Measure For Measure Feminist Analysis

Not many of Shakespeare’s plays contain a female character in the lead role position. Therefore, when female characters have a prominent role in plays it is something to pay attention to. For instance, in Measure for Measure, Isabella’s character serves to break down the patriarchy by using their own constructs to emphasize how outrageous their ideas are. Isabella does this by falling into one of the three categories that the patriarchy says women belong to. In this society, women are either maid, widow, or wife and problems occur when women do not fall into one of the three defined categories. My main focus will explore how Isabella breaks down the patriarchy in Measure for Measure, while still showing how this society tries to tear her and …show more content…
I will consistently refer back to Lucio’s statement that Mariana does not fit into the patriarchal society because she is “neither maid, widow, nor wife” (5.1.180). This is also why I have chosen to use it as my short title because it is a vital piece of my overall paper. Aligning with feminist theory, I will explaining how this society marginalizes women and forces them to either fight back through the means of the patriarchy or submit to it fully. I plan to further explain the significance of Lucio’s previous statement by exploring how different women either conform or do not confirm to the three aforementioned constructed categories. Showing how women fall into these categories is central to my argument because it enforces the idea that women throughout the play are being marginalized. Therefore, I will essentially being use one quoted line to support and explain my entire …show more content…
I will use one adaption that shows a traditional marriage of Isabella and the Duke where Isabella acts like she is in love and happy to be married. This adaption will support the idea that women eventually fall back into the three defined categories and restore the balance to the patriarchy, while the other adaption will assert the opposite. The other adaptation I will portray a non-traditional reaction to the Duke’s proposal, where Isabella is off to the side shaking her head or crossing her arms in protest against his advances. This adaptation will support the claim that I will make in my overall paper that Isabella tries to use the patriarchies on system to break that system down. In conjunction with the two film adaptions and the play itself, I also plan to use other secondary sources and articles regarding feminist theory and feminist critique to support my argument. For instance, I plan to use Marcia Riefer’s essay, "Instruments of Some More Mightier Member": The Constriction of Female Power in Measure for Measure to support the feminist approach and the language that Shakespeare uses to draw attention to the male dominated society. I will also try and find a few secondary sources that