Furthermore, Feminist Criticism provides a better view of literature because it shows that women can be powerful. When Emilia finds out that her husband has been plotting an evil plan she says,” Tis proper I obey him, but not now”(Othello V.2.195). Emilia refuses to help her husband after she finds the cruel intentions he has despite the expectation of women always being submissive to their husbands. Women also have a voice and feelings, they are capable of defying their husbands commands when they know what he expects is simply wrong. In a literary article,The Role of Women in Othello: A Feminist Reading states that,” Society weighs heavily on the shoulders of women; they feel that they must support the men and defer to them, even if the actions of the men are questionable” (Literary Articles).
Emilia knows that Othello believes that Desdemona has cheated on him with Cassio, but the interesting factor is that Emilia knows that is not true as she arguably knows Desdemona the most out of all the characters. Desdemona's isolation prior to her death is “ attributable to the onlookers' nonintervention” (Vanita 343). Emilia was aware of the abuse that Othello put upon Desdemona even though she knew the accusations against her were false “For if she be not honest, chaste and true,/ There’s no man happy; the purest of their wives/ Is foul slander” (Shakespeare 4.2.18-20) but still leaves Desdemona in isolation with Othello, even though she was aware of what he believed. When Othello confronts Desdemona with the claims of cheating Othello commands Emilia to “Leave Procreants alone and shut the door;/ Cough or cry “hem”
A standout among the other characters is Antigone, she infringed upon the law of Creon for the burial of Polyneices and this is a major circumstance in the play. She knows her points of confinement with Creon, but she loves her brother sincerely and is willing to accept to the consequences. Antigone is a wise, sagacious woman who doesn't let anything or anyone get in the way of her Religion she stated "I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death." (Scene IV Line 67-68) Creon laid his grounds about his decision, but Antigone is staying strong with what she believes is right stating "But if the guilt lies upon Creon who judges me, then, I pray, may his punishment equal my own.'
It’s no surprise, that Shakespeare’s Macbeth was clearly constructed as a rebellion against femininity roles of the time. During the Elizabethan era, women were raised to believe they were inferior to men since men obtained desired masculine qualities such as strength, and loyalty, whereas women were viewed as figures of hospitality (1; 6; 28-31). Obviously, not being tempted by the luxury of subservient women, William Shakespeare rebuked this twisted belief, applying that women deserve more respect than their kitchen tables. However, if transcending female expectations was used as a weapon than for good, is it still considered an act of femininity? Of course not!
In “Rappaccini’s Daughter,” Giovanni sees and becomes interested in Beatrice who has a poisonous touch that prevents them from truly being together. Hawthorne creates similar characters in these two short stories to state that women are pure, flaws are human, and the flaws have motives of their own. A main theme in Hawthorne’s works is women are pure. This is the case for these two short stories as Georgiana and Beatrice both listen intently to their male counterparts and lack the flaws that the men in their stories contain. Georgiana is supportive of her husband’s decision to attempt to rid her of her birthmark and even as she questions it, she ponders the happiness it would bring
In both literatures, they demonstrate the social structure in the patriarchs of society. Both female protagonists in the literatures are subjective towards men, portraying character traits of submissiveness. However, their subjectivity are either forced by male dominance, or is craving for love of a male figure. Mariam in A Thousand Splendid Suns, demonstrates how the dominance and aggression of male character can force a female character into submission. Rasheed was assertive and aggressive when he was displeased with Mariam’s cooking.
Go, get thee hence, for I will not away. [Exit Friar Laurence] (5.3.155-160) Friar Laurence is the most to blame as he secretly marries the lovers, he hides Romeo, and he provides Juliet with the sleeping potion; moreover, he leaves the emotionally vulnerable Juliet when he could have forced her out of the tomb with him. His failure to speak with the parents and seek to ameliorate their hatred and his other actions go completely against his religious vows as well as being unconscionable. When Juliet 's father insisted that Juliet marry Paris, she could have been honest and told him why she could not marry Paris; instead, she beats around the bush and asks to delay the marriage instead. Romeo, when he saw Juliet in the tomb, did not have to take the potion.
This passage is significant because the theme of blind devotion further develops. Juliet's extreme love for Romeo is the sole cause for her extreme hatred of Paris. Juliet is blindly devoted to loving Romeo and not sinning, or in other words, having two husbands. She does not care that perhaps Paris may be better than Romeo, that Paris comes from the Prince's family, or that her father recommends him. She is set on her decision and disregards the consequences of evading such marriage.
During my assessment I will be exploring how Beatrice and Benedick’s relationship develops throughout the play ‘much ado about nothing’. I will also explore how their relationship follows the conventions of a relationship in the Elizabethan era. Also how their relationship subverts conventions due to the common idea of looking at the outside appearance to fall in love, however they fall in love with each other due to their intellect; Claudio and Hero fall in love because of beauty. In the beginning of the play we see through Beatrice’s witty remarks on love of how she subverts normal conventions of marriage: “I had rather hear my dog bark at a crow than a man swear he loves me”. This emphasises how she subverts normal conventions, she does not want a man to love whereas most women seemed to want to marry.
The Villains in Romeo and Juliet Romeo and Juliet put all of their faith into the Nurse and Friar Lawrence. They think that they are good confidants when in reality it is their fault that Romeo and Juliet die. Juliet and Romeo in William Shakespeare 's play Romeo and Juliet, make poor decisions in choosing the Nurse and Friar Lawrence as their personal advisors. Some reasons being the Friar could deny their ability to get married, the Nurse can convince Juliet it is a bad idea to marry Romeo, and finally Friar Lawrence can put more effort into telling Romeo his plan about Juliet. All of these are wonderful reasons as to why the friar and the Nurse are the primary suspects of the deaths of Romeo and Juliet.