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Queen Elizabeth I’s gender appears as one of the main topics in her speeches. Elizabeth’s common mention of her own female gender, despite the fact that she could refer to herself with masculine terms, allows her to use gender stereotypes. Using these stereotypes along with mentions of motherly love and her knowledge of literature and when to manipulate her gender, she can rally others to her side, explain why she delays her answers to Parliament, and explain why she cannot knowingly harm her subjects, but by doing this, she provides people with evidence that women are unintelligent and incapable of ruling.
Elizabeth uses the stereotypes of her gender and knowledge of both literature and when to manipulate her gender to explain why she needs
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She uses this tactic to explain why she cannot answer Parliament’s concern about her single state. She also mentions “a philosopher whose deeds upon this occasion I remember better than his name” (753) to farther her explanation. While it is possible that she did forget the philosopher’s name, pretending to have forgotten his name would have strengthened her argument by proving that she lacks “both wit and memory” (753). Despite forgetting the philosopher’s name, she is able to recall the name of Clotho from classical mythology at the end of her speech. This shows that she has the capability to memorize such information, but she chooses not to in regards to the philosopher. In the “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury,” Elizabeth uses her gender differently. Instead using her gender as a hindrance, she claims that her female body does not hold her back. Despite the fact she has “the body but of a weak and feeble woman” (763), she also has “the heart and stomach of a king” (763). Even though the army could attack her, she is still there and willing to risk her “royal blood” (763). This show of bravery, despite her gender, …show more content…
No king would be able to manipulate the subject of love like Elizabeth because she presents her love in a womanly fashion that makes love the most important thing to her. In “The Golden Speech,” Elizabeth mentions her love for the people throughout the speech. Her love is Elizabeth’s main reason for being unable to harm the people. She insists that “above all earthly treasures I esteem my people’s love, more than which I desire not to merit” (765). This is a show of womanly love because she shows more concern for her people’s love than anything else. She uses this love to explain that she could never harm her people and insists that she could not sit idly by while her people suffer. “Yea, when I heard it I could give no rest unto my thoughts until I had reformed it” (765). This also makes her love motherly because like a mother, she wishes no harm to come to her children. In her “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury,” she has a different approach to love. She focuses more on the mutual love between her and the people. She starts her speech with “My loving people” (762). This line is important because she starts out implying the troops are hers and insists that they love her. She continues this when she states. “But I tell you that I would not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people” (762). By continuously telling the people that they love her, Elizabeth forms a bond between them. This
Through her speech, Queen Elizabeth inspired her people to fight for the country of England against the Spaniards. Queen Elizabeth persuaded the English troops to defend their country with rhetoric devices such as diction, imagery, and sentence structure to raise their morale and gain loyalty as a woman in power.
Fisher, Jerilyn, and Ellen S. Silber. Women in Literature: Reading Through the Lens of Gender. Westport, Conn: Greenwood Press, 2003. Print.
Elizabeth's strength of character is emphasized by its contrast with the weak, naive acceptance of Jane's, the instability and excess of Mrs. Bennet's and the blind, weak-willed following of Kitty's. Her strength is also shown in her rejections of the proposals of Mr. Collins and Darcy. Unlike her mother, she does not base her choice of lovers on the financial security they will give her, and has the strength to reject them. This is especially evident in her rejection of Darcy's initial proposal, when she displays a passionate strength in her anger due to her belief that he has willfully prevented Jane and Bingley's marriage and wronged Wickham by refusing to grant him the property that the old Mr. Darcy bequeathed him. In both cases, the suitor is self-assured that his suit will be accepted, and as a result Elizabeth's rejections are amplified by the size of the blows that their egos receive. In Rosings, she does not let Lady Catherine tyrannize her as "the mere satellites of money and rank, she thought she could witness without trepidation." The Lucases and Collinses are submissive to Lady Catherine, with Maria being "frightened almost out of her senses", and it is probable that society as a whole behaves likewise, as Elizabeth suspects she is "the first creature who had ever dared to trifle with such dignified impertinence". She is again presented as a rebel against ideas of class when Lady Catherine pays a visit to her to ensure that ...
Due to traditional stereotypes of women, literature around the world is heavily male-dominant, with few female characters outside of cliché tropes. Whenever a female character is introduced, however, the assumption is that she will be a strong lead that challenges the patriarchal values. The authors of The Thousand and One Nights and Medea use their female centered stories to prove their contrasting beliefs on the role of women not only in literature, but also in society. A story with a female main character can be seen as empowering, but this is not always the case, as seen when comparing and contrasting Medea and The Thousand and One Nights.
During her entire rule, Elizabeth I allowed for England to reach an equilibrium in its religious affairs through “The Elizabethan Settlement”, or her religious compromise. The Book of Common Prayer, issued by the Edward VI’s advisor Thomas Cranmer, was restored by Elizabeth....
In conclusion, gender role in Elizabethan era is very complex with respect to women’s role. Men are the masters of the home and society; they preside over every aspect of life. They are however, expected to take care of their family and also be actively involved in politics, war, and they inherit their father’s properties. Women role varied a according to their social status. All women were raised to be subservient to men. Unlike upper class women, lower class women were denied any kind of education. And all women are expected to get married and bear children. The qualities Shakespeare gave Beatrice are very significant because it contrasts traditional Elizabethan theater. Gender role has evolved over time, especially women’s role and it will continue to evolve as long as there are women like Beatrice around.
In a society where the focus on equality amongst different races, religions and sexes continues to grow, it is no surprise that literature has begun to follow suit. Publishers have seen a rise in strong, capable female protagonists who overcome a variety of struggles to save themselves or others and both teens and adults alike rush to get their hands on this material. With such popular literary works to choose from, it seems strange that many schools continue to rely on somewhat archaic material that mistreats and degrades so many women. In John Steinbeck 's Of Mice and Men, for example, the only female character the reader interacts with is treated like a lower-class prostitute who is ultimately killed off due to her seductive behavior. Though Steinbeck 's treatment of women comes mainly from classic gender roles, his portrayal of female characters in Of Mice and Men is
The ways the characters portrayed what is supposedly masculine and feminine was when the author wrote about the type of clothes the grandma is wearing. She is wearing
Elizabeth the first, born on September 7, 1533, is the most different and intriguing monarch in the English history (Dunn). Elizabeth is known as the Virgin Queen all of her reign. She used that image to keep out of marriage, prevent war and become one of the most beloved monarchs of the people. This image helped her also fend off Mary Queen of Scots claim to the throne. Between her vivacious and often volatile personality she led her kingdom well up until the day she died on March 24, 1603 (Alchin). The kingdom went into genuine morning for their queen of The People who had made herself loved by all of her subjects.
In the beginning, Elizabeth’s future was unclear. Even though she was born a princess, by age three her mother was killed for performing adultery and violating other laws. While her mother was awaiting execution, Elizabeth was recognized as a bastard child. She was sent away to virtual exile from the royal court and with an older half sister who shared the same fate. No longer was she an heir to the royal throne, her ability for greatness was seemingly quelled before being given a chance. The title “Princess” was taken from her and replaced with “Lady” Elizabeth, and the money for her care slowed to a trickle, only just enough to keep her clothed.
The feminist perspective of looking at a work of literature includes examining how both sexes are portrayed
Queen Elizabeth is known as one of the most brilliant and powerful rulers of England. It is from numerous written accounts of her coming to power and being a ruler, as well as the pictures of her in her reign that allows for there to be a compelling visual of a strong leader to be placed in one’s mind when reflecting on Queen Elizabeth. As a result of being exposed to these documents and pictures anyone can see Elizabeth as a strong ruler. However, this strong visualization is not by chance, it is instead the manipulation of the art and articles to specifically communicate that Elizabeth, while being both a female and a protestant, is nonetheless a worthy ruler favored by God. With the proper use of symbolism and the knowledge of how to positively
Throughout the historical literary periods, many writers underrepresented and undervalued the role of women in society, even more, they did not choose to yield the benefits of the numerous uses of the female character concerning the roles which women could accomplish as plot devices and literary tools. William Shakespeare was one playwright who found several uses for female characters in his works. Despite the fact that in Shakespeare's history play, Richard II, he did not use women in order to implement the facts regarding the historical events. Instead, he focused the use of women roles by making it clear that female characters significantly enriched the literary and theatrical facets of his work. Furthermore in Shakespeare’s history play, King Richard II, many critics have debated the role that women play, especially the queen. One of the arguments is that Shakespeare uses the queen’s role as every women’s role to show domestic life and emotion. Jo McMurtry explains the role of all women in his book, Understanding Shakespeare’s England A Companion for the American Reader, he states, “Women were seen, legally and socially, as wives. Marriage was a permanent state” (5). McMurtry argues that every woman’s role in the Elizabethan society is understood to be a legal permanent state that is socially correct as wives and mothers. Other critics believe that the role of the queen was to soften King Richard II’s personality for the nobles and commoners opinion of him. Shakespeare gives the queen only a few speaking scenes with limited lines in Acts two, four, and five through-out the play. Also, she is mentioned only a few times by several other of the characters of the play and is in multiple scenes wit...
In The Elizabethans by A.N Wilson, Wilson states “ The Elizabethan woman was not necessarily ...
An intelligent, stubborn, and free-spirited character. One that many women today connect with and see as being Jane Austen’s most feministic character. The other women in Pride and Prejudice do not like Elizabeth very much. She does not fit the social norm of that time. Being lady-like, keeping her thoughts to herself, and willing to get married as soon as she can. Elizabeth’s most admirable characteristic is her independence. Although her thoughts and views are constantly looked down upon throughout the story. This occurs because of the sick expectations and restrictions placed upon women in her society. While reading Pride and Prejudice, you cannot help but look down on every character that criticizes Elizabeth. Jane Austen shows us that these characters’ lack of feministic views is responsible for the wrongs done to Elizabeth. Especially the way she depicts Miss Bingley and Lady Catherine de