Many of Shakespeare's female characters are able to have a large impact on the story with fewer lines.

Question

Answer

Pro: In some cases, a female character's lack of speech can be a precise reinforcement of her character arc: both Ophelia (in 'Hamlet') and Desdemona (in 'Othello') have character arcs that rely on being overlooked and mistreated by other key characters.

Answer

Con: With fewer lines, the audience is unable to form strong opinions and connections to female characters.

Was Shakespeare a feminist? (guided research activity)

Many of Shakespeare's female characters are able to have a large impact on the story with fewer lines.

Pros

Cons

In some cases, a female character's lack of speech can be a precise reinforcement of her character arc: both Ophelia (in 'Hamlet') and Desdemona (in 'Othello') have character arcs that rely on being overlooked and mistreated by other key characters.

With fewer lines, the audience is unable to form strong opinions and connections to female characters.

Selected claim, opposing its parent

Many of Shakespeare's female characters are able to have a large impact on the story with fewer lines.

Pro claim 1

In some cases, a female character's lack of speech can be a precise reinforcement of her character arc: both Ophelia (in 'Hamlet') and Desdemona (in 'Othello') have character arcs that rely on being overlooked and mistreated by other key characters.

Con claim 1

With fewer lines, the audience is unable to form strong opinions and connections to female characters.