Women's Roles During The Shakespearean Era

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The Role of Women during Shakespearean Times

Did you know that women were not allowed on the Renaissance English stage during the Shakespearean Era? In fact, women were played by young men and boys. Many plays told tales of the hardships women faced in relationships as well as wives who were greatly tested. Women did not begin to appear on stage until around the 17th century.

In addition to theatre, women were deprived of several other things such as a proper education, the right to vote, and the opportunity to hold office. Although women were not allowed a formal education, several women, such as Queen Elizabeth had private tutors beginning at the age of five. Some of the languages they learned were Latin, Italian, Greek and French. Also, women were not permitted to enter professions in law, medicine, and politics. Instead, most women worked in domestic services as cooks, maids, etc. They were also allowed to write literature, several of which were religious or translations. An example of a woman recognized for her literary works during the Shakespearean era was Mary Sidney Herbert.

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Mary Sidney, who was the “Countess of Pembroke”, was born in England on October 27, 1561, and died on September 25, 1621. She was educated at home where she learned to speak fluently in French, Italian, Latin, and Greek. With the exception of Queen Elizabeth, Mary was known to be the most educated woman in England. Many people referred to Mary as “The Swan of Avon”.

In 1577, Mary married Henry Herbert, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke. Together they both had 4 children. She was the second most important woman in England, next to the Queen. The reason for this ...

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