This paper is about the position of women in Shakespeare's plays, specifically As You Like It, Merchant of Venice, Coriolanus, and Hamlet. It discusses how his female characters separate out into two different groups: young innocent girls approaching marriage, and older widows whom political ambition has gotten the better of. The phenomenon of cross-dressing in the comedies is addressed, and the conclusion states firmly that the marital status of any particular Shakespearian woman is a good indicator of her moral worth. 10 pgs. 14 f/c. 1b.
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