Do you agree with Juliet Dusinbierres claim that Renaissance Drama is feminist-in-sympathy?

The rebirth everywheresaw a arguing that challenged the roles of women. Although, feminism did not exist in reincarnation, there were women in society who struggled to achieve comparability with men.1 However, whether Renaissance Drama contains feminist sympathies is controversial. John Websters The Duchess of Malfi 2and Ben Jonsons Volpone3 be two plays that portray a fe anthropoid struggle for license and equivalence. Yet at the same, both plays show that there were limitations to this freedom and equivalence as not notwithstanding were women dominated by patriarchy only if alike it seems that any women who proved foul to this and strived to achieve equality were eventually punished for their actions.Webster demonstrates how women struggle to achieve equality and freedom as the protagonist, The Duchess is very dominating and independent. Siobhan Keenan supports this as she argues that Websters portrayal of the Duchess does not conform to either stereotype. The woman tha t we finally meet in the play is witty, self-confident and sexually knowing.4Keenan makes a strong argument because , seems that the Duchess in the first half of the play at to the lowest degree is domineering and hence does not remain the ideal, chaste and virtuous woman that formed the typical female stereotype in the Renaissance.5 The Duchess is self-assured6 and domineering by the way that she courts Antonio and marries him, despite defying her brothers, Ferdinand and the Cardinal, and marrying beneath her complaisant class. This is seen in Act 1 Scene 3 when the Duchess saysShall this move me? If all my royal kindred get down in my way unto my marriage,Id make them my low footsteps and even now,Even in this hate, as men in some great battles,By apprehending danger, project achievedAlmost impossible actions (I have heard soldiers say so),So i through fights and threatening will assayThis dangerous venture. Let old wives reportI winked and chose a married man, Cariola,To t hy known secrecy I have given upMore than my life my fame (1348-58)7The Duchess is independent in the way that she marries Antonio, because unlike the male counterpoint that would usually courts his suitor, the duchess decides to appoint a economize for herself, and therefore in the process challenges patriarchal authority. The duchess challenges patriarchal authority because her description of her brothers as her low footsteps (1350)8 illustrates that she cannot be underwriteled and that nothing will stand in her way of her marriage.Webster also demonstrates how women are equal on board men to some extent where the Duchess is concerned because it appears that once the Duchess is married to Antonio, she wields immense control and influence over their alliance. This is seen in Act 3, Scene 2 when Antonio suggestsANTONIO Well Sleep TogetherDUCHESS Alas, what pleasure can two lovers convalesce in sleep?CARIOLA My lord, I lie with her often, and i knowShell much disquiet you .ANT ONIO See, you are complained of.CARIOLA For shes the sprawlingst bedfellowANTONIO I shall like herThe better for that (3210-14)9The Duchesss refusal to sleep with Antonio is significant here because it demonstrates not only that she mainly influences her relationship with Antonio but also that she will control her own sexual life and function as a woman.Jonsons Volpone also demonstrates that there is a struggle for women to achieve equality and freedom, as this is partly seen by the pictorial matter of Lady Politic-Would-Be and Celia. Webster shows how Lady Politic-Would Be is independent by the way that she likes to express her femininity as she says lessen nearer. Is this curlIn his right place? Or this? Why is this higherThen all the counterbalance? You ha not washed your eyes yet?Or do they not stand even i your transport?Wheres your fellow? Call her. (3410-14)10Lady Politic Would Bes questioning of her beauty is significant here because it demonstrates that not only is she critical of her own image as a woman but also that she wants to control her own femininity and identity.Jonson also demonstrates to a certain extent through his portrayal of Celia that women are resistant towards men. This is particularly seen in Act 3 Scene 7 when Volpone tries to both seduce and rape CeliaVOLPONE infer me cold,Frozen, and impotent, and so report me?That I had Nestors hernia, thou wouldst think.I do degenerate, and abuse my nation.To play with opportunity olibanum long.I should have done the Act and then have parleyed.Yield, or Ill force theeCELIA O estimable God (37259-264)11Celias adornment of Christian values and religion is used to camouflage her foe to men to a certain extent. Celias Christian values and beliefs play an important role in allowing her to prove her resistance because it demonstrates that apart(predicate) from her husband, she is only responsible to God, and therefore this offers protection and comfort to her.12 Furthermore, both Celias refu sal to yield (37263)13 to Volpone and her cry for champion could be viewed as a key turning point in the play. This is because not only is this the first time that a female character resists male authority but also it shows that women do have a voice. Celias voice could mark a stage in the struggle for female equality because it shows that women are both capable of expressing their identity and silencing patriarchy.However, at the same time, Webster and Jonson also show throughout their plays that there are limitations to achieving female equality. Webster and Jonson both show that patriarchy dominates the lives of women and therefore in doing so provides an obstacle to freedom. Jonson and Webster show how women are dominated by patriarchy by the way that both Celia and the Duchess are viewed as possessions and designs of men. Jonson shows that Celia is viewed as an object of Corvino because she is not allowed to leave her home and is therefore kept isolated from society. This is supported by Michael Stout who has argued that Celia is not a character to appeal to feminists for she is dependent on the actions of others.Celia is acted upon, rather than acting freely herself and is at the kindness of the male characters in the play.14 Stout makes a strong argument here because throughout the play, Celia is largely portrayed typically as the chaste, virtuous and subservient woman who proves to be dominated by her husband and is domesticated. Jonson also shows how Celia is treated as an object of her husband by the way that Corvino tries to sell his wife to Volpone, and therefore likens her to money as he asks What is my Gold/The worse for, touching? (3740-41)15 Corvinos reference to Celia as currency (3740)16 is significant here in demonstrating how women are viewed as property because by situating women in frugal terms, it allows men to use and abuse women, and hence enables them to become more prosperous and powerful. In similar fashion, Webster also demon strates that women are referred to in economic terms and treated as objects, as this is seen in Act 1 Scene 3 when the Duchess has a conversation with FerdinandDUCHESS Diamonds are of most value,They say, that they have passed through most jewellers hands.FERDINAND Whores by that rule are precious. (137-9)17Ferdinands description of the Duchess as a form of jewellery that is precious (139)18 is significant in demonstrating how men try to reduce women to objects. This is because by trying to exert influence and mastery over women in this way it not only allows men to become more prosperous but also more competitive and prestigious in society.Webster also shows how women neer really achieve equality as this is seen by the way that the Duchess is murdered towards the end of the play and does not outlive any of the male characters.19 Although, Websters play is a tragedy, it is significant that he alters the conventions in choosing a woman as his tragic hero. Websters prime(prenominal ) of a woman for his tragic hero and the Duchess death in the play is important because it could demonstrate that women never really achieve freedom. Women never really achieve freedom because despite striving to achieve a voice, this ultimately proves too artificial and weak within a society governed and driven by men.Renaissance Drama only contains feminist sympathies to some extent. Although Webster and Jonson in their plays show that women struggle to achieve freedom and equality alongside men, this ultimately proves limited and counterproductive as not only are female characters heavy influenced by patriarchy. However, they are also eventually oppressed and punished for any attempted actions or resistance against this.