International Journal of Social Science Research (IJSSR)

Subversion and Conformity: Gender Roles in Shakespearean Tragedies

In Elizabethan England, gender roles were rigidly defined and strictly enforced. Men were expected to embody rationality, strength, and public authority, while women were largely confined to the private sphere, expected to be obedient, passive, and chaste. Patriarchal norms governed every aspect of social life, with marriage and family reinforcing male dominance and female subservience. These expectations extended to cultural productions, including the theatre, where all female roles were performed by men, further complicating the portrayal of gender. Shakespeare’s plays were written at a time when certain gender roles were hurriedly accepted and resisted, so he created characters who did both things. His novels examine the contemporary beliefs about gender at the same time as they show the world he lived in. Exploring Lady Macbeth, Othello, and Cleopatra allows readers to see how gender expectations can change or disturb a person’s identity, beliefs, and authority. Shakespeare uses drama, speeches alone, and action to show that gender is a topic to be explored and possibly debated on stage. In his tragedies, Shakespeare stays close to traditional gender stereotypes, but he also challenges these ideas by showing important departures. When Shakespeare writes about characters who fight against or are brought down by what is considered acceptable for their gender, he points out the contradictions in such roles and suggests gender is just a role people act out.