This document analyzes and summarizes the portrayal of women in Shakespeare's comedies. It discusses how the female characters pursue love, freedom, and independence. They challenge social norms and restrictions to follow their own desires. The document also examines how Shakespeare depicted women as intelligent, brave, virtuous, and as dominating some of the plays through their personalities and wisdom. It argues his comedies reflected the growing influence of humanism and challenged traditional feudal values.

1. Yue Zhang A BRIEF ANALYSIS OF WOMEN CHARACTER IN SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDIES

3. Similarity In Shakespeare’s Comedies Love is the theme Love is above all other aspects of life Love is even the only purpose of life

4. Hermia Lysander Helena Demetrius To avoid the interference, they leave home and take refugees in a small forest. under the help of some spirits, they win their freedom for marriage Their courage shows that women are beginning to challenge the feudal virtue bondage and pursuing love and freedom.

5. Comments…… Earle S. Wynn said, Portia Pursues love, freedom , and Her own happiness . Portia choose a spouse is Not the man’s position, Asset, but his virtue, Appearance and ability. Portia’s father will of “ three box test of potential husband ” She puts her small picture In the plain lead box instead of the gold or silver ones. She makes a small trick For her “Mr. Right” to pick out the lead box Her pursuit of lo ve has Produced a beautiful Fruit For herself this way.

6. Viola: Brave, passionate, and innocent. Her unselfish and chaste virtue in Pursuit of happiness, love and freedom. All these comedies: Desire for freedom, and love for lif e.

8. Lysander said, “one turf shall serve as a pillow for us both” Hermia answers, “ for my sake, my dear, lie further off yet. Do not lie so near.” Hermia is very independent , but she has morality by a high and noble selfhood. Celia views friendship as worth her giving up everything. She has good moral sentiments which are Beautiful.

10. Comments……. Lee said, Portia showed a more optimistic temperament & goodness Instead of being conservative. “ A Midsummer Night ’ s Dream ” Hermia ’ s way of rebellion become the Political fight against the ‘Athens Laws’. Shakespeare’s point of view: Elizabeth I bring forward humanism

12. “ The Merchant of Venice” Portia says, “just one pound of flesh, not any more or any less” Her outstanding bravery and strategy defeats Shylock completely. It is an epitome of “ new women” in the Age of Renaissance . “ A midsummer Night’s Dream” Hermia says, “if then true lovers have been ever crossed It stands as and edict in destiny. Then let us teach our trial Patience, because it is a customary cross, as due to love as thoughts and dreams and sighs, wishes and tears are all Poor fancy’s followers.

13. Intelligence of Women Viola’s quick-wittedness and wisdom is vividly portrayed in the comedy. Mr. Corbe tt says, “pretense, pretending, Deceiving and utter silliness is without Match in the rest of Shakespeare’s corpus I would think, but it is fun nonetheless.”

15. Virtuous Wife and Mother Shakespeare wrote about a lot of virtuous and chaste women. Eg. “ Hero ” is well educated, reasonable, considerate and meek.