King John Theme of Women and Femininity

Move over Lady Macbeth, because women characters (especially mothers) play interesting and important roles in King John. Rather than sit back and let the men control all the action, Constance and Eleanor try to change the course of history by driving their sons' political careers.

Of course, both of these women are limited by the standards of the society in which they live. This society says that women should stay out of politics and remain silent and obedient, and it's also completely paranoid about wives cheating on their husbands.

That said, even within these constraints, most of the play's women find ways to make their voices heard—from Queen Eleanor, who is the power behind King John's throne, to Constance, who is (initially) the main influence behind King Philip's war against King John, to Blanche, who makes it known how little she thinks about her husband-to-be.

Even such potentially stereotypical behavior as Constance's hysteria at the loss of her son is presented in an unexpected way, as Constance gives a famously moving and convincing defense of how her actions are, in fact, totally reasonable. Also, the play puts a positive spin on such stereotypically female behavior as weeping and feeling compassion: it's this very behavior that prevents Hubert from committing the heinous act of blinding and murdering young Arthur.

This isn't to say that all the female characters in this play are necessarily good. We like a good powerful woman as much as the next website, but is Eleanor, for example, actually a good person? Is she better than John or Philip? What about Constance? Blanche?

1. Queen Eleanor seems like the power behind the throne. Given how her character is presented in the play, is it safe to say things would be different if she were a man? (For instance, would she then be the power in front of the throne?)
2. Historically, women have often been used as pawns in diplomacy; Blanche in King John is no exception. On the whole, do you see women in the play as peacemakers?
3. How does Shakespeare represent motherhood in the play?
4. How do male characters talk about women in the play? What does this show about the relationships between men and women in King John's day, or in Shakespeare's?

In King John, women are responsible for war and violence as much (or more than) they are responsible for peace.

For Eleanor and Constance, looking after their children is their most important motivation.