International Journal of English Literature and Culture

Vol. 9(2), pp. 49-56, March 2021

 ISSN: 2360-7831

DOI: 10.14662/IJELC2021.035

 

Review paper

 

Abstract

 

This paper is a feminist based reading and comparison of women portrayed in Shakespearean plays. The reading although compared from the feminist perspective, is not a completely blown feminist reading of Shakespeare�s works. The focus of the study consists of the social circumstances and the wonderful actions of the male characters and how these impact on the lives of the female characters. The relationships between the man and the women characters are often identified by the physical and the psychological deception and their feelings. Men allow their egos and attitudes to persuade their decisions, attack spiritually and destroy virtuous women who are forced to become victims of political intrigues and machinations. This paper also tries to analyse the way Shakespeare tried to portray women as energetic, independent and not inferior to the patriarchal behaviour and nature of men during those times. He enjoyed the element of cross dressing men and women in order to hide the gender disparity. As a result the paper tries to draw the conclusion that Shakespeare was a writer who identified feminism in his works long before the notion of feminism emerged in Europe. Truly, he is a man, who lived way ahead of this time.

 

Keywords: feminist, Shakespearean plays, male characters

 

Cite This Article As: Ashraf, S., Khan, S. (2020). Feminism in Shakespearean Literature: Role of Women in Shakespeare's Play, Hamlet. Inter. J. Eng. Lit. Cult. 9(2):49-56