Gender Roles and Homoeroticism in Shakespeare - Essay Example

Gender Roles and Homoeroticism in Shakespeare Introduction Literature often reflects the thoughts of the society in its works. The depictions of male and female characters in Shakespeare’s plays present the gender roles that were prevalent in the society at that time. The female characters in the Shakespeare’s plays portray a variety of emotions and though these emotions are ambiguous in nature, they bring forth the status of woman in the society. Homoeroticism is a theme that is presented by Shakespeare in many of his plays. The characters in plays are homoerotic, as there is special of bonding between the same sex characters. Whether they are male characters or female characters, there exists, a relation between them which points out they are attracted to each other. In this paper, we will analyze the theme of homoeroticism in Shakespeare’s plays and the gender roles that influenced the production of comedies during Elizabethan time focusing on the four plays, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “As You Like It”, “Twelfth Night” and “The Taming of the Shrew”. Gender Roles All the four plays, “Much Ado About Nothing”, “As You Like It”, “Twelfth Night” and “The Taming of the Shrew” are comedies. The female and male characters in these comedies represent the gender roles, which were established by the society at that time. In the play, “Much Ado About Nothing”, the female characters, Beatrice and Hero in the play are depicted as woman in the times are expected to behave. Although Beatrice refutes to follow the social norms and be an obedient daughter, she realizes the overpowering status of man in the society. “O that I were a man for his sake! Or that I had any friend would be a man for my sake! I cannot be a man with wishing, therefore I will die a woman with grieving” (Shakespeare, Much Ado about Nothing, IV.i.312–318). The only aim of woman in those times was to get married and lead their lives in the shadow of their husbands. Hero is one such woman whose happiness and reputation is dependent on the man in her life, Claudio. When Claudio suspects Hero of infidelity and rejects to marry, she is dejected and her only hope is to make to Claudio realize that he is wrong. The reputation of Hero can be restored only when Claudio accepts his folly and announces to the society that Hero is chaste. It is the man who decides about the fate of the woman. The woman has no say in any decisions, even if they are related to her life. On the other hand the male characters in the play have greater influence and power than the females. Claudio and Benedict possess a higher status in the society. Similarly in the play “As You like It” the character of Rosalind brings forth the limitations placed on a woman by the society. To break free from these limitations, Rosalind carries out her plans under the disguise of a young man. Rosalind as a woman is not as free as she is when she is leading her life as a man. The male characters in the play are independent and they are ones who protect the women. Like Rosalind, the character of Viola in the play “Twelfth Night” lives in the palace of Orsino disguised as a young man. The reason for Viola’s disguise is not the restrictions of the society placed upon a woman. But it is the act that provides momentum to the story. Her disguise turns the story into a comedy, for it’s her disguise that causes lots of confusion in the play. The gender roles are prominent in the play “The Taming of the Shrew”. Katrina, the leading female character in the play portrays the role of the woman in the society. Although she is wild and bad-tempered before her marriage, she calms down and accepts the role of an obedient wife after her marriage to Petruccio. Katrina is disliked by the society, for she disobeys her father and insults the men who approach her as her suitors. Katrina disregards the society which expects her to obey her father and treat her suitors with respect. But she is also worried about her inability to get married, for she knows that if she is not able to find a husband then she would be compelled to lead her life as a maid. So when Petruccio proposes to marry her, she accepts the proposal and marries him. After her marriage, she obeys every order of Petruccio as she wants to fit herself into the role of a wife, a role which is approved and appreciated by the society. Katrina’s change of behavior proves that a woman is supposed to accept the supremacy of the man in her life and lead her life as a docile life. “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee, And for thy maintenance commits his body To painful labour both by sea and land”. (Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew,V.ii.140-145). These words by Katrina addressed to Bianca and Hortensio’s widow presents the dominance of husband in the life of his wife. Women in Elizabethan times were not allowed to perform on stage, so the role of a female character in the play was performed by male actor. This male, who is already disguised as female in the play, is required to disguise again as a man according to the plot of the comedies. So a theatrical establishment consisted of only males but while depicting the female characters on the stage, these depictions brought forth the status of woman during those times. This status of woman is the reason behind the disguise of female characters in the play and these disguised characters lend a comical element to the plays. Cross-dressing As the women in Elizabethan times, were forbidden from performing on stage, the role of female characters in the play have to be acted by the male actors. So the tradition of cross-dressing began due to the absence of females in a theatrical establishment. These male actors appeared on stage dressed up as a female and acted as a woman. This was common during those times and the spectators overlooked this fact and viewed these male actors as female characters. Transgressive Dressing Women in the sixteenth century were bound by the rules of the society. They had limited freedom and had to lead a dependent life. So they expected that they should be treated with equality and respect by the men. They wished that the society realized their worth and allowed to them lead their lives according to their wish. The transgressive dressing by the female characters in Shakespeare’s plays is one way through which the women want to gain more powers. The character of Rosalind in the play “As You Like It”, escapes from the palace under the disguise of a young man. Even while living in the forest along with Orlando whom she loves, she continues with her disguise as a young man so that she can know more about Orlando and his love for her. Rosalind was aware that as a woman she would not be able to gain so much freedom, so she dresses and behaves as a young man to achieve her aim of understanding Orlando. Rosalind, as a young man looks attractive and this attraction leads to confusion, as Phoebe falls for Rosalind, disguised as a young man. In the end all the confusion is cleared when Rosalind reveals her true identity. Similarly the character of Viola in the play “Twelfth Night” is disguised as a man while she is serving for Duke Orsino. Viola is not seeking the independency of a man, the reason for her disguise to get some work at the palace of Orsino. It is while serving for the Duke that she falls in love with him, but being disguised as a man, she is unable to express her love for her. At the same time Olivia is attracted towards Viola, disguised as a young man. This causes suffering to all three lovers for Viola cannot express her love, Orsino loves Olivia but Olivia loves Cesario, the name taken by Rosalind when is under the guise of a young man. Transgressive dressing by females in the plays suggests that they desired to lead their life with the same independency that a man enjoyed in his life. Homoerotic Relationships The characters in Shakespeare’s plays are depicted as having homoerotic relations with their friends. In the play “As You Like It”, the characters of Rosalind and Celia share a bonding that is more intense than friendship. When Rosalind is banished from the palace, she decides to escape to forest. Celia also accompanies her, for a life without Rosalind is intolerable to her. “I did not entreat to have her stay. It was your pleasure……….. Rose at an instant, learned, played, eat together, and whersoe’er we went, like Juno’s swans still we went coupled and inseparable.” (Shakespeare, As You Like It, I .iii. 63-70). These words by Celia express the depth of their love for each other. The gender roles that shaped the lives of woman brought them closer to the same sex friends and as both of them shared the same feelings of dependency; their relation was more intense than plain friendship. Beatrice and Hero in the play “Much Ado About Nothing” share a similar intense relation. Another play that depicts homoerotic relation is “Twelfth Night”. Orsino praises Cesario, who is actually Viola in disguise and Olivia is attracted towards Cesario. Although Olivia thinks that she is in love with Cesario, a young man but she is actually captivated by the feminine beauty of Viola. Even after Viola reveals her true identity, Orsino calls Viola by the name, Cesario, and this implies that he is still attracted to her male guise. “, “Cesario, come— / For so you shall be while you are a man; / But when in other habits you are seen, / Orsino’s mistress, and his fancy’s queen” (Shakspeare, Twelfth Night, V.i.372–375). The relation of Sebastian and Antonio is another example of homoeroticism. The desires of females and males who are attracted to same sex partners are explored through the theme of homoeroticism. Works cited Shakespeare, William. As You like It. Plain Label Books. 1938. Shakespeare, William. Much Ado about Nothing. Classic Books Company. 2001. Shakespeare, William. Twelfth Night. Cambridge. University Press, 2004. Shakespeare, William. The Taming of the Shrew. Plain Label Books, 2004. Read More

The reason for Viola’s disguise is not the restrictions of the society placed upon a woman. But it is the act that provides momentum to the story. Her disguise turns the story into a comedy, for it’s her disguise that causes lots of confusion in the play. The gender roles are prominent in the play “The Taming of the Shrew”. Katrina, the leading female character in the play portrays the role of the woman in the society. Although she is wild and bad-tempered before her marriage, she calms down and accepts the role of an obedient wife after her marriage to Petruccio.

Katrina is disliked by the society, for she disobeys her father and insults the men who approach her as her suitors. Katrina disregards the society which expects her to obey her father and treat her suitors with respect. But she is also worried about her inability to get married, for she knows that if she is not able to find a husband then she would be compelled to lead her life as a maid. So when Petruccio proposes to marry her, she accepts the proposal and marries him. After her marriage, she obeys every order of Petruccio as she wants to fit herself into the role of a wife, a role which is approved and appreciated by the society.

Katrina’s change of behavior proves that a woman is supposed to accept the supremacy of the man in her life and lead her life as a docile life. “Thy husband is thy lord, thy life, thy keeper, Thy head, thy sovereign, one that cares for thee, And for thy maintenance commits his body To painful labour both by sea and land”. (Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew,V.ii.140-145). These words by Katrina addressed to Bianca and Hortensio’s widow presents the dominance of husband in the life of his wife.

Women in Elizabethan times were not allowed to perform on stage, so the role of a female character in the play was performed by male actor. This male, who is already disguised as female in the play, is required to disguise again as a man according to the plot of the comedies. So a theatrical establishment consisted of only males but while depicting the female characters on the stage, these depictions brought forth the status of woman during those times. This status of woman is the reason behind the disguise of female characters in the play and these disguised characters lend a comical element to the plays.

Cross-dressing As the women in Elizabethan times, were forbidden from performing on stage, the role of female characters in the play have to be acted by the male actors. So the tradition of cross-dressing began due to the absence of females in a theatrical establishment. These male actors appeared on stage dressed up as a female and acted as a woman. This was common during those times and the spectators overlooked this fact and viewed these male actors as female characters. Transgressive Dressing Women in the sixteenth century were bound by the rules of the society.

They had limited freedom and had to lead a dependent life. So they expected that they should be treated with equality and respect by the men. They wished that the society realized their worth and allowed to them lead their lives according to their wish. The transgressive dressing by the female characters in Shakespeare’s plays is one way through which the women want to gain more powers. The character of Rosalind in the play “As You Like It”, escapes from the palace under the disguise of a young man.

Even while living in the forest along with Orlando whom she loves, she continues with her disguise as a young man so that she can know more about Orlando and his love for her. Rosalind was aware that as a woman she would not be able to gain so much freedom, so she dresses and behaves as a young man to achieve her aim of understanding Orlando. Rosalind, as a young man looks attractive and this attraction leads to confusion, as Phoebe falls for Rosalind, disguised as a young man. In the end all the confusion is cleared when Rosalind reveals her true identity.

Similarly the character of Viola in the play “Twelfth Night” is disguised as a man while she is serving for Duke Orsino.

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