The Fall of Masculinity: Helena as a Transgressive and Dangerous Woman in William Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well

• 영문명: The Fall of Masculinity: Helena as a Transgressive and Dangerous Woman in William Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well
• 발행기관: 한국영미어문학회
• 저자명: 장성진
• 간행물 정보: 『영미어문학』제148호, 239~255쪽, 전체 17쪽
• 주제분류: 어문학 > 영어와문학
• 파일형태: PDF
• 발행일자: 2023.03.30

영문 초록

This paper focuses on the healing scene and bed - trick in William Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well, to prove Helena transgresses and overturns male - centered society. Critics have often understood Helena as an ideal female agent who physically and symbolically heals the endangered masculine world through her curing the king. However, going against this reading, this paper argues that Shakespeare does not simply portray Helena as a passive and obedient woman in male - oriented society. Instead, Helena seeks after her own desires and insistently subverts this male - centered society through her virginity. This subversion eventually leads to a flipping of gender roles when Helena makes Bertram a victim of her marriage plan. Thus, unlike previous readings of Helena, she should be understood as a subversive and transgressive character.

목차

1. Introduction

2. On Virginity: Helena as a Seemingly Faithful Woman

3. The Endangered Male - Oriented World: Helena as a Transgressive Woman

4. Conclusion

Works Cited

키워드

William Shakespeare All’s Well That Ends Well the female agent virginity male - centered society masculinity