Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Shakespeare in the news

http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20091020/us_time/08599193097100

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Women Crossing Borders

As my group begins its research for the transgender/hermaphrodite presentation on Twelfth Night, the question comes to my mind about whether women may more easily cross certain cultural boundaries than men. In class today, we discussed whether or not Jessica has an easier time converting because, as a woman, she already lacks agency in society. Her identity is one prescribed by men, so if men of importance around her acknowledge her conversion as sincere, then she is able to fully assimilate into Christian society. Shylock will have no such luck because as a forced convert he fits in neither with the Christians nor the Jews. If this argument has merit, it would mean that women of all situations in Early Modern cultures would more easily move in social status, rank, religion, etc. - anything that comes with a label - as long as they have the backing of a man of influence. So far in our reading we've seen other women crossing borders:
Lucrece - her suicide is a masculine act, reclaiming her body and transforming it into a message in a way
Kathrine - her voice seems originally that of a man; she must transform her complete viewpoint in order to be accepted into society

Lady Macbeth and Ariel from The Tempest (who seems neither male nor female) come to mind as well.