Gender quotes

Question 1

women as stupid

Answer 1

• ‘springes to catch woodcocks’ 41
  = metaphor to describe women falling into trap of male affections= warning H feelings not genuine
  -springes mean trap= reflect deceit and false promises of men in order to manipulate women= condescending lang= O not able to navigate complexities of love
  -reflect stereotypical view of women @ time= naive and incapable of independent thought= lack of control over emotions and decisions
  -woodcocks are a metaphor for guileless, trusting behaviour or nature which is easily deceived

Question 2

women as subordinate

Answer 2

• I shall obey, my lord’ 41
  = dominating connotations of ‘obey’ @ hands of a man
  = her value lies in her ability to comply w men’s wishes
• ‘give thy thought no tongue’ 37
  = must remain silent and conform to passive role= unable to make proper decisions= women expected to be silent and obedient @ that time period

Question 3

women as property or transaction

Answer 3

• repetition of financial imagery of ‘brokers’, ‘investments’, ‘sterling’ 39
  = symbolise her role as a financial proposition to favour men around her
  = de-humanised= suffer gender constraints imposed by Elizabethan society