Position Of Womem In Society Flashcards
How do the servants refer to women?
“Women being the weaker vessels are ever thrust to the wall”
-This quote has clear connotations to rape. It also objectifies women as it presents them as objects that are available to men for sexual use if and when they desire.
How are women objectified by women, especially through conversations about marriage?
“Younger than she are happy mothers made.”
- Paris and Lord Capulet are discussing his marriage to Juliet without her, which shows her lack of voice because she has no input on her own marriage
- She is being objectified and treated as a possession
What do patriarchal mothers tell their children about ways to succeed?
“Bigger women grow by men”
- This highlights how women are only valued in society for a small number of things such as bearing a child.
- Lady Capulet says this to Juliet, which shows how women are forced into perpetuating patriarchal values.
How does Juliet combat her lack of voice?
“It is an honour I dream not of”
- Juliet is forced to be subtly duplicitous in order to feign obedience to her father who controls her
How is being feminine offensive shown?
“Thy beauty hath made me effeminate”
- Tybalt uses feminine qualities to ridicule other men
How does Lord Capulet to Juliet not being obedient?
“Out you baggage”
- He refers to his own daughter as being dead weight, that he is forced to carry around with him.
- Shakespeare is showing that the denegration of the female voice and their position in society is wrong and so is attempting to dissuade the audience from perpetuating this depreciation of women.
