Tutor profile: Faye L.

Idealized femininity in Macbeth

Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” brings to light the concept of idealized femininity, questioning the parameters that define an ‘ideal’ woman. We see these characteristics epitomized by lady Macduff who in Shakespeare’s eyes stands as the perfect specimen of a female. She lives only for her husband and without him, she is helpless, the very characteristics that she is glorified for, rendering her obsolete. As for Lady Macbeth, she is everything that Lady Macduff is not. She represents the women who struggle to free themselves of the gender-binding restraints that they have been unjustly implicated with. With only a few characters to refer to, it does not take long to realize how synchronized helplessness is with the female gender. No matter their stance on the societally imposed ‘ideal’ female, the only way a woman can impose a change or enact a desire is through a man. Overall, the play seems to endorse this ideal femininity describing it as submissive, maternal, and domestic and warning that a woman who aspires to be anything more is dangerous and ultimately doomed.

What purpose does cannibalism play in Seneca's Thyestes?

Set upon exacting his revenge, Atreus seeks a crime that is more evil than the very one that initially necessitated revenge. More evil that the promiscuity that his wife and brother took part in. With such sheer disrespect for the rules both pietistic and legal, it is only logical to exact a revenge equally if not more disrespectful of the same rules. Cannibalism, as such, in its nature as the antithesis of all that is good and right consequently becomes the most appropriate means of revenge.

To what extent did Zoroastrianism play a role in the legal structure making up the Persian Empire?

- First need to break down the specific time period that is being focused on-- whether it is pre or post the Muslim takeover. - Focus on the different Persian dynasties and the legal structures that crossover directly with religious scripture. - And how different rulers influenced that.