Empowerment or Possession: The Roles of Women in Shakespeare's Comedies and Tragedies
Location
Ponderosa Room C
Presentation Type
Presentation
Presentation Topic
Women's Studies, British Literature, Feminist Shakespearean Criticism, New Historicist Feminist Criticism
Start Date
6-3-2026 10:10 AM
Event Sort Order
11
Abstract
This article seeks to evaluate Shakespeare's representation of women to determine whether his female characters were given agency and emotional depth or not. To best answer this question, the article compares and contrasts the prolific Hamlet with The Merchant of Venice, as these plays represent Shakespeare's comedy and tragedy arcs. Through close readings and feminist theory application, this article critiques the primary female characters, dialogue, and plot lines within each play. The Elizabethan era's patriarchal structures, as well traditional gender stereotypes, have a strong influence over female representation. However, this article finds that Shakespeare uses subversion to empower women in surprising ways. The article makes the intervention within the field of Shakespeare studies that though there are instances of female subjugation and liberation in both his tragedies and comedies, overall, comedies such as The Merchant of Venice invite a more autonomous and positive outlook for women.
Empowerment or Possession: The Roles of Women in Shakespeare's Comedies and Tragedies
Ponderosa Room C
This article seeks to evaluate Shakespeare's representation of women to determine whether his female characters were given agency and emotional depth or not. To best answer this question, the article compares and contrasts the prolific Hamlet with The Merchant of Venice, as these plays represent Shakespeare's comedy and tragedy arcs. Through close readings and feminist theory application, this article critiques the primary female characters, dialogue, and plot lines within each play. The Elizabethan era's patriarchal structures, as well traditional gender stereotypes, have a strong influence over female representation. However, this article finds that Shakespeare uses subversion to empower women in surprising ways. The article makes the intervention within the field of Shakespeare studies that though there are instances of female subjugation and liberation in both his tragedies and comedies, overall, comedies such as The Merchant of Venice invite a more autonomous and positive outlook for women.
Presenter Bio
Heidi Kerr is a second year English Master's student at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. As a graduate assistant, she works as the Managing Editor for an online collegiate journal, Technical Communication Quarterly. Previously, she worked as a Graduate Teaching Assistant. She loves both teaching and editing. Kerr researches a variety of topics, from linguistics to technical communication, but her passion projects are in Shakespeare and Creative Nonfiction studies. Kerr hopes to pursue a career in educational administration and to someday publish her spiritual memoir. When not editing or writing, Kerr enjoys weightlifting, cooking, and spending time with her loved ones.