In association with Miranda's character, the other female characters within the play are used to illustrate the desirability of Miranda. ... Miranda Sleeps- Miranda's mother "was a piece of virtue-, thus demonstrating the importance of women as both mothers and being virtuous. ... Ferdinand would only accept Miranda "if a virgin, and your affection not gone forth- hence accrediting Miranda of worth as a woman. ... It is even mentioned that Ferdinand "stood the test- in obtaining Miranda's hand in marriage, for which she is the prize. ... Miranda, also, is represented as a form o...

• Word Count: 1829
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

In The Tempest, when Ferdinand first meets Miranda, despite being immediately taken by her beauty, his primary concern is her chastity: "If you be maid or no." ... When Prospero is about to "give" Miranda over to Ferdinand, he sternly warns him not to break the virgin-knot before the wedding had been officialised. ... If the men in Shakespeare are not worrying themselves over women's virginity, they are busy trying to take it; Caliban freely admits to wanting to take Miranda's virginity, by force, and subsequently "[people] else this isle with Calibans". ...

• Word Count: 2000
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate