Elizabeth's Effect On Gender Worth

During and after her reign Queen Elizabeth was lauded as a very effective and ruler, making her respected as a Queen and surprisingly, for the time, as a woman. Her command in politics and skill in diplomatic leadership forced her rivals and peers to regard her very highly. As England's first undisputed female monarch, Elizabeth's capabilities must have motivated a change in society's value of women and shaken beliefs about sexual inequality. It is interesting to note the change the literary role of females before and after her time as queen; few of the pre-Tudor works that we have covered feature prominent, strong female characters and yet the Duchess of Malfi is a strong, albeit tragic character.