Expert: JESSICA MARLOWE KING - 10/6/2009

Question
Hi

I am doing a school project on Shakespeare and i have chosen to focus mainly on
women in Shakespeare's plays. My key questions so far have not come up with a great
deal of information so it would be much appreciated if you could help me out. They
are:

*What were the main roles of women in Shakespeare's plays?

*How did women in his plays compare to what women were like at the time he wrote them?

*What insight into women did Shakespeare offer his audience and are his ideas still
insightful to a modern audience?"  

Answer
Sounds like you need to research. Might I suggest a terrific book for you?
It's called SHAKESPEARE ALIVE. Tiny paperback, preface by Joseph Papp (found of Shakespeare in the Park/Public Theatre NYC)

Some thoughts on your questions.

Question One
Social roles? Dramatic roles? Comedic roles? Please clarify.

Sometimes they were protagonists, sometimes antagonists...
servants, queens, ladies-in-waiting, wives, daughters, grandmothers,
witches, sisters, so many juicy roles to play.

Types of roles: character, ingenue, lead

Much of the comedic roles in Shakespeare have their roots in commedia del'arte stock characters found in Italian/French farce, so consider studying up on that.

Question Two
Depends on the time/place the play is set in - I don't think Portia [Julius Caesar] was written to reflect the Elizabethan women anymore than Batman reflects guys that I know... my sense is that the characters are purposeful and yearning for a better life - hence striving against high obstacles in order to achieve their heart's desire, which is what makes these plays timeless - in that way, the very humanity indicative in the multi-faceted written roles do offer some recognition into our own time and lives. So! It depends on the role - play - and situation being played out. Lovers haven't changed much through the ages, nor have murderers. Whether playing murder, marriage, or mayhem ~ there is SOME connection to Shakespeare's worlds he creates,
otherwise why  - on earth - do so many people find him interesting, enlightening, and entertaining?


Question Three
I think this question is one of those questions that cannot have a stock answer.

Unless you have read 5 tragedies and 5 comedies - at least - it might be difficult to really fully answer this one.
Might I suggest taking a look at the front page of the New York Times for one week. Circle articles that indeed connect somehow to those plays/characters/ideas - find connections in real life events - in the ideas currently being vented, criticized, considered - are these essential questions being asked today - have they been explored in Shakespeare's plays as well?

I might also suggest researching productions that have set some of Shakespeare's plays in modern day/dress. Often times, directors do indeed see parallels, and to find commonalities for audiences to connect to, they set the play in unusual settings.

GOOD LUCK