Angels Or Monsters

Shakespeare has portrayed many colorful female images in his dramas. This thesis applies Sandra Gilbert and Susan Gubar’ theory of angel and monster to study the typical female images in three dramas:King Lear, Hamlet and The Taming of the Shrew.Apart from the introduction and conclusion parts, the thesis falls into three chapters. The first chapter mainly explores the three main female characters of King Lear:Cordelia, Goneril, and Regan. Cordelia is always perceived as an angel for her loving image of leniency, honesty and obedience in this play. Under her angelic mask, however, she is a defender of the patriarchal notions. Goneril and Regan are totally on the opposite side of Cordelia. Goneril is described not only as a deceiver, wanton and cruel daughter to her father, but also as a seducer. Nevertheless, from the feminist perspective, she can be seen as a warrior against the patriarchal society. As an accomplice in this play, Regan is a cruel and lascivious deceiver. Indeed, she is also a warrior against the patriarchal society under the mask of monster. The second chapter is designed to analyze Ophelia and Gertrude in Hamlet: Ophelia is a silent and loving female, who absolutely submits herself to her father and brother. Though portrayed as an angel, she is a true victim of the patriarchal society. On the other hand, Gertrude is portrayed as a ruthless and vicious wanton. In fact, she is a good mother and another victim of the male-centered world. Chapter three probes into The Taming of the Shrew. Bianca is called the "ideal maid" for her docile character and beautiful looking. She is a brave and self-conscious woman in effect. Katherina was a rude and disobedient shrew at the beginning of the play, but she is "tamed" to be a good representative of the authority of the husband.Through such a detailed analysis of the typical female images of angel or monster in Shakespeare’s three dramas, the thesis intends to reveal their true features under the masks of angel or monster to probe into Shakespeare’s view on women and then remind the academia and readers of the importance of paying more attention to the female images in Shakespearean dramas.