Marquez 1

Adenira Marquez

O’meara

AP Literature and Composition

10 March 2022

Analysis

An individual's decision to act upon their own moral compass or not to act on their

morals can set off a chain of detrimental effects. It is necessary that every individual within

humanity sticks by and acts on their personal values. The morals, or lack of, that an individual

obtains and acts upon can not only affect that specific person but create collateral damage for

others surrounding them. Horatio acts on his values that are morally righteous and he acts with

honor so in the end he causes the least amount of suffering to others. While in direct contrast to

that, Claudius who acts without honor and whose values are not morally right, constantly causes

damage to the character surrounding him and himself. The actions that people base off of their

personal morals, do not just have effects and consequences on ourselves, but the ones

surrounding us. The contrast in principles between the characters Horatio and Claudius, shows

the effects that the values of one person can have on the events that occur later and the impact on

other characters. The acceptance of death is an idea that has progressed throughout the play , and

the idea of death is brought up repeatedly with different components and perspectives on it.

Hamlet’s own perspective on death touches on different ideas throughout the play, while he is

trying to grieve his father’s death, he is contemplating killing his uncle, and ponders about

suicude. With the use of characterization of Horatio and Claudius and the idea of death overall,

it can come together and bring a cohesive idea of a person’s morals and their duty to act upon it.
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Horatio is a complex character that has very apparent differences from the rest of the

characters. He is one of the only characters that has righteous morals and makes his decisions by

his principles. The value of honor that he acts upon does not cause any collateral damage on

other characters or affect any negative events that occur later on. Throughout the play, he

displays his value of loyalty and friendship to Hamlet. Within the first scene of the play and the

ghost of King Hamlet entering, Horatio displays his bravery and lack of fear by confronting the

ghost. Horatio, although might seem passive, is also able to be confident and courageous enough

to try to discover the unknown since he was the first to speak to the ghost and is able to try to

control the situation. In this scenario, he also exhibits a level head and proceeds to be calm while

acknowledging what is to come from this.

A mote it is to trouble the mind’s eye.

In the most high and palmy state of Rome,
A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,
The graves stood tenantless and the sheeted dead
Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets:

(1.1. 111–14)

After the ghost disappears, and the shock of seeing King Hamlet wears off, Horatio, Barnardo ,

and Marcellus discuss the significant event that just occured. Horatio is speaking to Barnardo

about how he believes this will not be the start of something good. This foreshadows the rest of

the play and how the King’s Ghost was the beginning to start a chain of events that lead to

tragedy. Within the first line he addresses that it might not seem like it is a big deal, with

comparing the situation to a mote which is a tiny piece of substance, but that it will be a warning

that can cause a lot of trouble later on. He then compares the situation to Rome and the fall of

Julius Caesar by mentioning the unusual activity that happened after and how it parallels this

specific situation with the reappearance of the dead king. The relation to Rome, brings out the
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severity of this situation, that Horatio is trying to convey to the guards. His knowledge of Rome

and the history also represents his character, Horatio values his intelligence so that he can use it

in all of his surroundings like he does in the quote.The connection between the ghost of the late

King Hamlet appearing and the fall of Rome, with the graves being empty implying that they

rose from the dead and whispers on the streets which is suspicious activity. The squeak and

gibber refer to the ghosts that were roaming the streets in Rome after the fall of Julius Caesar. In

this alarming situation, Horatio is able to stay calm while also acknowledging the severity of the

situation and what it might bring. He is able to assess the situation with composure and then later

goes on to tell the prince what has happened. The way he handled the situation with stability is

the first sign of action that Horatio exhibits his character. Horatio values and exhibits in his

character a calm composure to deal with high severity situations, so that he can make a

knowledgeable decision. Hamlet also says later on that he admires Horatio's ability to assess the

situation without acting on high emotion. This is very different from characters such as Hamlet,

Claudius, and Laertes who act upon these intense emotions. During the play Hamlet pulls

Horatio aside and confides in him the truth and reasoning about the play, and he praises Horatio

in his character.

As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing,

A man that fortune's buffets and rewards
Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those
Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled,
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger
To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
(3.2.59–65 )

Hamlet is fully entrusting Horatio with this information because he knows that his character and

values are noble. Hamlet says that even though there are negative situations that can come

Horatio’s way, his emotions never cloud his judgment. Horatio makes his own decisions, and
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does not let a lot of things sway it. Horatio is the only trustworthy character in the play, because

he acts upon his own morals and values, while most of the other characters tend to be

hypocritical with not acting on their own values or what they say they believe in. Hamlet is even

able to point out the difference in character of Horatio and how he is trusting because of his

loyalty, values and the lack of hypocrisy. Hamlet, who is a very untrusting character, puts his full

faith in Horatio which benefits in the end. Within the first couple of lines, he praises Horatio for

accepting whatever is given to him, the good and the bad. The figurative language, of

personifying fortune,and connecting it to a pipe and not letting it play means that Horatio doesn’t

let fate or fortune rule his life, because his judgment is stable and not swayed by his passion.

Hamlet admires these qualities in Horatio, because he acknowledges that he is the opposite, and

lets his emotions overrule his own judgment at times. At the end of the quote, Hamlet is proud of

the friendship that he has obtained with Horatio, and Horatio with Hamlet. The conversation and

entrustment of this secret solidified Hamlet’s trust to only Horatio and his judgment of his

character. This relationship between Horatio and Hamlet exhibits Horatio’s strong value of

loyalty. Horatio displays this loyalty putting it into action in the end of the play where tragedy

hits and everybody dies.

Never believe it:

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:
Here's yet some liquor left.
(5.2. 336-38)

While Hamlet is dying, he tells Horatio to stay alive in order to tell the correct events of the story

so that he can get his justice. Only Hamlet would entrust Horatio with this significant of a job

that he had been trying to pursue the entire play. Horatio, wanting to act upon his loyalty, wants

to drink the poisoned cup so that he too can die alongside Hamlet. This is one of the only

irrational thoughts that Horatio presents throughout the play, although his intentions are well and
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based on his friendship and loyalty to Hamlet. He compares himself to an antique Roman rather

than a Dane, a person native to Denmark, because he connects the idea of the older Roman’s and

committing suicide because of love or loyalty. The severity of this situation, exhibits the

dedication of Horatio’s principles and the seriousness of it. Horatio’s character values and the

way he acts upon them, leads him to be the only one that survived. He proceeded with honor and

stood by that for the entirety of the play. Horatio only acts morally, and the result of that is that

he has positive impacts on the people surrounding him. His actions that are a direct reflection of

his principles, does not have any negative impact on the people around him, and only helps the

situation.

Death and the ideas surrounding it are presented throughout the play, through different

characters and different perspectives. The progression of Hamlet’s perspective of death shows

his growth over time, and shows how negative actions based off of the lack of honor can greatly

affect another individual's life. Hamlet not only struggles with the death of his father and being

in an environment where he is unable to fully grieve, but the concept of death overall and even

his own death. He contemplates the idea of suicide and the implications that it can have.

To be, or not to be, that is the question,

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,
And by opposing them? To die: to sleep;
No more; and by a sleep to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shock
(3.1. 57–63)

This idea of death is showcased by the figurative language in the quote and the overall metaphor

between sleep and death. Hamlet is contemplating suicide and goes back and forth trying to find

the logic in his own thinking. He is unsure about the nobility of the action of death and suicide
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and if it is more noble to just suffer in his own mind and through his problems or being able to

end those problems by dying. The use of figurative language about his misfortunes that were

brought upon him and not directly caused by himself. Hamlet does not take responsibility for his

actions that might have caused his misfortunes. He relates his pain and suffering to “a sea of

troubles ” which puts emphasis on his problems by connecting it to something so vast such as the

sea. The battling idea of whether he would fight through this pain or to die. He directly states in

the next line that sleep, or death, would end his heartache, and he again uses a metaphor to

describe the pain within him of “a thousand natural shocks” which emphasizes his pain even

more. In the beginning of the soliloquy, the constant use of figurative language to describe his

pain makes it seem that death is a more likely or the only option that he has. The connection

between death and sleep is that death is basically a long slumber in which you never wake up.

The apparent difference between the two is that death is a permanent act. Hamlet believes that

death is the only option or way out from his internal suffering. He realizes that this is not a

beneficial option because it may not be seen as noble and is considered a sinful act according to

the bible. He also uses his need for vengeance to keep his motivation for life going. Hamlet

believes that suicide is the only way out of his conflicting situation, which resulted from

Claudius’ harmful decisions prior. These decisions have a large effect on people such as Hamlet

who struggles with how own mental well-being.Hamlet struggles with the idea of suicide and

that specific aspect of death while also dealing with the grief of his father’s death. Although he is

looked down upon because of his grieving of his father, and Claudius warns him that he needs to

get over it because it apparently has gone on for too long. This death can be difficult to process

for Hamlet because he was murdered in an unjust way by his own relative.

That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound

In filial obligation for some term
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To do obsequious sorrow: but to persever

In obstinate condolement is a course
Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief;
It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
An understanding simple and unschool'd:
(1.2.90–97 )

Claudius is speaking to Hamlet about his father’s death, he passes it on and tells Hamlet that

death is inevitable and at some point everyone loses a father and that his grieving has gone on

long enough. Claudius views death as inevitable, and that grief is not showing respect necessarily

but should not be worn out or extended. He does not view it as a necessary process to fully

grieve, but as a minor inconvenience, because he wants to alleviate the situation.The negative

diction in this quote shows the contrast of how Hamlet and Claudius view and deal with death

and grieving. The word obligatory to describe someone dying, gives an “annoyed” tone ,

denotatively obligatory means to be required either legally or morally, and has a negative,

annoyance connotation. Claudius calls Hamlet's ongoing sorrow, a stubbornness that to him

personally can be seen as not masculine enough, the use of the words stubbornness and unmanly,

which has a negative connotation to describe his grief, exhibits the contrast in the way both

characters deal with death. In the next line the use of the word impious, which is disrespectful in

a religious setting furthers the idea of a disturbed and annoyed tone. In the line after, he says that

it is not right to have a heart unfortified, meaning that he needs to close his emotions and secure

his heart. The overall tone of the quote goes to show that Claudius displays no empathy towards

a grieving son. The idea of grief, and how Hamlet is suffering where Claudius displays no

empathy for him, makes Hamlet’s grief seem insignificant. The struggle with grief and death has

many different reactions and these characters deal with it in their own separate ways. There is

some truth in which death is inevitable and the characters in the play realizing that and how they
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act upon it connects back to the overall idea of death.

No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with

modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as
thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried,
Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of
earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he
was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?
Imperious Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay,
(5.1.182–88)

Hamlet is finally coming to terms with the idea of death, this scene takes place with Horatio and

Hamlet in the graveyard where Ophelia is being buried. Throughout the play, Hamlet has taken

an obsession over the idea of death, but in the end he has come to terms with the fact that death is

inevitable. Hamlet speaks freely about how everyone dies and turns into dust no matter how

much power or money someone has. He compares it to Alexander the great and Julius Caesar, he

states that in the end it did not matter how much power or money either of them had, they all

ended up in the same place. He goes through the cycle of life, and how someone who was so

powerful inevitably turns into the same dust as the earth, which can be used for absolutely

anything, such as plugging up a beer barrel. The connections he makes between these people and

what he views as powerful, but then connects it to something so mundane as plugging up a beer

barrel exhibits the contrast. Hamlet has shown progress with his overall view of death, within

both himself and his father. His constant fixation with death, specifically in this scene,

foreshadows his fate in the end of this act. Hamlet also has no mention of the afterlife and his

religious beliefs, he talks purely and only about the “cycle of death” . His beliefs about the

afterlife is what stopped him before killing Claudius, and killing himself. The progression of the

idea of death, and how Hamlet has suffered through the process of grieving his own father,

shows the extent in which Claudius’s actions can have on another individual. Although Hamlet

also had a part to play in his own internal suffering, he too did not act morally righteous by
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killing Polonius, or focusing on avenging his fathers death by wanting to kill Claudius and that

led to the negative effect of his own self and future. These actions can have consequences on

many different aspects of the story and affect the characters such as Hamlet in multiple different

ways.

Claudius’s character is on the opposite spectrum from Horatio. Claudius values

materialistic items and power. Throughout the play he claims to have certain beliefs but does not

act upon them or even does the opposite which shows the hypocrisy in his character. He can be

manipulative and deceitful when talking to other people in order to advance his own power.

Claudius also seems to lack certain emotions surrounding his brother's death and only in one

specific scene he feels guilty. His address to the people, even lacks empathy or any guilt, because

he has gained the only thing that is considered valuable to him which is power.

Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death

The memory be green, and that it us befitted
To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,
Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him,
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
(1.2.1–7)

Within the beginning of the play, the first thing that Claudius says is him giving a speech about

the mourning of his brother, the former king, but he then goes on to state that he has married his

wife. This whole speech shows the irony in his own actions, and sets his character up by showing

that he is fake. Claudius uses imagery to represent the kingdom's sadness, “ contracted in one

brow of woe” describing the people’s faces while grieving to touch into that emotional bond . At

first he tries to gain sympathy from the people and claims to be saddened by his brother's death

but then reveals his true intentions of trying to get everyone to forget and move past it so that his
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actions will not be revealed. He also says to not dwell in the mourning, which is a parallel from

when he is talking to Hamlet, except he is more careful with his wording so that he does not

seem suspicious . After he taps into the emotions of the people he goes on to state later in his

speech that he has married the queen and switches the intentions and energy of his speech by

making it about himself and something more joyful. His words and actions do not match up

because if he was truly grieving and cared about his brother, he would not have married his wife

so quickly after his death. This begins to show the manipulative side of Claudius, because he

wants to make it seem as if he was grieving about his brother to gain sympathy so he can step in

and take the role as king swiftly and easily. The hypocrisy in his actions show that the only thing

he values is power and superficial objects, he does not care about the values of family or

loyalty.Claudius’s hypocrisy is revealed in various moments throughout the play. Even when he

feels guilty about what he has done, there is still a sense of hypocrisy because he does not change

his ways and continues to manipulate the situations around him to keep his power. In the quote,

Claudius is praying by himself after he gets exposed by the play that Hamlet used to expose

him.

And, like a man to double business bound,

I stand in pause where I shall first begin,
And both neglect. What if this cursed hand
Were thicker than itself with brother's blood,
Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy
( 3.3.42–47)

Claudius, had just gotten away from the play that Hamlet made to confront him, and he is feeling

a surge of guilt only when he gets caught. This is the only quote where Claudius shows any type

of guilt, and he finally confesses to murdering his brother to the audience. He is praying for

forgiveness and wondering if he is still able to go to heaven. Claudius says that he values his
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religious beliefs but it is not a principle for him since he is hypocritical because he has not taken

any action that would pursue his religious beliefs and he still acts without honor. He even

acknowledges this hypocrisy, because there are two sides to his thoughts, although he feels guilty

he still wants to be king and reap the power and benefits. The use of figurative language and

imagery in the quote, furthers the idea of Claudius’s lack of honor and morals. He questions his

own actions, using imagery to describe his feelings of guilt such as his hands being thickly

covered in his own brother's blood. The rain connects to the act of washing his hands, to get rid

of whatever sense of guilt he is feeling. Claudius looks to heaven to “fix” his sins, and wants his

own actions to be white as snow, the color white and snow can symbolize purity and cleanliness.

He selfishly wants to be freed of his own guilt from killing his brother, because he is unable to

fully accept his position of power but this is only a prayer or a wish and there is no action behind

this thought. Claudius continues to manipulate the situation and the people around him. He

knows to target Laertes because he is vulnerable, and he uses Laertes grief and need for revenge

to find a solution for his own problem. “Laertes, was your father dear to you?/Or are you like the

painting of a sorrow,/A face without a heart?” (4.7. 104–06) Claudius is speaking to Laertes after

he returns and finds out the news that Hamlet has killed his father. The whole conversation

Claudius claims to be guiding Laertes, but he is using Laertes grief and need for revenge to kill

Hamlet. Claudius asks this to confront Laertes in his own emotions, by asking him if he

genuinely cared about his father or if he was faking it. The figurative language of comparing

Laertes and his emotions to a painting, emphasizes Claudius’s true intentions behind and uses a

play on words. In the next line, a face without a heart, Claudius is checking if Laertes cares about

his fathers death, and pushes his emotions higher so that he could get a reaction out of Laertes.

Claudius knew that this would get a rise out of his emotions, and kept pushing him to the point of
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where he would do anything to avenge his father . The whole conversion between them is

hypocritical because he is supporting Laertes revenge,when that is a direct parallel to what

Hamlet is doing, trying to avenge his own fathers death. Claudius does not care about Laertes

and his own emotions or motivation for this, he strategically uses the situation to benefit himself

and to keep his power. The only thing that Claudius values is his excessive need for power and

materialistic items. The only other person that Claudius cares for besides himself, is Gertrude

and even then it is limited. He is a selfish person, who will use and benefit off of anyone’s

misery if it means that he gets to keep or rise to power. Claudius overall is hypocritical in where

his words do not match up with his own actions. The actions of Claudius, while being

dishonorable, have effects on other characters such as Laertes. He pushes Laertes for his own

selfish means and that causes damage to not only Claudius’s life but Laertes’ life as well. Tying

back to the idea of acting without a sense of morals, which Claudius clearly displays, can lead to

disaster.

Throughout the play, there are values such as honor that are represented through the

characters and the lack of honor in characters that is shown can have detrimental effects on other

events that occur later on. Horatio is a good example of a person who acts on their morals, and

can have positive impacts on the people surrounding him. His values are admirable and his

decisions and actions match up with what he stands for. There is no sense of hypocrisy when it

comes to Horatio, unlike the other characters . The exact opposite of his character is Claudius

and his lack of honor that he continuously displays shows the opposite effect that it has on other

characters such as Hamlet and Laertes. The negative values of Claudius and his need to prioritize

his power led to damage and destruction. Claudius’s corrupted ideas of his own values led to the
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inevitable loss of his power. The idea of death furthers this concept, and specifically shows the

type of impact that it can have. The struggling idea of death is at a constant throughout the play,

and the different perspectives on it can differentiate the characters and their own personal values.

There are the different concepts of death that Hamlet specifically goes through and evaluates

such as grievance, and the contemplation of suicide. Hamlet, for example, struggles to grasp the

concept of death, but in the end grows to learn to accept it for what it is and how death is

inevitable. Overall these concepts all come together, to exhibit the motive for an individual’s

need to act upon their own righteous morals.

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Social Issue

Shakespeare presents the issue of toxic gender roles, in this era by showing what was true

for that time period. Toxic masculinity is the culture of pushing traditional masculine norms that

are harmful to society as a whole. The idea of overly masculine traits being forced onto men,

reinforces the gender stereotypes that over time are being knocked down. Although during the

Shakespearean time, these toxic traits were ingrained in society, and furthered the divide

between the female and male gender. Through his female characters, Shakespeare reinforces the

gender role that people believe women should adhere to. Such as being a wife, or overall being

submissive to a man, without being opinionated or causing problems. He also presents the idea

of toxic masculinity through his male characters, especially through Claudius, Laertes, and

Polonius. The way that they are supposed to handle grief or how to necessarily “act like a man”.

There is truth in the way that Polonius and Laertes control Ophelia’s life , which reflects the

culture during that time period. Ophelia’s decisions were controlled by her brother and father,

specifically her relation with Hamlet, although after her father died it inevitably led to the

confusion of her own life, and her death. Even in the main character, Shakespeare shows the

harmful thought process that Hamlet goes through and his own perspective on women, which is

caused by his relationship with his mother and led to the demise of his relationship with Ophelia.

Hamlet constantly despises his mother for getting married so quickly after his own father’s death

and insults and holds a grudge after this. Although it is interesting to see how Shakespeare

presented masculinity in Hamlet because although his ideas about women are toxic and old-

fashioned he does exhibit a more feminine side to his character. Hamlet was considered

emotional and constantly called unmasculine by Claudius because of his grievance process.The
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culture surrounding gender roles, and toxic masculinity has changed greatly although it is still an

issue to this day, it has gotten better with time. Comparatively gender roles now differ from the

gender roles in the Elizabethan era and are less severe.

The issue of gender roles and toxic masculinity is present all throughout history. The

stereotypical gender roles worsen the role of toxic masculinity by furthering the idea that men

have to be overly masculine and be in control.Specifically in the Elizabethan era, the gender

divide and equality was very much separated. Usually the men were in charge of the household

“ These restrictions derived from an idealized version of the preindustrial family economy, in

which the mast was a make family head…”(Crowston 5), and the women in the family had very

little say in the choices that were made. There was an idea that the men had to control all the

money, and the household in general while exerting dominance, and toxic masculinity.

Shakespeare does use an accurate representation of how the gender stereotypes were back then,

with Gertrude and her having to remarry Claudius. Also, the way that Laertes and Polonius

controlled Ophelia's life was similar to the era and how men controlled a lot of what women did

back then. Another way that Shakeseapre challenges the ideas of toxic masculinity, is by making

some of the male characters attain more stereotypical feminine traits, such as being passive or

more emotional. Toxic masculinity during this era was apparent because men couldn’t be seen as

emotional or for example in the play, where Hamlet could not grieve because it was deemed

unmanly. There is still toxic masculinity present in today’s society although it greatly differs

from the Elizabethan time period. It is still ingrained in society from a young age, the idea of

men having to be masculine, which correlates with the idea of dominance, aggression, and the

suppression of emotions. “ Another lesson for young males is that emotional display must be

regulated, lest it undermine a manhood act.”(Schrock) The pressure on men to regulate and
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suppress their emotion is started at a young age and is an overall societal issue. Toxic

masculinity causes gender stereotypes to be reinforced, and does not allow the growth of society

as a whole. Although as time progresses, and the culture surrounding toxic masculinity is starting

to dwindle it is easier to point out and assess the flaws that are causing this. Such as pushing

violence or a fighting culture in sports with young boys. Overall the culture surrounding toxic

masculinity today, compared to the culture back then has made tremendous strides. Although

there is always room for more growth in this specific area, toxic masculinity and the effects will

overtime be non-existent.

The play still holds relevance and purpose regarding the issue of toxic masculinity in

society. Shakespeare uses the culture of toxic masculinity in the male characters, and it is shown

throughout the play multiple times. It holds purpose in today’s society because it shows the flaws

and presents the idea of toxic masculinity and how it is easily ingrained in society. Although it

does not directly challenge or state that it is harmful for everyone surrounding, being able to

address the specific ideas of toxic masculinity and harmful gender stereotypes helps the issue. It

can be easy to pass over the instances where it is present throughout the play, but that only

makes it more realistic to society. Since the issue of toxic masculinity is still present in the 21st

century, the ideas in the play can still be seen as relevant. Within today’s society, the lesson of

overcoming toxic masculinity is very much an issue that is present in the play, and it does still

hold relevance.

Works Cited
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Crowston, Clare. “Women, Gender, and Guilds in Early Modern Europe: An Overview of

Recent Research.” International Review of Social History, vol. 53, Cambridge University

Press, 2008, pp. 19–44, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26405466. Accessed 4 March 2022.

Schrock, Douglas, and Michael Schwalbe. “Men, Masculinity, and Manhood Acts.” Annual

Review of Sociology, vol. 35, Annual Reviews, 2009, pp. 277–95,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/27800079. Accessed 7 March 2022

Shakespeare, William. Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. BFW publisher. 1609.

Annotated Bibliography
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Ahsan, Lubna. “Gender Roles during the Golden Period (1558-1603).” New Horizons (1992-

4399), vol. 6, no. 2, July 2012, p. 2. EBSCOhost,

https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=aph&AN=142877460&site=ehost-live.

This journal by Lubna Ahsan, goes over the basic standards and values that were

upholded during that time frame of the golden period. There is an obvious and apparent

difference between the cultures of today’s society and the culture back then. The gender

roles were completely different, and the gender stereotypes were reinforced. The obvious

gender stereotype of a woman overall being submissive towards a man and the mane

being in control of the household.

These are the specific gender stereotypes that were used in the play, and the information

in this article is used for background information about the culture that was apparent in

that certain time period. The woman was usually controlled by the man who was deemed

the head of the household and had control over most decisions in the househoold

Crowston, Clare. “Women, Gender, and Guilds in Early Modern Europe: An Overview

of Recent Research.” International Review of Social History, vol. 53, Cambridge

University Press, 2008, pp. 19–44, http://www.jstor.org/stable/26405466. Accessed 4

March 2022.

The research articles touch on women, gender during early modern europe. This

time period was towards the end of the Elizabethan era. There was a system of patriarchal

institutions within the smaller towns and cities. It also touches on the restrictions and

limitations that women face and how they were not able to receive the same education
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and there were many rules in place.

The information that was used from this article was the quote about the restriction

that families face and the system within the family. This system was ingrained in society ,

and the men were in charge of the household.

Schrock, Douglas, and Michael Schwalbe. “Men, Masculinity, and Manhood Acts.”

Annual Review of Sociology, vol. 35, Annual Reviews, 2009, pp. 277–95,

http://www.jstor.org/stable/27800079. Accessed 7 March 2022

This article was talking about the masculinity that is forced on boys at such a

young age. There are harmful effects of everyday society that ingrain the toxic

masculinity within boys at such a young age. This toxic masculinity has detrimental

effects on other aspects of life.

There was a quote used from this article to further the argument of the detrimental

effects of toxic masculinity. Boys are taught at a young age to suppress any emotion,

because if they cry or show any emotion other than anger it can be seen as non masculine.

These ideas are harmful to society as a whole because it puts a stunt in growth of society

and specifically males.

Wiesner, Merry E. “Beyond Women and the Family: Towards a Gender Analysis of the

Reformation.” The Sixteenth Century Journal, vol. 18, no. 3, The Sixteenth Century

Journal, 1987, pp. 311–21, https://doi.org/10.2307/2540718.

The analysis of women, and how they contributed to society. Also the analysis of how

gender is researched during the reformation period. There was not a focus on the analysis

of the female gender specifically during this time period. The articles touches on how the
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reformation affected women during this time period.

The background information about women during this time period was useful. It helped

to get information about the typical gender stereotypes and how it is analyzed. This

article was analyzing the gender stereotypes of women during the sixteenth century.