Perception of Women in the Renaissance

Perception of Women in the Renaissance Perception is the point of view a person or groups of people have towards a specific idea or thought. Throughout the Renaissance, many discoveries, improvements, and realizations were made in art and literature. However, these changes did not impact the image of a woman in the Renaissance. Such as the four most important Renaissance artists depictions of women. Those artists were Leonardo, Donated, Raphael, and Michelangelo (yes these are also the popular cartoon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, no they are not prevalent in any way shape or form other than name).In literature, poets such as Christopher Marlowe, Machiavelli, and mainly William Shakespeare discuss holy or spiritual and have mixed opinions of women (Elegance). Advancements made in that timestamp set the stage for the world in future eras to come. In addition this poses an important yet also controversial perception of the Renaissance; this perception is how successful was the Renaissa nce for women? In the Renaissance, artists' opinions had mixed results but changed frequently.Some drew and sculpted women nude to show a sense of hubris whereas others portrayed them as overweight to show shame but at the same time it could also stand for artillery because producing a child was very important at the time. Another statement made was when the political systems of Europe changed from the medieval feudal systems to a more modern-day government system, women of every social class saw a change in their social and political options that men did not.Celibacy did become the female norm and â€Å"the relations of the sexes were restructured to one of female dependency and male Package 2 domination† (Kelly 20). Women lived a more insubordinate or inferior lifestyle. Men ruled over everything, even through half a century of Queens. This perceives that omen were inferior and did achieve in the Renaissance, Just not as much as men. The Renaissance presented people with ri ch literature that paved the literary cobblestones into the environmentally sound asphalt streets used today.In literature at the time, women were viewed as the inferior gender and had roles in civilization such as; housekeeping, caring for the youth as well as sexual pleasures to men. Women's roles were limited in Renaissance life to a point where they were excluded from a leading role in public life (Women). They were not permitted to act in any of Shakespearean plays. In the event a woman character needed to be filled, a man would suffice as women were â€Å"incapable. † Famed and revered playwright William Shakespeare was noted for the writing of Macbeth, a seventeenth century play dedicated to King James.In this play , Shakespeare writes of Macbeth and his Jewell- Hyde like transformation from noble thane to bloody murderer. While the plot revolves around Macbeth and his notorious actions throughout; the attention is turned numerous times to his wife, Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth is depicted by Shakespeare as an honest, good woman, but as the story moves forward she is rover to be the exact opposite of the stereotypical woman in the Renaissance era. She is well educated, serves a purpose in the household other than basic housekeeping and can openly critique her spouse.While in virtually all other homes that would be condoned as an extreme display of disrespect. Lady Macbeth is different from the average Renaissance woman in the sense that she is nobility. Shakespearean perception of Lady Macbeth creates a loophole in the statement that royalty can rise Package 3 above the commoners. However, an entire nation cannot be considered royalty or the title has no meaning. Therefore, the perception that the majority of women had a substantially less successful Renaissance then their male counterparts stands accurate.Explained in the poetry of the Renaissance, poets such as Christopher Marlowe and Sir Walter Raleigh talk of the full lives they have ahead of t hem. Within the text, they mention the women they desire and to an extent they assume the women will willingly accept their hand and be happy. While the men are surprised in each incident at the responses they receive, it indicates their opinions towards women in the era, which is that they are superior and that women should Just do as hey wish and say no more.While the tone might seem positive, the peripheral message being sent was that men were superior and it supplements to the fact that women were not as successful or benefiting from the Renaissance. In conclusion, the artistic expression and political challenges show the opinions of women in the period. The literature explains that men were superior and that women were not as able as men were. Women were looked at as second-class citizens through the eyes of poets and playwrights in the era. With the exception of nobility which was a very mall portion of the female population.