Play writers from time to time enjoyed creating characters that conflicted societies constraints on their biological sex. Some of these writers include William Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, and Bernard Shaw. Having the Twelfth Night, The Importance of Being Earnest and Pygmalion three very well-known plays where the authors create characters who defy their gender roles in society. As these plays defy and promote the importance of society’s view of genders these plays do comply in some of society demands upon people based on their biological creation.
Twelfth Night takes the audience on a gender-bending journey, while maintaining all the elements of true love throughout. In Act 3, scene 1, Olivia displays the confusion created for both characters and audience as she takes on the traditionally male role of courting or wooing her romantic interest, Cesario, who is also disguised. …show more content…
The head of the household is the male while the wife is the stay at home mom. Today women are allowed to have dominant personalities and lives outside of their home, yet this was not always acceptable women society refrained women from having an occupation outside of their home and men were expected to be the dominant providers for the family. What happens when these social norms are broken? For witty and courageous play writters such as Shakespear nothing other than one of the best works of art. Through-out this essay we explored gender expectations and deviations in plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth night and Pygmalion. Where the female characters are dominant, outspoken, and in control, while the male characters are dainty, soft-spoken, and fashionable. Although, the women in these plays go beyond the social and gender limitations caused by their biological gender we do see conformity and reassurance of certain expected characteristics of genders in both the male and female
Twelfth Night takes the audience on a gender-bending journey, while maintaining all the elements of true love throughout. In Act 3, scene 1, Olivia displays the confusion created for both characters and audience as she takes on the traditionally male role of courting or wooing her romantic interest, Cesario, who is also disguised. …show more content…
The head of the household is the male while the wife is the stay at home mom. Today women are allowed to have dominant personalities and lives outside of their home, yet this was not always acceptable women society refrained women from having an occupation outside of their home and men were expected to be the dominant providers for the family. What happens when these social norms are broken? For witty and courageous play writters such as Shakespear nothing other than one of the best works of art. Through-out this essay we explored gender expectations and deviations in plays such as The Importance of Being Earnest, Twelfth night and Pygmalion. Where the female characters are dominant, outspoken, and in control, while the male characters are dainty, soft-spoken, and fashionable. Although, the women in these plays go beyond the social and gender limitations caused by their biological gender we do see conformity and reassurance of certain expected characteristics of genders in both the male and female