Images Of Women In The Male-centered Society

William Shakespeare has a significant influence on the development of European literature history. Shakespeare is a giant in drama, and is known as the father of British drama. His works are really rare literary treasure in the world. Those portraits with a beautiful, lovely, intelligent and brave character are the generalization of the people in the real world. Each image is real and vivid in every era. Women images play an important role in Shakespeare's comedies, without whom, the charm of Shakespearean dramas will be faded. This thesis is divided into three parts, including introduction, the main body and conclusion. The main body contains three chapters. It is to analyze the idea that feminism consciousness has awoken and increased in male-dominated society from the feminism perspective. Feminism consciousness has an impact on Western women and the patriarchal society since the recent centuries, and these effects are mainly embodied in women's social status and in the political and economic fields.Chapter One analyzes the social status and right consciousness of women in Elizabethan times. This chapter is divided into two sections. Section one introduces women's social status. During this period, the feudal patriarchal ideology is still in the dominant position in the United Kingdom. Male is in the dominant status, while female's social status is very low and females are seen as men's properties, so there is no right for women. We can see these phenomena from Shakespeare's comedies. With the development of capitalism, great changes have taken place in economical, political and cultural spheres, so have people's minds, especially women's realization towards themselves and society. Women's right and subjective consciousness have begun to awake. These female images shaped by Shakespeare, full of subjective consciousness, are the best illustration. Section two analyzes the inherent relationship between humanism and right awareness of women. In the cultural field, the core idea of the Renaissance—humanism begins to spread. The humanism promotes human freedom and equality, affirms the value of human beings, and struggles against the theocracy and theology, which is a big shock for a male-dominated society. And women also begin to think about their values and their rights. Olivia and her maid, Maria in Twelfth Night have a different status, but they are both advanced women with humanism. They are equal in the pursuit of their rights and freedom. Even if her servant status Maria doesn't flatter her master, for the humanism she has accepted teaches her that human beings are free and equal.Chapter Two analyzes the germination and the development of female subjective consciousness, and those reflections. From those actions, we further explain the spirit that female characters shaped by Shakespeare have the courage to pursue freedom and struggle against the feudal patriarchy. This chapter includes four sections. The first section illustrates Shakespeare's views of women. As we all know, Shakespeare is a great humanist. Compared with other contemporary writers, the progressive thought on women is in a predominant position. The female characters, shining the light of humanism in the comedies, are full of ideals and passion, and his attitude of women is admirable. The second section mainly analyzes four typical female images in Shakespeare's comedies to demonstrate Shakespeare's progressive views on women. These four females are: Portia and Jessica in The Merchant of Venice, Rosalind in As You Like It, and Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream. They, who are full of humanism and pursue independence and free love, bravely struggle against the patriarchal autocracy. Portia is a smart and beautiful woman, and she achieves her goal through her wisdom. These two deeds—three-casket choice and the judgment in the court vividly reflect her wisdom and the humanism spirit. Jessica and Hermia break away from the shackles of their fathers and take courageous action—eloping with their lovers in order to pursue their free love. After suffering lots of setbacks, the noble lady—Rosalind wins her love through her wisdom and courage. From above four female characters, we can know that their self-consciousness has been awoken and begun to rise. They are no longer traditional submissive females that obey men in everything, but they have become new women with thoughts and the pursuit. The third section is to analyze Shakespeare's humanism combined with female characters in his comedies. In this section, we will not only gain a more profound understanding on humanism from their witty, humorous and rebellious language, but also have a broad realization from their attitudes of the values, outlook on morality and love. The fourth section is to introduce female consciousness in Shakespeare's comedies. Firstly, the awakening of female consciousness makes women no longer become the male's doll, and they demand self-independence and want to get rid of shackles of men. The female image Portia in The Merchant of Venice owns property in the economy, and she doesn't rely on her husband and is in a dominant position in her marriage, without the shackles of patriarchy and slavery. Secondly, female consciousness is also reflected in their free expression of love and sex. They no longer suppress their feelings and personality, but enjoy the present life.Chapter Three mainly illustrates the social meanings of women images with progressive ideas and the social impact in the history of Western feminism. Firstly, the Renaissance has an effect to the women in that society and the patriarchy society, such as the female image Silvia in Two Gentlemen of Verona, whose struggle brings inspiration and encouragement to women at that period and produces a profound social significance. Secondly, through introducing the developmental history of feminism, this section reflects that the struggle for women's own rights becomes more and more intense, and feminism consciousness continues increasing.