205k views
1 vote
If Shakespeare had a sister who also wanted to write or act, how different would her life be from her brother's?

User Jodiann
by
4.6k points

2 Answers

4 votes

Answer:

In the Elizabethan period, only women belonging to the nobility had access to education. Shakespeare’s father was a merchant, and his family did not belong to the noble class. Given the social codes of the time, his sister would have no access to education and, therefore, writing would be out of the question. Acting would not be possible, either, because women were not allowed on stage. She would instead be trained in how to be a good wife, a good cook, and a good mother.

If Shakespeare’s sister wanted to break the mold and pursue her dreams, society would be hostile to her. She likely would not have the support of family members. She also would have been unlikely to find work as an actor in London. In short, it would be nearly impossible for a single woman of Shakespeare’s time to succeed in the male-dominated world of acting and writing.

Step-by-step explanation:

from PLATO

User Qinsheng Zhang
by
4.2k points
4 votes

Answer:

Quite different.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the times of Shakespeare, women were not permitted to act on stage and female roles were played by men. The writing part is questionable, but it was expected of women to be submissive, with their life ambitions confined to marriage and children. Hope it helps :)

User Lstanczyk
by
3.8k points