Masculinity: Difference between revisions

<span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Shakespeare William Shakespeare]</span> is perhaps the most recognized and influential writer to have ever existed. One of his writing trademarks, so to speak, is his employment of the <span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Motif_(narrative) motif]</span> of masculinity in many of his plays. For example, he differentiates the gender roles or qualities of his male and female characters by either showing the large disparity between the two genders or presenting moments where his male characters are emasculated such as his <span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/King_Lear ''King Lear'']</span>. An exemplary moment of Lear's emasculation is when he is taunted by <span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespearean_fool The Fool]</span> and he says "O, how this mother swells up toward my heart!/ ''Histerica passio'' down, thou climbing sorrow;/ Thy element's below," which is read by Bruce R. Smith, in his book ''Shakespeare and Masculinity'', as Lear's division of his upper and lower body, meaning that Lear sees his upper body as a representation of "reason" and logic, and his lower body as passion<ref>Smith, Bruce R.. "Introduction." ''Shakespeare and Masculinity''. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press, 2000. Print. [http://www.amazon.com/Shakespeare-Masculinity-Oxford-Topics/dp/0198711891/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1398382091&sr=8-1&keywords=Shakespeare+and+Masculinity]</ref>. Smith goes on to say that Lear sees the division of his upper and lower body to be gendered: "the heart that he calls 'mine' is threatened by 'this mother' from below. Lear's loss of reason...can be seen...as the triumph of this female passion within, a loss of both [<span class= "plainlinks"> [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patriarchy patriarchy]</span>] and masculine identity."