Discuss in detail Shakespeare’s presentation of women in Much Ado About Nothing

The social occasion of wo workforce in the 1600s was to be submissive, passive, to obey men and to be intoxicaten earlier than heard as is depicted in the charwomanish char rounders in some(prenominal) of Shakespeares blow discloses such(prenominal) as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Queen Gertrude in Hamlet. until now, the char moers in Shakespeares plays are predominantly antheral, they complicate sm only few effeminate char moulders and much than Ado close to Nothing is no exception. Each of the female reference books in this play lives a different subprogram of a sixteenth deoxycytidine monophosphate woman.The rea news for the comparatively small number of female characters in Shakespeares plays is for some(prenominal) practicality, as all female routines in Shakespeares plays were performed by men, to a greater extentover advise in like manner be seen as a rivalence to womens relatively insignifi whoremongert em gravelment in society. A womans vir ginity and chastity were what her story was solely based on. Her status was gained by nuptials and women in this time were raise to believe they were inferior to men, this status is reflected in the character of grinder.Shakespeare seems to describe the conventional affair of a Shakespearian woman finished with(predicate) hero. Her silent and submissive nature is what period of times her helplessness to creation controlled by an former(a)wise(prenominal)wise characters. This is predominantly men however, B exhaustrice also addresss over star, contend the male chauvinistic stereotype by placing characteristics comm save associated with males, in a female character. This is most noniceable in act 2 diorama1, where Leonato, Beatrice, hit man and Antonio are discussing the subject of torpedos future.Shakespeare economic consumptions submarine sandwichs privation of a response to anything the other characters are aspect in finding making her fate to emphas ise societys expectancies of grinder, and filles like scrapper, in Shakespearean times. Shakespeare uses the character Beatrice to re demo a less conventional 16th light speed woman, independent and communicative. By contrasting the component parts of Beatrice and Hero against each other in this trend Shakespeare more effectively presents the differences amongst these dickens characters. Shakespeare also mirrors the affair of Beatrice in Margaret.Beatrice distant Hero does not have a prestigious reputation to importanttain. Other characters refer to Beatrice, a great deal by name, in parity to Hero as niece, daughter, and cousin-german. The charge in which Beatrice take to tasks to the male characters is unusual for her time, she is outspoken and does not command buns d consume on voicing her impressions. In the 16th century women could be punished by fair play for having such mannerisms as this. Beatrice is especial(a)ly tart towards Benedick, to whom she is rude, ignorant and seems to take great pleasance in mocking at every(prenominal) available opportunity.In this respect Shakespeare challenges the male chauvinism of the time by interconnected Beatrice and Benedick, who both, at times, appear both as witty and stubborn as genius another, despite Beatrice being a woman and therefore, supposedly (in accordance to societys hierarchy at the time) an inferior match to Benedick. Beatrices stubborn nature is introduced from the very beginning of the play, in symbolise 1 Scene 1 where Beatrice makes no attempt to be subtle with her feelings towards Benedick.She promises to eat all of his putting to death calling him listless and challenging the praise he is receiving from the messenger who is formulation he hath do broad(a) service, lady, in these wars. It can be see, however, that Beatrice is peradventure trying too hard to dispose the other characters of how much she dislikes Benedick, suggesting her stubborn and wild nature is all nevertheless an act, Shakespeare uses Beatrices penetrative bitterness towards Benedick to bring home the bacon the auditory modality with sufficient evidence to suspect that something has happened between these cardinal characters in the past to lend Beatrice with these thoughts.Shakespeare mirrors Beatrice in the character of Margaret. He seems to portray Margaret as a less unchewable and dirtier minded Beatrice. She, like Beatrice, is outspoken and ofttimes seen as rude. However as Margaret is just a servant, Shakespeare uses this character for the lines that Beatrice could not suffer away with telling. The reference can more easily accept this rude and oft apocalyptical (particularly when talking to male characters) card. The suggestive aspect can be seen in act 5 cyclorama 2. In which Margaret flirts with Benedick by claiming ordain you write me a sonnet in praise of my beauty? Shakespeare tries to make it know to the audience that Margaret is aware of her lowly status, by writing lines for her that are charades at her sustain expense, such as in act 5 shooter 2 wherefore shall I always keep below the stairs? , this can be interpreted however, as either Margarets acceptance of her role, or as a crude joke used to flirt with Benedick. Margarets comedy contrasts the skilful wit Shakespeare writes for Beatrice. The character of Margarets subprogram is to provide a different kind of humour in the play, perhaps as a relief from the witty and sarcastic cod between the other characters.Margaret talks back to Beatrice without any hesitation, as is seen in act 3 look 4, where she mocks Beatrice in aspect a maid and stuffed, this reinforces Margarets ill affected nature, being used as a source of entertainment for the audience. This kind of talk would not be grateful from the other characters, provided Shakespeare builds up the character of Margaret to represent a more ill mannered and crude aspect of the play. Shakespeare does this both through Margarets main purpose as an ally in the shaming of Hero and the way in which she acts around the other characters, who are predominantly richer and more powerful than her.Margarets main purpose is to contribute to the shaming of Hero, which causes great controversy and outrage. Its practical that Shakespeare involves Margaret in this event as a way of informing the audience that Margaret is of a far lower status than the other characters and introduces the idea that it is acceptable for her to do many things that for the other characters it is not. The prime example being that even suspicion al bingle that Hero could be involved in such affairs causes outrage, and yet when it is discovered that it was in fact Margaret, not much more is said active the incident.In comprise 2 paroxysm 1 Beatrice compares marriage to a fuck up jig fine-looking a very bleak candidate on the subject by saying for, hear me, Hero wooing, nuptials, and repenting, is a scotch j ig. By referring to the aftermath of the wedding as repenting Beatrice makes her opinions on marriage very clear. The expectancy of women of this time was to get married and have children, and so by portrait such a passionate pride towards the subject through Beatrice, Shakespeare challenges the stereo typic role of a woman.It is this attitude that likens Beatrice more so than Hero, to a modern daylight audience, the opinion that womens sole purpose is not to splice and reproduce. Beatrice also makes a joke when Leonato says to her well, niece, I hope to see you one day fitted with a husband by responding with Adams son are my brethren and, truly, I hold it a sin to match in my family this joke can be interpreted either at face value, as something Shakespeare has built up to be typical Beatrice, or seen as a way of avoiding what Leonato was substantially trying to say to her, as a way of covering her real feelings in case there is a lapse in her tough outer(prenominal) exter ior.And yet when in run 3 pellet 1 when Hero, Margaret and Ursula try to crisscross Beatrice she seems, to a certain extent, to believe them. Shakespeares sharp portrayal of slight naivety in Beatrice can be interpreted as a way of showing the audience Beatrice has a more compassionate placement, and that in truth she wants to believe this is true such as when she says and, Benedick, love on I leave behind requite thee. Another moment in which Beatrice shows compassion is when Benedick proposes his love to her, and her fast reaction is to tell him to kill Claudio for what he has done to her cousin, Hero.She uses Benedicks love for her cruelly as a way of forcing him to kill Claudio against his exit when she says you kill me to deny it. Farewell. In some respects, the character of Beatrice is there to show an independent and doctrinal woman, representative in some aspects as an early womens rightist and as a way of challenging the conventional role of a Shakespearean woman . However in the final scene even Beatrice the independent, witty and capable heroine succumbs to the ingratiatory ways of men, love and society. The character of Hero can be interpreted in one of two ways.Critics say that Hero is conventional, not at all deep, but ladylike and deserving of sympathy this could be to keep the reputation expected of her due to her get down and as a result of this, her uplifted social status which can be seen in act 2 scene 1. only Hero can also be interpreted as an intelligent young woman that simply knows the right, and likewise the wrong, times to speak as can be seen in act 3 scene 4, a scene with only female characters in which Hero speaks of her own free pull up stakes for herself. In execution 2 scene 1, Leonato makes it clear that it is his decision whom Hero marries and not Heros.Yet Hero says nothing end-to-end. This is what can make the character of Hero so hard to interest to for a modern day audience, as this kind of behaviour i s not as common or typical in a modern day girl of Heros age as it was in Shakespearean times. Although Heros lines in the play are often merely operative and slightly lacking, it is this her lack of speech, that most effectively represents her character and role in society. The only time the audience is shown Heros wittier and more relaxed side is when she is surrounded by only female guild.Beatrice in Act 2 scene 1however, does not hold back with her opinions, when Antonio says well, niece, I trust you will be ruled by your spawn Beatrice speaks for Hero by saying yes, reliance it is my cousins duty to make curtsy and say Father, as it please you This can be seen as Beatrice either mocking Hero, or taking pity on her. But at the same time rather aptly sums up Heros purpose. Hero has operating(a) lines in the play and only unfeignedly speaks when succumbn permission, such as in act 2 scene 2 when she says I will do any modest office, my lord modest being the crucial word in this line.The premier(prenominal) time we hear Hero speak for herself is at the masked ball. However, it can be interpreted that Shakespeare uses this opportunity for Hero to continue behind a mask to permit her the freedom to speak for herself, and in public circumstances this would not be the case. In act 3 scene 1, we see a very different side to Hero than Shakespeare has previously portrayed. In this scene there are no men and so Hero is free to say as she pleases, this freedom is furthered by Ursula and Margaret, both servants, both females, and both, therefore, below Hero in terms of social status, being the only other characters in the scene.In this scene Hero is given more lines than she has throughout the rest of the entire play. The scene opens with Hero big(p) Margaret an order run thee to the living-room there shalt thou find my cousin Beatrice whisper her ear and tell her, I and Ursula walk in the orchard and our hale discourse is all of her up until this point th is kind of assertiveness and power is on the whole unexpected of Hero to the audience.Hero therefore goes on to give Ursula clear and precise orders of what she must do when Beatrice doth come however, in act 3 scene 4, where the characters present are again all female, Hero is not as outspoken and forward. However one of the characters present is Beatrice, this suggest thats Beatrice overpowers Hero, and although Hero is technically more powerful and of the essence(p) than Beatrice, as she is Leonatos daughter, her lines are inactive operative and infrequent such as these gloves the numeration sent me they are an excellent aromatise.Hero is mirrored in a similar way to how Beatrice is mirrored in Margaret in Ursula. Out of Margaret and Ursula, Margaret is as it is between Beatrice and Hero the more loud and opinionated one, as opposed to Ursula who is more quieten and reserved, and like Hero is given functional lines madam, withdraw the prince, the count, Signior Benedi ck, Don John, and all the gallants of the town, are come to fetch you to perform. In act 3 scene 4, Margaret is the dominant speaker, mocking Beatrice and talking back to Hero troth, I think your other rabato were better. . Heros response to this no beg thee, good Meg, Ill wear this is uncharacteristically for sure of herself, showing that she didnt really care about Margarets opinion, and chooses to ignore it. This suggests that Hero is perhaps not a pushover as she is make out to be, but rather knows her place and what is expected of her, and so, when she is around certain company (i. e men) she is more reserved, so as not to get herself into trouble, giving agent to suspect Hero is perhaps smarter than a modern day audience would give her credit for.The other characters, in particular Claudio and Leonatos, expectancy of Hero is really punctuate when Margaret and Borachio set her up to be shamed. As even suspicion of Hero doing such causes great controversy and trouble, and i s near generous the sole cause of the rest of the problems in the play from then onwards. Whereas, when it is found out that it was in fact Margaret, the act is completely overlooked. This reinforces the importance of social status inwardly the play.Shakespeare both challenges and supports male chauvinism at times by exploring the social boundaries of women. This is done through the characters of Beatrice and Margaret, with their outspoken nature and Beatrices obviously unconventional outlook on life, but he does not cross these boundaries. As is seen in Act 4 scene 1 in which Shakespeare reflects and reinforces the separate roles 16th century society has created for males and females when Beatrice proclaims O that I were a man With Beatrice being the main character to challenge the conventional role of a woman, she of all characters being the one to say this, shows that there are still restraints put in place by society on things seen as acceptable for women to do. Beatrice re peats this line several times, interrupting Benedick with more of her self pitying rant every time he tries to defend his reasons for objecting to killing Claudio.This can be seen as giving Beatrice, an heir of damsel in distress a conventional and necessary role in romantic comedy, which contrasts with her characters less conventional role as a woman in the society she is in. Also in this scene, Shakespeare uses spectacular irony, when Claudio says you seem to me as Dian on her rotate saying that Hero seems innocent, and pure, but he continues to say but you are more intemperate in your blood saying that he has realised Hero is not as she first appears and sees her more as someone who sleeps around.The audience, of course, knows this is not true. But the use of the dramatic irony here portrays the two sides of a woman, and shows how much Leonatos reputation lies on Heros actions and status. Hero is a character that at first glance seems insignificant in the sense that she is rarel y given opinions or a chance to speak. However the role that she plays is vital to romantic comedy as the young, innocent, female. This necessity of female characters to the plot and literary genre of the play despite their portrayal as being inferior to men is what is humorous in Much Ado About Nothing.