Literary and historical scholars agree that women did not enjoy political, economic, or social parity with men during Shakespeare's time, and this historical reality is important to keep in mind when analyzing the variety of female characters in the plays of Shakespeare. ... Although the male characters generally fail to notice or refuse to acknowledge women's authority and influence openly, they are affected by it. The contemporary reader can't help but be aware of them and in many cases, to view many of the characters present in several plays by Shakespeare as some of the main...

• Word Count: 2208
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate