In British Literature, women had many responsibilities, but very few freedoms. The men in this society ruled over women and told them how to live their lives. Women of low classes were to stay in their homes and be housewives. The working class women were to work for their husbands while still caring for their homes. The upper class women would sometimes have servants or helpers, but they still had household duties. Many women were not allowed to express themselves or be heard in this type of society. Upper class women were very rarely seen, but they could sometimes express themselves. Throughout British literature, many writers had female characters that had different roles, but still had a major impact in each story.
In Beowulf, Queen Wealhtheow and Grendel’s mother play an important role in this piece of literature. The queen is kind and proper throughout the story. She is an active peace weaver and asks Beowulf to be a counselor to her sons. The opposite of a peace weaver would be Grendel’s mother. Grendel’s mother is vengeful for her son’s death. She steals one of the Scyldings and Beowulf comes after her. Even though Beowulf kills her, she still put up a good fight and had power throughout this story. In this time, “The role of women was a very scarce role. Women were supposed to be seen and not heard. Rarely seen at that. Women were to be prim and proper, the ideal women” (Mazzocco). Many women were considered peace weavers, but not so much of their husbands’ property in Beowulf.
In Canterbury Tales, the Nun and Wife of Bath have a great impact on the characters and the rest of the story. The Nun, who is also known as Madame Englantine, pretends to be someone she isn’t. Instead of wearing proper Nun clothing and rosary beads, she wears an expensive cloak and jewelry. According to Joan Kelly, “Unless you were upper class, women were unable to speak their minds freely and even then men dictated how they did such a thing” (Did Women Have a Renaissance?). This wasn’t the case for Madame Englantine. Her behavior is disobedient to her church and family. Wife of bath isn’t as much of a fallen woman as the Nun, but she is an outspoken character in Canterbury Tales. The Wife of Bath explains throughout the story that women want to be secretive, but they can’t ever keep one. She wears rich clothing and brand new shoes. This shows her wealth and power in the court. Even though she is a subjective to the king, she still has a high role in society. The women throughout history start become more powerful and have a say.
In Macbeth, Lady Macbeth and Lady Macduff influence the story in many ways. Lady Macbeth plots Duncan’s death in order for Macbeth to become king. She is ambitious and deceptive. She convinces her husband to kill Duncan. Lady Macbeth says, “Come, you spirits That tend on moral thoughts, unisex me here, And fill me from the toe top-full Od direct cruelty” (Shakespeare, Act 1: Scene 5). She wishes she was a man so that she could’ve done it herself. She has power and is a very outspoken woman in society. In the rest of the story, there three witches have an impact by casting spells on Macbeth to murder Duncan. This is just the beginning of a woman’s role in history and throughout stories.
In conclusion, women during the British time period had no control over how they were to act, dress, or talk. In Beowulf, Canterbury Tales, and Macbeth the women proved that they have an impact on society. As the time went on, women became more and more powerful. They made a way for women today. Women have become outspoken and have played a great role in society.
Works Cited
- Kelly, Joan. “Did Women Have a Renaissance?”Women, History and Theory.Ed.Joan
- Kelly.Chicago and London: The University of Chicago Press, 1984.1950.
- Mazzocco, Angelo. The Role of Women in the Italian Renaissance. Mount Holy Yoke College.
- http://www.mtholyyoke.edu/courses/nvaget/evrst/womrenaissance.html
- Shakespeare, William, et al. Macbeth. Suhrkamp, 2017.