Literary and historical scholars agree that women did not enjoy political, economic, or social parity with men during Shakespeare's time, and this historical reality is important to keep in mind when analyzing the variety of female characters in the plays of Shakespeare. ... The fact that Olivia uses her power as the lady of the house to compel a servant to lie on her behalf so that she can make her romantic and sexual decisions for herself is an affirmation of her agency and the subversive techniques that she uses to achieve it. ... Interestingly, Gertrude herself has little to say in de...

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