Shakespeare's tragedian eve : the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's tragedies

Abstract

This dissertation intends to explore what I personally recognize to be a central subject in Shakespeare's major tragedies; the way his women are represented throughout the plays; Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear. Such female characters will be explored from different angles and will be subject to a prolific discussion. My research attempts to prove that the female protagonists in such tragedies may be considered as strong and powerful women, regardless of adverse critique which several critics instituted. After unmasking the characteristics of his female protagonists in his tragedies, an examination of feminist critics, who have analysed such plays in their historical context, endeavoring to piece together their original cultural environment, will be taken into account. Finally, it would also be essential to discuss Shakespeare's female characters in his tragedies stand out as unique and unforgettable individuals, other than any female characters portrayed in other subsequent period plays.