https://www.shanlaxjournals.com 1 SHANLAX International Journal of English Patriarchal Ideologies and Traditional Gender Roles in William Shakespeare’s Play The Tempest Mahmud Al Hasan Lecturer, Department of English, Sheikh Hasina University, Netrokona, Bangladesh https://orcid.org/0009-0008-9148-0615 Abstract The paper delves into William Shakespeare’s portrayal of patriarchy, gender inequality, and the subjugation of women in his play The Tempest which promotes patriarchal ideologies to a great extent. It attempts to highlight the traditional patriarchal norms evident through Prospero’s exertion of control over his daughter, Miranda. It also investigates why the best attributes of women of the Elizabethan period are their physical beauty, chastity and obedience. The study again examines the illustration of women as ‘the other’ and objects of male gaze and lustful desire as well as pawns for men in terms of attaining personal ambitions and objectives. It tries to explore the commodification of women, their lack of agency, their silence, vulnerability and their passive existence owing to male supremacy, societal expectations, and patriarchal views. Grounded in the theory of feminism, this qualitative research aims to achieve its intended objectives. The primary data for this study is sourced from William Shakespeare’s play The Tempest and is further supplemented by additional information obtained from reliable secondary sources. Keywords: Patriarchal Ideologies, Gender Roles, Commodification of Women, Male Supremacy, The Second Sex Introduction The Tempest, a famous romantic comedy, is considered often by many as the last play written by William Shakespeare (Snider 197). It effectively reflects the patriarchal standards prevalent during his time in England. It depicts women as either possessions of men or objects of sexual desire. In this play, women are delineated as ‘the other’ or ‘the second sex’, expected to conform to societal obligations and expectations dictated by men. Patriarchy ‘is based on a male- centred worldview and it works to subordinate, marginalise, and interiorize women in all fields’ (Sen and Das 21). Shakespeare throws light on the popular patriarchal belief that a woman’s sacred responsibility is only to protect her chastity and virginity for her lawful spouse and execute gender-specific tasks assigned to her by men. The play exemplifies the features closely associated with the concept of ideal woman within the contemporary Shakespearean society. These traits underscore the entrenched notion of female inferiority in a patriarchal system where men exercise ownership over women, rendering them far from equal. The play serves as a flagbearer of patriarchy and toxic masculinity. It also promotes women who are silent, tame, and marginalised. It denies their autonomous identity and their rightful opportunity to express themselves, rendering them instead as prized possessions for men to brag about and share. Shakespeare’s limited incorporation of robust female characters might be perceived as a conscious decision to maintain patriarchal authority and reinforce gender bias. Within the play, Miranda stands as the sole prominent female figure, embodying the conventional ideal of womanhood in Elizabethan society. OPEN ACCESS Manuscript ID: ENG-2024-12047942 Volume: 12 Issue: 4 Month: September Year: 2024 P-ISSN: 2320-2645 E-ISSN: 2582-3531 Received: 12.06.2024 Accepted: 02.08.2024 Published: 01.09.2024 Citation: Hasan, Mahmud Al. “Patriarchal Ideologies and Traditional Gender Roles in William Shakespeare’s Play The Tempest.” Shanlax International Journal of English, vol. 12, no. 4, 2024, pp. 1–12. DOI: https://doi.org/10.34293/ english.v12i4.7942 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License