In most of Shakespeare's work, they seem to dramatize the most when there is a broad disconnection characterizing the male versus female relationship. Works such as Macbeth, Othello, and his comedies all have some sort of tragedy that illustrates the opposition of power between a male and female character. Throughout Shakespeare's work, there is at least one major leading character that unifies the whole play to which they are a female. Many of Shakespeare's female characters deal with having power and influence, and often do so in an unusual way that challenges the traditional role of a woman. Because of this, critics such as Janet Adelman, Phillippa Berry, and Irene Dash discuss the relationship between where gender issues highlights about how the female characters are viewed as victims of feminism in Shakespeare's work.
Feminism is a movement that seeks equality for women's rights against men and to eliminate the underestimated ideas of gender. For example, the strength between a male versus a female or the intelligence between a male versus a female, are all tied into social stereotypes rather than a person who was born with it. One play I found that in the literature world, where female critics have examined the most for its presentation of characters displaying their atypical thoughts on gender is Macbeth. In Macbeth, women in making decision of his life influence the main character. In Act 1 Scene 3, Macbeth is influenced by the prophecies of the three witches which are to become a thane of Glamis, thane of Cawdor and to be a king one day. Macbeth had written a letter to his wife about the prophecies and in order to fulfill the prophecies, Lady Macbeth had to kill King Duncan at first but Macbeth finally agreed to murder the king instead and took the throne. Towards the end of the play, however, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth did not gain happiness, but rather it led to their death.