Equality of the Sexes: Elizabethan Era and Now

comp atomic number 18 of the Sexes The Elizabethan Era and Now Equal rights adopt al representations been a major issue and dispute. Analysing the role of wo workforce in the Elizabethan Era, through Shakespe bes representation in Romeo and Juliet, and comparing them to the role of women in the 21st century, exit help to demonstrate that comparability of the sexes has been achieved, and come a long way in the past cd years. Three ways in which equality of the sexes has been achieved is the role of a matrimonial, and undivided muliebrity, and roles of women in society.Married womens roles become changed importantly since the late 1500s. A dowry has been abolished when women get married. Their sole purpose of beingness has changed and is no endless to just provide and raise children and complete place tasks. They can now get a job and have rights in married couple and families much the same as men. In marriage, women had to have a child every two years, as childbearing was considered an honour til now though it was potentially life threatening.Also in the late 1500s, women had to instantly attend their husbands and any other males in the family, and their punishment for non obeying was being crush into submission. An example of this in Romeo and Juliet is when Juliet refuses to marry Paris, and Capulet calls her a disobedient wretch for not following (Act III, Sc. V, 160). In the 21st century, men can no longer legally chastise their wives and are not always considered the head of the marriage as they were in Shakespeares time.In Romeo and Juliet, Shakespeare has represented the roles of married women in the Elizabethan Era. In Act 1, Scene 1, Montague and Lady Montague arrive in the red-blooded where the fight is breaking out, Lady Montague tries to stop him, but has no bid after attempting to hold him back, as she has no authority over him, he also demands that she give his sword to him in a very impolite manner, Give me my long sword, ho (Act I, Sc. I). Therefore, womens roles in marriage have equalised over the past 400 years.The roles of unmarried women have also changed over the past four centuries. Unmarried women are now allowed to work, whereas the only selection for unmarried women in Elizabethan times was domestic service, such as being a maid. Arranged marriages for unmarried women were very common in the Elizabethan achievement, as fathers wanted their daughters to marry somebody of a higher(prenominal) class to improve the familys social status. Fathers liked to arrange a marriage as soon as sensibly possible, because unmarried women were looked upon with suspicion.In Romeo and Juliet, ennoble Capulet arranges a deal with Paris about the marriage of Juliet when she was only 13. Capulet describes Juliets age, She hath not seen the change of fourteen years (Act I, Sc. II, 9). Paris replies with, Younger than she are happy mothers made, (Act I, Sc. II, 12) which is representing the fact that women in the Elizabethan Era could be married and have children as young as 12. In a ripe Western womens world however, women no longer have ordered marriages and are allowed to choose their significant other.They are not looked upon with suspicion if they are unmarried, as it is very common in the 21st century, and women often come int marry until around the age of 25 or older. In summary, an unmarried womans roles and rights have changed considerably since the Elizabethan period, and Shakespeare has conveyed an unmarried womans tradition through Romeo and Juliet. The roles of women in society have changed a sizeable amount since the late 1500s. In the Elizabethan period women had minor roles in society.They were raised to believe that they were inferior to men and that men were the leaders and women were the weaker sex. Shakespeare has represented women being the weaker sex through a talk between Gregory and Sampson, when Sampson states, and therefore women, being the weaker vessels, are ever thrust to the debate (Act I, Sc. I, 20). Women were not allowed to go to school, but the wealthy were allowed to have private tutors, so they were highly educated, but the poorer families couldnt get any education easily.They were not allowed to get jobs, and domestic service was their only choice. An example of this is the Nurse in Romeo and Juliet. In the 21st century however, women have a very significant role in society, with many even being policy-making leaders and in important professions, such as lawyers, doctors, teachers and scientists. They also have political and rights in society the same as men. Therefore, a womans role in society has changed and equalised over the past 400 years.Since the Elizabethan Era, an unmarried womans role, womens roles in society and their roles in marriage have changed significantly. comparability of the sexes has been achieved and come a long way over the past 400 years. It is clear that this is true, through analysing an Elizabetha n womans role and their word-painting in Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet, and comparing them to a 21st century womans rights and roles in marriage, society and being single or unmarried. Womens rights have gradually equalised over the years, and someday, possibly, women will take over the world.