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Femininity In The Jacobean Era

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William Shakespeare explores the recurring theme of femininity and the stereotypical roles of women in the Jacobean era, through his use of contrasting language. The theme of femininity is directly linked the Jacobean context. At that time women had very light rights, due to the fact that the financial sustainment fell upon the men, which therefore reduced women’s social positions in society to being mothers. In Jacobean and Medieval literacy, women were conventionally depicted as weak and submissive to their husbands. Altogether, they were seen as a weaker gender, who was emotionally unstable, and constantly portrayed as inferior.Shakespeare uses the ideology of feminism in order to educate his audience on traditional roles of women; this is because the play “Macbeth” was initial written as political propaganda. It was written in 1606, after the Gunpowder plot to …show more content…

In the play “Macbeth”, William Shakespeare uses demonic elements such as the witches, to set the paranormal atmosphere of the play, due to their mysterious encounter in the desolated heath, in which the play is first introduced. He characterises the “Three Witches” as bestial and monstrous.The witches foreshadow supernatural events, due to the fact that Medieval and Jacobean audiences believed witchcraft was associated with satan himself; therefore, a direct threat to Christian citizens. Shakespeare knew that by involving the “Three Witches” his audience would feel a mixture of fear and slight fascinations for these creatures, and would be captivated by the play itself. This is evident in the first appearances of the witches, in Act 1 Scene 1; “ Fair is foul, and foul is fair, Hover through the fog and filthy air.” The use of fricatives mirrors a harsh sounding sound which emphasises for a 21st century reader how witches were symbolically portrayed as evil and demoniac. This reinforces the ghostly atmosphere established by

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