The role of men and women in society during the Shakespearan period

During the shakespearan period, society was set with many rules and regulations in which the individuals had to follow. This society was seen as somewhat strict. The persons inhabiting it were very stereotypical and judgement. Women and men characterized by one set assumption. "women were to be seen and not heard," a term commonly used by the men who made themselves as head of the society. Additionally, a woman was supposed to be gentle and graceful since they were put down as the weaker sex even sometimes the inferior sex. If a woman was supposed to marry or have any romantic relations with a man she was to be pure. Women were often ridiculed for not being chaste. They were often banished from society or considered as "the neighbourhood's used kleenex". Aside from how a woman was to portray herself, in the home, a woman was to become a homemaker in that she was to bear children, raise them and cook and clean. A woman was not to go out and work. This hardly occured in the shakespearan society. As for a man's role in that time, men were to show leadership. They were less likely held as targets for ridicule. Men usually had it easier than women did. The men had a free voice whilst the women were left to watch and observe. The idea of a man being chaste before he were to wed was not of any major issue in that time. When it came to the home, a man was the head. The women basically seemed to be their "servants". Man hardly had any major responsibilities in the home other than him goin out to work and being the bread-winner. In Much ado about Nothing a female character which went against the definition of what a woman is supposed to be in the shakespearan society is Beatrice. Where a woman was seen and not heard; she was very outspoken and often spoke without caution. Women of that time were to be married; beatrice wanted nothing to do with marriage and falling in love. The male character of Much ado about Nothing which went against this definition is Claudio. Claudio did not show any leadership qualities what so ever. A man was to be bold and aggressive-- aggressive in the sense of going after what he wanted on his very own. He made himself prisoner to his minor insecurities. For example, because he was shy and timid, Don had to be the one to woo Hero for him. This is not the characteristics of a good leader.