In his plays, there are around 170 roles for women, compared to about 700 for men (Packer 117). ... One can take a closer look into women's roles in Shakespeare's comedies by focusing on women's roles in Shakespeare's England. ... Shakespeare accepts these medieval ideals of a hierarchy of nature in which woman is second to man. ... Instead, Beatrice wonders why a woman should have to marry to be whole. ... So, like Kate, Beatrice stops the charades, and reforms to her role as a wife. ...

• Word Count: 2533
• Approx Pages: 10
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School