| Description |
The individuality of Shakespeare's female characters is often underestimated. Many modern Shakespeare readers view his plays through a contemporary lens, which prevents a complex understanding of the way Shakespeare portrays highly individualized female characters, who operate in complex, male-led societies indicative of the time. Comparing Beatrice from Much Ado About Nothing to Lady Macbeth from Macbeth provides crucial insight into Shakespeare's ability to represent two women from similar aristocratic backgrounds in very different ways. Beatrice is motivated by a desire for human connection and independence as a woman, even in a marital relationship with a man, as well as a strong need for social justice for women; Lady Macbeth is motivated by an overwhelming need for self-aggrandizement. Beatrice is fiercely connected to hear own identity as a woman and to her fellow women, while Lady Macbeth perceives her womanhood to be a limitation, and she actively seeks to distance herself from it. They share an awareness of the honor cultures that dictate the behavior of every member of their societies, and neither of them hesitates to use the principles of honor to manipulate or rectify a situation. Their differences and similarities highlight the extent to which Shakespeare represents the women in his plays as fully realized human beings, very much situated within the social institutions of a particular play. |
