Women During The Elizabethan Era

During the Elizabethan time period, the ideal woman was quiet and obedient. A woman who was outspoken and opinionated seemed to be rare and unwanted. The ideal man was envisioned to be masculine, ruler of the house, and to be overshadowed by women. Shakespeare mentions both of his thoughts of the ideal woman and man in both plays and in sonnet 127.
Shakespeare’s writing helped the reader understand and accept the gender roles being changed. “Although Shakespeare reflects and at times supports the English Renaissance stereotypes of women and men and their various roles and responsibilities in society, he is also a writer who questions, challenges, and modifies those representations.” (Gerlach) In Othello, Iago describes the best thing an ideal woman can do is get married and have children. Iago says women should be submissive and obedient towards their husbands. “She that was ever fair, and never proud: Had tongue at will, and yet was never
She says that if men can cheat, and stray from their wives, the wives should be able to do the same because they have sexual desires too. “But I do think it is their husbands' faults if wives do fall… Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know their wives have sense like them. They see and smell, and have their palates both for sweet and sour, as husbands have.” (Othello 107) In the Merchant of Venice, Portia, is opinionated and intelligent. Portia is quick tongued while being around Nerissa. Nerissa is a Portia’s loyal companion. Portia and Nerissa are the heroes of the story. Regardless of gender. Portia is an important symbol in the play. She shows selflessness by paying the debt that is putting Antonio’s life on the line. “Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond; Double six thousand, and then treble that, before a friend of this description shall lose a hair through Bassanio’s fault.” (MOV 54) Portia’s character is more closely related to today’s