Premium Content "Hadst thou groaned for him": Maternity, Power, and History in Richard II
By Anonymous - October 20, 2003
Richard II, like most of Shakespeare's history plays (though, notably, unlike his comedies and tragedies), establishes a theatrical world dominated by men and masculinity. Female characters are few, and those that appear on the stage tend to say little and have less agency. But, as critic Graham Holderness notes, "women may not be much in evidence…
This excerpt of the essay is provided for free. To read the complete essay of 2838 words or to get access to our full library of Literature Essays, please subscribe below or log in if you are already subscribed.
Join Now - Choose a Membership Level
GradeSaver provides access to quizzes, 2507 literature essays, 635 sample college application essays and ad-free surfing in this premium content, "Members Only" section of the site! Membership includes a 10% discount on all editing orders.
We have been mentioned in the Washington Post, the Economist, and many other papers around the world for our exceptional essays. GradeSaver has reviewed each essay for quality; these essays are the very best on the Internet and many have been written by students of Ivy League colleges.
| 3-Day Trial (recurring) | $2.95 * |
| 30-Day Trial (recurring) | $6.95 * |
| 1 Month Membership (one-time charge) | $12.95 |
| 12 Month Membership (one-time charge) | $49.95 |
* After your trial period, you will be billed a monthly fee of $6.95 with the option to cancel at any time. Questions? Read our FAQ.
Existing Users
Related Content for Richard II
- Study Guide for Richard II
- E-Text for Richard II
- Forum for Richard II
- Purchase Richard II and Related Material
- Biography of William Shakespeare
- Richard II's Final Soliloquy: A Study in Self-Realization
- History and Tragedy in Richard II
- The King in Falstaff
- "Hadst thou groaned for him": Maternity, Power, and History in Richard II
- Kingship As a Means Or An End in Shakespeare's King Richard II and King Richard III
- Ways of Defining Gender in Shakespeare's History Plays
- Richard II: The Player-King
- To Believe, or Not To Believe
- The "Sacred" Ordination of Kings and the Abuse of His "Subjects"
- The King As Man
- Killing Kings
- Like Glistening Phaeton: The Image of the Sun in Richard II and Henry IV
