A Feminist Reading of the Tempest Essay -- Literary Analysis, Shakespe

William Shakespeare’s The Tempest provides dialogue that portrays the social expectations and stereotypes imposed upon women in Elizabethan times. Even though the play has only one primary female character, Miranda, the play also includes another women; Sycorax, although she does not play as large a roll. During many scenes, the play illustrates the characteristics that represent the ideal woman within Elizabethan society. These characteristics support the fact that men considered women as a mere object that they had the luxury of owning and were nowhere near equal to them. Feminists can interpret the play as a depiction of the sexist treatment of women and would disagree with many of the characteristics and expectations that make Miranda the ideal woman. From this perspective, The Tempest can be used to objectify the common expectations and treatment of women within the 16th and 17th Centuries and compare and contrast to those of today. This play portrays the women as fragile and pathetic beings. When Miranda is speaking to Ferdinand she is allowing him to see her as quite vulnerable, which will allow him to view here exactly as that.â€Å"At mind unworthiness, that dare not offer/What I desire to give, and much less take†(3.2.77-78). She goes on to say, â€Å"If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow/You may deny me, but I’ll be your servant/Whether you will or no†(3.2.83-86). This play is portraying Miranda as a pathetic woman who would rather be a servant to a man that won’t marry her; she would rather be his maid than live without him. Miranda’s character in the play represents the ideal woman of Elizabethan era. She is portrayed as a goddess among the men. â€Å"Most sure, the goddess/Oh whom these airs attend!†(1.2.425-426). Fer... ...n her mind is more important than his words. It is an example of the patriarchal society that they live in; although he is her father and has the parental power over her he would most likely not speak to a son in such a demeaning tone. He makes her seem to be slow, as if she cannot carry on a conversation or listen to him, which is quite demeaning. The Tempest portrays women as beings that accept the ideal role that they are expected to take on by the request of the men. The way Miranda is portrayed; as a goddess, maid, or virgin, is what she makes herself to be. The play does not give women the voice that they deserve, it makes them out to be prized possessions for men to brag about and share. From a feminist prospective, The Tempest portrays an Elizabethan society that doesn’t give women a voice, but rather ways on how to be the ideal woman for men to possess. A Feminist Reading of the Tempest Essay -- Literary Analysis, Shakespe William Shakespeare’s The Tempest provides dialogue that portrays the social expectations and stereotypes imposed upon women in Elizabethan times. Even though the play has only one primary female character, Miranda, the play also includes another women; Sycorax, although she does not play as large a roll. During many scenes, the play illustrates the characteristics that represent the ideal woman within Elizabethan society. These characteristics support the fact that men considered women as a mere object that they had the luxury of owning and were nowhere near equal to them. Feminists can interpret the play as a depiction of the sexist treatment of women and would disagree with many of the characteristics and expectations that make Miranda the ideal woman. From this perspective, The Tempest can be used to objectify the common expectations and treatment of women within the 16th and 17th Centuries and compare and contrast to those of today. This play portrays the women as fragile and pathetic beings. When Miranda is speaking to Ferdinand she is allowing him to see her as quite vulnerable, which will allow him to view here exactly as that.â€Å"At mind unworthiness, that dare not offer/What I desire to give, and much less take†(3.2.77-78). She goes on to say, â€Å"If not, I’ll die your maid. To be your fellow/You may deny me, but I’ll be your servant/Whether you will or no†(3.2.83-86). This play is portraying Miranda as a pathetic woman who would rather be a servant to a man that won’t marry her; she would rather be his maid than live without him. Miranda’s character in the play represents the ideal woman of Elizabethan era. She is portrayed as a goddess among the men. â€Å"Most sure, the goddess/Oh whom these airs attend!†(1.2.425-426). Fer... ...n her mind is more important than his words. It is an example of the patriarchal society that they live in; although he is her father and has the parental power over her he would most likely not speak to a son in such a demeaning tone. He makes her seem to be slow, as if she cannot carry on a conversation or listen to him, which is quite demeaning. The Tempest portrays women as beings that accept the ideal role that they are expected to take on by the request of the men. The way Miranda is portrayed; as a goddess, maid, or virgin, is what she makes herself to be. The play does not give women the voice that they deserve, it makes them out to be prized possessions for men to brag about and share. From a feminist prospective, The Tempest portrays an Elizabethan society that doesn’t give women a voice, but rather ways on how to be the ideal woman for men to possess.