Virginia Woolf – Shakespeare’s Sister

1) What was the expected role of women in Shakespeare’s time?


In the time and age of Shakespeare the role of women was much different from what is seen today. Just as you begin to read this piece of writing, you come upon the following quote, “Women are poorer then men because – this or that” (Woolf 764). I thought that this showed the general role of women as being under classed and unaccepted in society. “Wife beating…was a recognized right of man, and was practiced without shame by high as well low…” (Woolf 765). This I thought was very disturbing and disgusting because giving permission to someone to beat someone else is morally wrong. “It was still an exception for women of the upper middle class to choose their own husbands…” (Woolf 765). Not begin able to choose your own husband shows that women’s role is only seen as being objects to the society for pleasure. The fact that it states that this is a practice seems that it had became a culture of some sort in their time. Women were stripped of their personality and were basically ruled by men. Women were expected to be clean, meaning not only physically but mentally. The big difference now a day is that women have become more equal to men, both in education and in the work force. As time has passed, over time women have fought and gained many rights which have helped them achieve a proper respected role in today’s society. Although it does seem that both men and women are equal, the reality is that there still are many obstacles that women need to over come in order to have 100% equality.


Works Sited

Virginia Woolf. “Shakespeare’s Sister” A World of Ideas: Essential Readings for College Writers. Ed. Lee A. Jacobus. 7th ed. New York: Bedford St. Martins,2006 pp 761-777.