Empowerment of Women in Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and The Taming of the Shrew :: comparison compare contrast essays

Empowerment of Women in Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and The Taming of the Shrew In Shakespe ares comedies, many possibly even most - of the female tempers are portrayed as being manipulated, if not controlled outright, by the men in their lives starts, uncles, suitors, husbands. And yet, there are women inhabiting Shakespeares comedic world who seem to enjoy a greater degree of autonomy and personal power than single would expect in a patriarchal society. Superficially, therefore, Shakespeares comedies appear to send mixed signals regarding the notion of female empowerment. Some women are strong and independent, others are completely submissive, and the behavior of either seems to be influenced more by theme or plot than by any qualities within the characters themselves. A closer look, though, should make it evident that this is not the case as in many of Shakespeares plays, appearances can be deceiving. In some cases, the exterior behavior is a deliberate faade to mask the characters real feelings in others, it is an acculturated veneer that is burned away as a result of the plays events. Despite their outward appearances, though, most of these comedic women belong to one of two opposing archetypes. An examination of these archetypes allows the reader to see past such deceptions to the real personality beneath. The Daughter and Niece Archetypes Within Shakespeares comedies, many of the female characters are portrayed as submissive and easily controlled. Like dutiful daughters, these women submit to patriarchal repression with little complaint. Perhaps the best example of a daughter character in Shakespearean comedy is the role of Hero in Much Ado About Nothing. Hero is completely under the control of her father Leonato, curiously with regard to courtship. When, in Act Two, Leonato believes that Don Pedro may seek Heros hand in marriage, he orders Hero to welcome the princes advances in spite of the difference in their ages Daughter, reme mber what I told you. If the Prince do solicit you in that kind, you know your answer (II.i.61-3). Thus we see that Leonato controls not only Heros actions, but even her words as well. In fact, Hero is so thoroughly repressed by the male-dominated society in which she lives that she submits not only to her fathers will, but to that of nearly every other man in the play. She is easily wooed and won by Don Pedro posing as Claudio (II.