Shakespeare's treatment of women in his four great tragedies
Dissertant
Thesis advisor
University
Omdurman Islamic University
Faculty
Faculty of Arts
Department
Department of English Language and Literature
University Country
Sudan
Degree
Master
Degree Date
2007
English Abstract
This research discusses the importance of women characters in Shakespeare’s Four Great Tragedies.
In the second chapter, an explanation of the nature of tragedy is given, and a comparison between the Greek Tragedy and the Shakespearean tragedy is made.
It is shown that the Shakespearean tragedy presents a greater number of characters, and that its characters are portrayed with greater depth and complexity.
The most important fact concerning Shakespeare’s tragedies is that they embrace women with leading roles and powerful personalities. The third chapter contains analysis of the characters of women in the four great tragedies accompanied by appreciation and evaluation of their roles.
It is also explained that the protagonists in these plays have come to be tragic heroes by the agency of the characters of women, e.g.
Gertrude’s second marriage shocks Hamlet and leads to his destruction.
Othello would have never been a tragic hero if Desdemona had not urged him to marry her.
The physical proof that convinces Othello of Desdemona’s disloyalty (the handkerchief) is stolen by Emilia. Likewise, King Lear has come to be a tragedy solely as a result of the role played by women.
The younger daughter is too honest and loving to live in the evil world of her two elder and evil sisters.
She causes great changes in the whole kingdom with a single–word–answer she gives to her father.
The offended king who divides his kingdom into two parts, becomes the victim of his two elder daughters’ evil and conspiracy, and meets his doom as a result. The last of the great tragedies shows the most influential role ever played by women.
Macbeth would have never been tragic hero if Lady Macbeth had not led him to kill King Duncan.
He would have never thought of kingship if he had not received and believed in the prophecy of the Three Witches.
The research concludes that the roles played by women in these tragedies are equal to those of the tragic heroes, and that their influence upon the events and the outcome is sometimes even greater than that of men.
Main Subjects
Topics
No. of Pages
70
Table of Contents
Table of contents.
Abstract.
Chapter One : Introduction.
Chapter Two : A sketch of the tragic process.
Chapter Three : The portrayal of women in the four tragedies.
Chapter Four : Conclusion.
References.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Husayn, Hibah Hasan. (2007). Shakespeare's treatment of women in his four great tragedies. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-362442
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Husayn, Hibah Hasan. Shakespeare's treatment of women in his four great tragedies. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Omdurman Islamic University. (2007).
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-362442
American Medical Association (AMA)
Husayn, Hibah Hasan. (2007). Shakespeare's treatment of women in his four great tragedies. (Master's theses Theses and Dissertations Master). Omdurman Islamic University, Sudan
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-362442
Language
English
Data Type
Arab Theses
Record ID
BIM-362442
