Shakespeare's Women

Paper Summary:

There is a virtual myriad of essays and criticisms concerning the women characters in William Shakespeare's plays. This paper focuses mainly on the role of two of these women - Desdemona from "Othello" and Cleopatra from "Antony and Cleopatra". It also briefly discusses other characters such as Calpurnia and Portia. The paper concludes that of all his female characters, Shakespeare's Cleopatra is certainly at the top of the list in qualities of intelligence, power, seductiveness, aggression and assertiveness.

From the Paper:

"Desdemona in "Othello," appears on the surface as a typical weak female who is totally submissive to her husband, however she is not truly typically meek. She is actually quite broad minded and assertive, and seems to have no problem in standing up to Othello's jealousy or using her feminine wiles to persuade her husband to forgive Cassio. When Othello strikes her, shouting, "Devil," Desdemona responds to him, saying, "I have not deserved this" (Othello pp)."

More papers on Shakespeare's Women:

• Term Paper # 142893 : "Elizabethan Women and Shakespeare"
• Analytical Essay # 144411 : "Women in Shakespeare: Ophelia and Cleopatra"
• Essay # 55596 : "The Role of the Female in Shakespeare"
• Analytical Essay # 141914 : "Women in William Shakespeare's Richard III"

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