When Queen Elizabeth I ascended on the throne in 1588, she was meant challenged by beliefs about gender. She was a female monarch, but in a world dominated by men. During the 1500s, women’s role were constrained because society saw woman as lacking understanding, ethics, and judgement compared to men. The culture of the middle ages prioritized the position of men that most women were denied the chance to learn beyond. Any education was meant to prepare women for marriage and children. And yet, you would think that being a part of the upper class Elizabeth would have access to all the learning possible, but even she was subjected to just tutors. She not only fought against her gender roles, but she also used them as a political and diplomatic …show more content…
al., p. 392). A prime example of her exhibiting her masculinity is during her speech to the troops of Tisbury. The purpose was to prepare for an invasion by the Spanish Armada and to dismiss any thoughts that being a woman meant she was less than a King. In her remarks to the English soldiers, Elizabeth tackles the obvious and disproves it. What boggles readers like me, is that she apologizes for being a woman. “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too…” (Elizabeth, Doc 2). Words carry enormous weight. Queen Elizabeth’s remarks to her troops inspired them to action. She questioned who would “dare invade their borders of her realm” and threatened; “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field” (Elizabeth, Doc 2). As queen, her passion for the State and her people is indisputable. “…to live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood, even in the dust” (Elizabeth, Doc 2). She may not be with them in flesh, but what mattered was her sprit (her dedication) that fought alongside her people. Queen Elizabeth not only gave a great speech, but she also looked the part. Most likely mounted on her horse, …show more content…
To not be perceived as weak, she had to show her masculinity with everything she executed. She was both queen and king. With all her triumphs and feats, no wonder why The Elizabethan Era is considered as the Golden Age. I think what made Queen Elizabeth so influential was her pledge and passion for the people of England. It’s evident in all four documents that she put her state first. She even valued their well-being then her own. Through her speeches and portraits, Elizabeth was able to illustrate manliness to give her more control and respect. Without her self-confidence, who knows where England would have
She showed this best when she “took time for leisurely pursuits. She loved music and could play the lute herself,” (bio.com). Because of her love of the arts, Elizabeth gained social power. Social power for a ruler is the ability to use the arts in order to influence a country or a ruler’s image in a way that helps them keep power. Elizabeth loved going to see plays or dances in her free time. This allowed her to gain social power because it was a way to connect with her subjects. It allowed commoners to trust her more and they could feel they were more personally connected to her than they were before. Elizabeth’s complete social control could also be seen when artists would honor Elizabeth “by painting her portrait. These images reveal that she was an early fashionista,” (bio.com). Her image was a very important factor in her reign of power. She was able to present herself as very well respected and almost “God-like”. Elizabeth wanted to show people who would see her or her portraits that she was not just a weak woman. She was a force to be reckoned with and her people could see this. She gained social power because her subjects looked up to her and respected her very much. This also allowed commoners to trust her more because her image showed she was intelligent could make decisions for
...Walter Raleigh were instrumental in expanding English influence in the New World. Elizabeth's religious compromise laid many fears to rest. Fashion and education came to the fore because of Elizabeth's penchant for knowledge, courtly behavior and extravagant dress. Good Queen Bess, as she came to called, maintained a regal air until the day she died; a quote, from a letter by Paul Hentzen, reveals the aging queen's regal nature: "Next came the Queen in the sixty-fifth year of her age, as we were told, very majestic; her face oblong, fair, but wrinkled; her eyes small yet black and pleasant; her nose a little hooked; her lips narrow... she had in her ear two pearls, with very rich drops... her air was stately; her manner of speaking mild and obliging." This regal figure surley had her faults, but the last Tudor excelled at rising to challenges and emerging victorious.
In 1558, John Knox declared, “To promote a Woman to bear rule, superiority, dominion, or empire above any Realm, Nation, or City, is against all Nature…” (document 1). Knox’s statement was no different than most English men’s opinions during the 1500s. The majority of the population was opposed to having a women hold any type of political power, as they believed it was a job for solely a man to possess. Leading up to the time period of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, females had a specific purpose in life: to serve their husbands and provide them with children. All women lacked freedom and liberty, Elizabeth Tudor sought to change this matter. When Queen Elizabeth was coronated in 1559, men were superior in all economic and social aspects; however,
Women in the Elizabethan era were presented as very obedient to their husbands and respectful to them also. They had no power and no say, they were treated badly and nothing would be done to stop the behaviour. In modern society most women have as much say as the men, they are not expected to stay at home and clean etc, and instead they go to work as well. Some women are like Katherina before she was supposedly tamed, very out spoken, yet inequality still exists.
In conclusion, gender role in Elizabethan era is very complex with respect to women’s role. Men are the masters of the home and society; they preside over every aspect of life. They are however, expected to take care of their family and also be actively involved in politics, war, and they inherit their father’s properties. Women role varied a according to their social status. All women were raised to be subservient to men. Unlike upper class women, lower class women were denied any kind of education. And all women are expected to get married and bear children. The qualities Shakespeare gave Beatrice are very significant because it contrasts traditional Elizabethan theater. Gender role has evolved over time, especially women’s role and it will continue to evolve as long as there are women like Beatrice around.
Secondly, Elizabethan women were considered to be inferior to men. The life of Elizabethan women was certainly a tough - arranged marriages, subordination to men, short life expectancy, constant child bearing and no right to education, no voting, not political participation, etc. were crucial facts about Elizabethan women’s life. Elizabethan women were categorized class wise as: Upper Class, Royal Class, Lower Class Elizabethan women. Elizabethan women were considered subordinate to men and they were dependent on males. They were also used for alliance with powerful families through arranged marriages not only in the lower class, but also in the ...
Before we move to the main argument, there is a question to be answered: what did it mean to be masculine or feminine in the Elizabethan era? Russ McDonald's The Bedford Companion to Shakespeare is an excellent source in making this distinction. According to McDonald, women were expected to concern themselves with marriage and motherhood only, and to submit themselves to their fathers and then their husbands in all ways. Considered "weaker vessels," women were not held to have either "strength or constancy of mind." Subordination, submission, and skill in caregiving were valued in women, and they we...
Gender has played a critical role in history. Different societies at different times in human history have had varying notions of what it means to be a man, and what it means to be a woman. The majority of these cultures thought that men were to lead, govern, and work in the public sphere, while women were to maintain order within their families and in the private sphere. Despite this, there have been some exceptions to this trend, such as Queen Boudica of the Celts, Cleopatra of Egypt, and Queen Elizabeth I of England. In the case of Queen Elizabeth, the fact that she was a woman was not an issue to some people, but a grave one to others. Many people (mainly clergy) often told her a woman had no right to be a sovereign ruler, while her supporters
Queen Elizabeth the first was a woman who cannot just use some simple words and phrases to be described, those words people use for heroes and heroines would not fit to describe Elizabeth. She had been through many tough and difficult situations from her cousins tried to put her to death only because they want the title of hers and the seat where she sat to her trusted friends or even boyfriend turns to mean, unreliable and despicable enemies. She led E England into an age of prosperity, peace, and expansion. People even used her name to name the time period “Elizabethan Age”. She is the one who united England, and also the one who righted the wrongs of past rulers. Even her enemies would agree that what she stood up for and who she was will be remember, deeply, in people’s heart.
Gender was the leading cause of distress in the 1500’s: King Henry VIII wanted nothing more than to have a son, yet was “cursed” with the legacy of a frail son, whom died before the age of 18 and two daughters, one of whom broke every convention of her gender. Queen Elizabeth I never married nor had children, yet can be considered one of England’s most successful monarchs. By choosing King James VI of Scotland as her heir, unbeknownst to her, she created the line that leads to the modern Queen of England, Elizabeth II. The question posed is then, how did Elizabeth I’s gender affect her rule?
Gender was the leading cause of distress in the 1500’s: King Henry VIII wanted nothing more than to have a son, yet was “cursed” with the legacy of a sickly son, whom died before the age of 18 and two daughters, one of whom broke every convention of her gender. Queen Elizabeth I never married nor had children, yet can be considered one of England’s most successful monarchs. By choosing King James VI of Scotland as her heir, unbeknownst to her, she created the line that leads to the modern Queen of England, Elizabeth II. The question posed is then, how did Elizabeth I’s gender affect her rule?
Queen Elizabeth I’s gender appears as one of the main topics in her speeches. Elizabeth’s common mention of her own female gender, despite the fact that she could refer to herself with masculine terms, allows her to use gender stereotypes. Using these stereotypes along with mentions of motherly love and her knowledge of literature and when to manipulate her gender, she can rally others to her side, explain why she delays her answers to Parliament, and explain why she cannot knowingly harm her subjects, but by doing this, she provides people with evidence that women are unintelligent and incapable of ruling.
Queen Elizabeth I, also known as the “Iron Queen”, was a remarkable woman of her time, she ruled with great power and longevity. She was one of the greatest feminist of time. Coming to the throne in 1558, she took the place of her father, Henry VIII. She was given one of the most difficult jobs fit for a man or King, ruling England. At the time women were second class citizens, they could not vote nor own properties and such. Surprising England with her intelligence and fierce rulings, she changed herself to make better decisions. She proved through her rulings, to everyone that females were strong and could rule just as well as a king. She refused to marry, giving a feeling of “I don’t need a man for anything.” The Queen was responsible for giving females a voice in literature and it is shown through Shakespeare’s writings.
Queen Elizabeth the first was one of the first woman monarchs to rule alone in the history of Europe. Her character, the way she ruled, and even her gender transformed her country’s go...
Shakespeare allowed women to be portrayed as powerful and complex event though they were considered the “weaker” sex. Strong female character like Portia and Rosalind are examples of such. Even if the women in Shakespeare's plays were shown as being emotionally weaker then men, men characters can also be emotional. For example, many men in Shakespeare’s plays showed their emotions openly and did not stick to the masculine mold. Shakespeare switched up gender roles in his plays by having both genders add both feminine and masculine traits to their