... of Shakespeare. In this Shakespearean society, it was men who held exclusively the official posts of authority and power, and men who kept the agency and influence to direct the outcome of events. Nevertheless, the careful reader notices a curious trend in many of Shakespeare's plays: many of Shakespeare's female characters exercise a rather great deal of delicate forms of power and influence, and often do so ... in unusual and even subversive ways that challenge traditional gender roles. Although the male characters generally fail to notice or refuse to acknowledge women's authority an...

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