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Patriarchy In Shakespeare's Elizabethan Society

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While ruled by a queen, Elizabethan Society was not one of legitimate liberation for women. Instead, women were forced to conform to the societal standards set forth by the patriarchal expectations of their peers. Challenging these expectations could bring debasement to those involved, making it easier for men to enforce their rule over women. Tradition dictated that marrying and having children was not only an expectation for women, but almost law. With these oppressive standards, it would be completely out of the question to think that anyone could confidently break free from the patriarchy. A play written by a prominent figure of the time, William Shakespeare, shows what would happen to someone who doesn’t conform to these “traditions”. …show more content…

Even though she “could not endure a / husband with a beard on his face” and “[would] rather lie in / [discomfort]” she still abides by the fundamental standards set by the patriarchy(2.1.29-31). A free-thinking, independent women like Beatrice would stand out in Shakespeare’s Elizabethan society. The comedic value of her character is brought on by her argumentative and domineering personality that would classify most other women of the time as an outlier of society.But through Hero’s malleable nature, an audience of any time period, whether it be the late 1500’s, or the early 2000’s, can catch a glimpse and even gain perspective as to the hardships that matriarchs faced with the absurd amount of requirements needed to please men. For the most part, Shakespeare uses Hero and Beatrice to emphasize one another’s differences, however, they both ultimately befall the fate of any women of their era. While love is a factor in their decisions, Shakespeare, in consummation, proves that a “non-traditional” woman will still be forced into the role that their societal norms demand of them. Beatrice, unfortunately, like the majority of women living under a patriarchal social system, was doomed to fall victim to her circumstances. Whether those circumstances be death by the words of an irritable man, or marriage at the hands of a perceived

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