... power is non-existent without the presence of masculinity, so much so, that women in Shakespeare's plays had to adopt a 'male facade' to obtain power. Paradoxically, it is forgotten by the audience in Shakespeare in Love, that the patriarchal society is in fact led by a woman - Queen Elizabeth - and it is in this ignorance and lack of her power to change circumstances that the powerlessness of women is exemplified ... ' (Dusinberre, 2012). According to Dusinberre (2012): "The history of women in Shakespeare's period has largely been written by men within a discourse- often man-made ...

• Word Count: 1880
• Approx Pages: 8
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate