Preface to Shakespeare

Essay | Samuel Johnson

Shakespeare has no heroes, but only heroines.

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Explain this line Shakespeare has no heroes but only heroines The great critic John Ruskin - once said Shakespeare has no heroes but only heroines This means Shakespeare s female characters are often stronger smarter and more active than the men But this idea is true mainly for his comedies In his tragedies and historical plays most women are weak helpless and silent Let us look at some examples Strong in Comedies In comedies Shakespeare s heroines are brave and clever They solve problems and help others They even guide the men For example Portia in The Merchant of Venice saves Antonio in court Rosalind in As You Like It teaches love and shows great wisdom These women are full of life and energy They speak clearly and act wisely That is why they shine more than the male characters Weak in Tragedies In tragedies Shakespeare s women are often

soft and sad They suffer silently Ophelia in Hamlet cannot express her love She obeys her father and loses her mind Desdemona in Othello is loving and kind Even the cruel Lady Macbeth breaks down in the end In Act Scene I of Macbeth this lady is consumed with guilt after murdering King Duncan as she says All the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this little hand Suffering in Histories In historical plays women live hard and painful lives They lose their children husbands or peace They do not get love or happiness Women like Queen Margaret Constance and Katherine suffer silently Their husbands are busy with war and power These women are ignored and forgotten So Ruskin s line is partly true Shakespeare gave many bright and active heroines in comedies But in tragedies and histories women are sad and powerless Some shine like Cleopatra but most are silent sufferers

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