though speaking “all mirth” which would probably be expected from a lead Shakespeare role, however she is much more that that. Beatrice has the most depth to her character in comparison to other characters than simply humour. Thus the statement not doing Beatrice justice as she has the most positive influence over the other characters. To an Elizabethan audience the story line of Hero and Claudio would be familiar because of the traditional views held by their characters, and so the audience would have expected Hero to be the romantic lead of the play. However, Beatrice’s ‘emotional gravity,’¹ eventually leads the importance of her role to go beyond that of Hero’s, whilst still maintaining the humorous aspect essential to her character.

William Shakespeare's Hamlet The tragedy of Hamlet was a very interesting play with many very interesting characters that did a great many heroic and disappointing things despite the complexity and difficulty to understand the true personality William Shakespeare intended for each. Ophelia, one of the minor characters, represents one of the two women captured between men set out for revenge. Despite the minor role this character played, her impact on the play was quite significant. However, one of the most important questions to analyze, and the question this paper will explore below is why she went mad. This paper will delve into the kind of person Shakespeare portrays her as, why she is so easily affected, the factors causing her madness and the importance each of them play.

Then when Macbeth sends further news that Duncan is actually comi... ... middle of paper ... ... Shakespeare presents Lady Macbeth as a fiend like queen in the beginning. She believes that her course of action is the only way to fulfil the prophecies. Shakespeare wants the audience to see that the public face of Lady Macbeth never falters from her purpose. It is only when she is alone that she doubts her ability to be evil. The gentler side of her character only shows through when Macbeth becomes more bloodthirsty.

Both women add to the main themes of the play because of their ability to use their intelligence and witty remarks as well as having a loving heart. The women share many similarities as well as many differences which seem to be inevitable because Portia seems to be put on a pedestal that very few can reach. Portia is one of Shakespeare's great heroines, whose beauty, lively intelligence, quick wit, and high moral seriousness have blossomed in a society of wealth and freedom. She is known throughout the world for her beauty and virtue, and she is able to handle any situation with her sharp wit. In many of Shakespeare's plays, he creates female characters that are presented to be clearly inferior to men.

A product of their time: Sexual Equality in Much Ado about Nothing Written in a time of patriarchal societies, with a distinct hierarchy of sexes, it was no surprise that even the strongest willed women eventually conformed to the norms of the 16th century. Behind all the comedy, laughter and wordplay, Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing began to explore the much more controversial topic of Sexual Equality in the Elizabethan Era. As we continue reading the comedy, we begin to see how the play sought to challenge and deafest the norms of gender roles through Shakespeare’s strategic selection of the female characters. In Beatrice, unlike her soft spoken and conformed cousin Hero, we find both the strong and independent push for sexual equality

This misogynistic attitude is present in ‘Much Ado about Nothing’. In the play, Messina is presented as being a positive and cheerful community and the woman appear to have freedom, however those misogynistic attitudes of the time period are still demonstrated. When Leonato tells his daughter, Hero, “daughter, remember what I told you: if the prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer.” Don Pedro is b... ... middle of paper ... ... of defiance are different but they do both show some forms of defiance of the traditional gender roles. Shakespeare was clearly ahead of his time with his view of women. He likely drew inspiration for his female characters from Elizabeth I, the English monarch at the time.

‘Now we go in content… To liberty and not to banishment.’ (Act I, Scene III) When leaving the court, Rosalind dresses as a male figure primarily to escape the haunting... ... middle of paper ... ... of the importance of the distinction between appearance and reality, Shakespeare concluded the play on a note of Rosalind seeking sanction from the audience, which espouses the melodramatic world that was created in the play. Rosalind was a very powerful character. She was able to experience emotions not confined by the preconceived role her gender assigned her. The tension that Shakespeare created between appearance versus reality was a reflection of the prejudiced assumptions individuals have on one another. The foundations Shakespeare built of characters and settings deciphered, that circumstances are not always a they seem.

Contrary to the roles of women of the 16th Century, Shakespeare depiction of Beatrice's independence is symbolic of his stance on the progression and transformation of women's reputation in society. Shakespeare undoubtedly creates a coherent distinction between Beatrice and Hero, the two main female characters, in such a way that allows the audience to irrefutably note their differing dispositions. Hero, “a face without a voice” (Cook 8), is characterized by her passivity and inability to assert herself, whereas Beatrice, whose speech “might seem [like] a serious violation of Messina's conventions of gender” (Cook 7), is characterized by her witty and unconventional independence that ultimately delineates the sure separation between her and women of 16th Century Europe. Almost immediately, one can observe Beatrice's acerbic demeanor towards one of the main male characters, Signior Benedick. As the messenger is informing Beatrice... ... middle of paper ... ...itations and expectations that were placed upon women of the 16th Century and uses many characters, such as Beatrice and Hero, as mediums to help present his stance on the advancement of women's roles.

Beatrice is an extremely crucial character in ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. She is one of the reasons that many plans and schemes fall into place to provide us with the outcome that the play finally reaches. Shakespeare depicts Beatrice as a very strong character who knows what she wants and how she wants to achieve it. Her characteristics of sharp wit and her ability to be acutely opinionated allow her to be a notable contrast from the other women in the play, whether this be in a positive or a negative way. Shakespeare represents Beatrice as a very feisty, cynical and sharp woman during the play.

This creates audience sympathy for Juliet, due to her innocence. Even in one of the opening scenes, Shakespeare raises the issue of arranged marriages. A feminist critic agrees with this view. "The play challenges traditional familial duty, gender relations and the character and status of women." The play also shows male dominance.