Some women in Shakespeare's plays are presented as 'unmarriable' and therefore problematic.

Question

Answer

Pro: Katherina, the female lead in 'The Taming of the Shrew', is portrayed as being obstinant and reckless and in need of 'taming' before she can be married.

Answer

Con: While some women change their behaviour so as to get married, several of them, especially Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing', are able to choose the way they do so while retaining their wit.

Was Shakespeare a feminist? (independent research activity)

Some women in Shakespeare's plays are presented as 'unmarriable' and therefore problematic.

Pros

Cons

Katherina, the female lead in 'The Taming of the Shrew', is portrayed as being obstinant and reckless and in need of 'taming' before she can be married.

While some women change their behaviour so as to get married, several of them, especially Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing', are able to choose the way they do so while retaining their wit.

Selected claim, supporting its parent

Some women in Shakespeare's plays are presented as 'unmarriable' and therefore problematic.

Pro claim 1

Katherina, the female lead in 'The Taming of the Shrew', is portrayed as being obstinant and reckless and in need of 'taming' before she can be married.

Con claim 1

While some women change their behaviour so as to get married, several of them, especially Beatrice in 'Much Ado About Nothing', are able to choose the way they do so while retaining their wit.