They thought like that, because nobody before could give chance to women. ... Also women who had the gift to write could have been writing great novels. ... People in 16th century did not think that women could do it as well as men, even write better than men, because women were more sensitive and could understand things better. The second reason, is that women in the 16th century would have been writers, if they would have been married a little bit older than they were, because first of all they had to make a career. ... I think now we would have more great books written by women. ...

• Word Count: 426
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Although the male characters generally fail to notice or refuse to acknowledge women's authority and influence openly, they are affected by it. ... First, it is important to point out that both Olivia and Viola are women who enjoy certain social privileges relative to other women as a benefit of their social class, an issue that is important, particularly in the context of Twelfth Night, and which is often overlooked throughout the body of Shakespeare criticism. Although being of the aristocratic class permits both women some freedoms that poorer women did not enjoy, it also imposes an ex...

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

At the start of the Elizabethan era, women had little rights and almost no say in their own lives. According to Linda Alchin, "Elizabethan Women were subservient to men. ... There was little dispute over such arrangements as Elizabethan woman were raised to believe that they were inferior to men and that men knew better!... Queen Elizabeth's rule also allowed men such as Shakespeare to voice their sympathy with the plight of women. ... On the other hand, the women obtain a much greater degree of freedom in the forest. ...

• Word Count: 657
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

This provides several implications regarding conventional views on gender and male dominance over women, mainly in response to women wearing men's clothing. ... Similar verbal references are made to the setting of the woods and also of the magical flower – the "little western flower," to be found "where the bolt of Cupid fell." ... Howard, women often dressed as men in the period (and were accused of prostitution). Because of this cross-dressing by women, it seemed then that "gender difference and hierarchy had to be produced and secure [] on other grounds. [] They could still ...

• Word Count: 825
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Venice, one of Italy's many sovereign states, was a highly sophisticated, yet highly devious place to which Venetian women were regarded no exception. ... As Lord Byron described the women of Venice: a woman is virtuous (according to the code) who limits herself to her husband and one lover; those that have two, three, or more are a little wild; but only those who are indiscriminately diffuse are considered as overstepping the modesty of marriage. ... As mentioned earlier, Othello knows little of Venetian (or European) culture. ... However, due to his soldierly life he knows littl...

• Word Count: 1483
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Men playing women who fall in love with men and these "women" acting within an act to be men. Men wooing women played by and then wooing the men portrayed by these acting women. ... There was a pretty redness in his lip, A little riper and more lusty-red Than that mixed in his cheek. ... In a patriarchal society women were viewed in a different light to what they are now. ... The point I have already made about women being "lesser" forms of men may have been acceptable in his day. ...

• Word Count: 1317
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

In act II scene iv, lines 25-26, when Viola and Duke Orsino are talking about women, (or love in general) the Duke asks Cesario, "What kind of women is't?" ... Olivia just thinks the two are engaged in a little tongue-twister battle, when in fact, Viola's words have a much deeper meaning. ... In this play, one thing always led to another, and more often than not, the chain would start with some humor, contain a little bit of humor in the middle, and end on a humorous note. ... We were laughing watching Sir Andrew and Sir Toby get all excited listening to Maria and acting...

• Word Count: 1049
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Evidently, women in ancient Athens were viewed as property of their guardians and had no rights. ... By the nineteenth century, many women were contributing to their family's economic activity by providing financial support through work in factories. ... Even though women were not allowed to vote at this time, steps were being taken to ensure that more women were receiving education. ... By this time, women had more rights than in ancient Athens. ... For example, he declares should he play Thisbe, then he would speak in a "monstrous little voice" (1.2.46), a clearly juxtaposed s...

• Word Count: 1650
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography

This construction of language undergoes a shift in theistic allusions, supporting condemnation of Gertrude's sexual gluttony in line with Elizabethan expectation of women. "Hang on him increase of appetitefed," conforming to their virtuous or unchaste dichotomy constrained expressions of female independence in order to maintain control of the perceived flaws in women. The intense personal relationship of Gertrude and Hamlet is constructed in a form in which Hamlet's fixation is provided little context, allowing for the development of speculative interpretations. ...

• Word Count: 875
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: Graduate

Isabella was considered as one of Shakespeare's strongest female characters; a women of great virtue and purity. ... Maybe do a little Achilles and Patroclus"(Sater 26). ... Both Otto's and Georg's sexuality were revealed about their admiration for older women. ...

• Word Count: 1221
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Women were viewed "possessions" of their husbands and were expected to fulfil their role within the family as both carer and supporter. In this play, the male lead, Torvald, calls his wife, Nora, his "little squirrel", which, in linguistic terms, creates images of a busy creature concerned with petty activities such as collecting and hoarding - thus, making us feel that Torvald sees Nora as a slightly amusing yet endearing character, whose concerns are of no great importance. ... In many Eastern cultures, especially those controlled by Repressive State Apparatuses, women could face torture, ...

• Word Count: 1406
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Graduate