True/false

A PNI table is a business tool.  The abbreviation stands for positives, negatives and implications.

Here is another quote from Dash (1981, 249). "Individuality seldom emerges when criticism concentrates on the male character and only tangentially on the female, perceiving her as subordinate."

This is another quote identifying a patriarchial society.

Have students work in pairs.  The first student finds the first appearance of the lead female character or the first time she is mentioned.  They should describe the scene to their partner.  The cue question is: Is it true that XXX (insert name of lead female) is subordinate to the male characters in the play.  The second of the pair must now decide whether it is true or false that the female character is subordinate to the male character and justify their answer.

In some cases the answer maybe both true and false.  For example when we first hear of Desdemona she is described as belonging to her father which makes her a subordinate character but she has made her own decision about who she loves and has eloped with Othello.  Alternatively, you may wish to provide students with the scenes that you wish them to discuss.

You may wish to look at the plot or to discuss whether the plot would have taken a different turn if the female character under discussion had been stronger.