... the dramatic centerpiece in both Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire- and Henrik Ibsen's "A Doll's House."" In the Williams' dramatic masterpiece of modern theater, the male/female relationships form the basis for the vast majority of the dramatic conflict; these conflicting interactions are found between several different characters, with each conflict contributing to the overall development of ... conflict for the story, driving the plot and structuring the development of the characters. The conflict in all of these relationships is driven by fundamental elements of the male/f...

• Word Count: 2278
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... confrontation with Gertrude. Gertrude is exploited by men as well, and is especially abused by Hamlet. The leading male figures usually cloud any knowledge a female might posses, making it seem as if they are not capable of being noble. The Queen, Gertrude, is much maligned for her romantic alliance ... youth as an excuse. Hamlet's spiel is harsh, yet the Queen does not rebuke it. Gertrude's role is restricted by her position as a female and the stereotypes that comes with being one. At first glance, Hamlet presents his mother as if she lacks intelligence. However, in the words ... the ...

• Word Count: 1649
• Approx Pages: 7
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... to be drowned in the mist of the deceitful power-game played out by a number of male figures, who in one way or another, contribute to the manipulation of the female characters. The women's role in this play is to be used and exploited, in order for the male characters to achieve their desire. The modest relationship shared with the only ... play, Gertrude and Ophelia, is best depicted in Prince Hamlet's cynical and neurotic behaviour towards them. In general, Hamlet displays a particular obsession with what he perceives to be a connection between female sexuality and moral corruption. ...

• Word Count: 1456
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

The tragic story of male oppression and female madness is one that fills literature throughout history. Shakespeare's Hamlet and Tennyson's The Lady of Shalott both highlight many of the physical and psychological ... through a feminist lens, many parallels can be drawn between the main women in both works. The stories of Ophelia and The Lady of Shalott serve as allegories of female oppression in the Elizabethan and Victorian eras. The women live in a time when expressing their thoughts and feelings was forbidden and where they served as captives in a ... is the only way for a woman to regain...

• Word Count: 1574
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... the vice is a principal aspect of Shakespearean tragedy, this paper will concentrate on two types of minor stock characters, more specifically, the innocent female victim and the loyal friend to the tragic hero. The characters to be discussed will be Ophelia and Cordelia, who play the role of the ... fit this sketch of innocent victims, such as Desdemona from Othello, and Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare tends to make these innocent victims female, a phenomenon which may be attributable to the role women played in Elizabethan times, as it is said that in ShakespeareWhen women ar...

• Word Count: 1288
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

... world! Fie on't, ah fie [dung], 'tis an unweeded garden [womb] that grows [becomes pregnant] to seed [semen], things [male sex] rank [in heat] and gross [lewd] in nature [female sex] possess it [sexually] merely [ 'merrily', lecherously]." (Hull.uk). Furthermore, Hamlet is dominated by disgust for his mother's sexuality to an exaggeration; which according to T. S. Eliot is " ... . This occurs throughout the play, but is more apparent when Hamlet learns of his mother's marriage to Claudius, in the beginning of the play. This hatred stems from a connection between female sexu...

• Word Count: 1979
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

Discuss Shakespeare's portrayal of madness and the feigning of madness, with particular reference to Hamlet and the role of the female protagonists within this tragedy Shakespeare portrays madness and the pretence of madness through its use, cause and consequences that affect the plot and relationships of this tragedy. Hamlet incorporates the ... that in the Elizabethan period women played a very small role politically, socially and economically. The subtle importance of Gertrude in Hamlet can be said to reflect the bearing of the female monarchy, whilst Ophelia is symbolic of the victimizat...

• Word Count: 1550
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... . It's definition in F and H was "a malicious, spiteful, promiscuous, or otherwise despicable woman" (Lighter 169). It is also used today to describe "a sexually promiscuous young woman, a male homosexual who plays the female role in copulation, an ill tempered homosexual male, an infuriatingly large object, or something especially disagreeable" (Lighter 169-70), among various others. There are many other forms of the word ... back to the sixteenth century when religious curses were far worse than biological. G.D. goes back to 1697, when D. Defoe, in G. Hughes Swearing 209 said, "G.D. ye...

• Word Count: 1988
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

... Mary the good and excellent mother and how she has lied and turned against him " makes marriage vows, As false dicers"oath". Within the passage the role of male and female plays a huge part in it. What comes out clearly, is that for a women to be involved in such a sinful action, is much more surprising then if the male was behind ... ...

• Word Count: 1426
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... , Who are so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet That the sense aches at thee, would thou Hadnst ne'er been born."" Unlike Hamlet, Othello isn't disgusted with the female body or sexuality. Othello recognizes her beauty, referring to her as "lovely fair and smell'st so sweet."" The reason why Othello calls Desdemona a weed is because the plant is ... ...

• Word Count: 1869
• Approx Pages: 7

... of women were greatly different than that of a modern day audience. Today we feel less sympathetic towards her because of relatively recent feminist views we have been introduced to, like female independence. In this respect, we can understand Hamlet's increased thirst for revenge against Claudius, because of his marriage to Gertrude, through our educated knowledge of the Oedipus complex. An Elizabethan ... ...

• Word Count: 2372
• Approx Pages: 9
• Grade Level: High School

... the sweet life of home so that her father should have sustenance" (Fitzgerald 104). Because she is secluded, Antigone never has to take her place in society as a woman. Without a female role model to show her how a woman is supposed to act, there is no one to raise her as a woman. She spends her days taking care of her blind father ... ...

• Word Count: 2132
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

... she has been raised in complete submission she does not hesitate to take their advice, this concept of blind acceptance is somewhat alien to me as a modern twenty-first century female as I have the option of my own view point. In Act two, scene one Ophelia explains how she was terribly frightened by Hamlet's disheveled appearance and odd behaviour. At this ... ...

• Word Count: 1730
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School

... an enseamed bed Stew"d", Hamlet condemns the bed in which Gertrude and Claudius sleep in as infested with semen like that of a prostitutes which is a misogynistic comment according to many female critics. At this point Hamlet gets paid a visit by his dead father or does he? This could be Hamlet's guilty conscience coming in to play or it may well be ... ...

• Word Count: 1742
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

... the actions of McMurphy and those of Hamlet is that in the days of the latter, there was no issue of legality. Yet another issue both heroes have with the female gender that is a prominent characteristic in each is a lack of respect for women in authority. The question must be raised that if Nurse Ratchet had not been a woman, would McMurphy ... ...

• Word Count: 2440
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School

... impersonal about their touch. Finally, their voices also say a lot about the characters. Gertrude's voice is very feminine, as opposed to Claudius' deep, rumbling voice. Gertrude was portrayed as a stereotypical female in this movie. She seemed weak, obedient, and blind to her husband's crimes and anything else she doesn't wish to see. Claudius was a very masculine character: he spoke with a great ... ...

• Word Count: 1564
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

... mother, what's the matter?" However, the fact that he overpowers Gertrude and belittles her does not necessarily reflect his strength as a character because she is a woman in an era when female opinions counted for little. When Hamlet shows his lust for his mother it is arguably a sign of weakness, for it is doubtful that he would ever want to reveal or ... ...

• Word Count: 1824
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: Undergraduate