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Quotations About Gender

Shakespeare predominantly wrote during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, a famously strong female in a patriarchal society, much like Beatrice.

__“Shrew’d of tongue”__

“Shrew’d of tongue”

  • Messina is clearly dominated by men.
  • Antonio tells Beatrice she will never find a husband if she doesn’t calm her headstrong, independent nature.
__"Tame her wild art"__

"Tame her wild art"

  • Accepting Benedick’s love for her, Beatrice states she will “tame her wild heart”.
Beatrice

Beatrice

  • “Would it not grieve a woman to be overmaster’d by a piece o valiant dust?”
    • As the niece of both Leonato and Antonio, Beatrice does not have to comply with the same expectations as her cousin, Hero.
    • She is able to be outspoken, to question the expectations of her own gender.
Jump to other topics
1

Key Terminology

2

Structure & Form

3

Act 1: Plot Summary

4

Act 2: Plot Summary

5

Act 3: Plot Summary

5.1

Act 3, Scene 1

5.2

Act 3, Scene 2

5.3

Act 3, Scene 3

5.4

Act 3, Scene 4

5.5

Act 3, Scene 5

6

Act 4: Plot Summary

7

Act 5: Plot Summary

7.1

Act 5, Scene 1

7.2

Act 5, Scene 2

7.3

Act 5, Scene 3

7.4

Act 5, Scene 4

8

Key Themes

9

Recap: Main Quotes

Practice questions on Gender

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