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Library's collection Library's IT development CancelJohn Fletcher and Francis Beaumont are two of the
giants of the Elizabethan dramatists during the Elizabethan
Age in England. During that time, women , especially the
upper class women, have more liberty that women from the
previous period. This can be noticed clearly by both
Fletcher and Beaumont since both come from upper class
families. Therefore, they write plays, in the form of
comedies, to satirise the Elizabethan upper class women.
Their collaboration work, The Scornful Lady and Fletcher's
Rule a Wife and Have a Wife best represent their intention
in satirising Elizabethan rich women. In both plays,
matrimonial life is regarded as a way to dominate the other
sex by the female characters. Lady , in the former play,
wants to dominate her suitor, Elder Loveless. Therefore she
often mocks him in order to show her superiority in front of
him. On the other hand, in the later play, Margarita wants
to preserve her status as a lady. Therefore, she looks for
a lifetime partner who will be willing to serve her. As a
result, she commands and rules Leon, the major male
character, in order to dominate her. Thus, Elder Loveless
and Leon react against women's superiority and they succeed
in defeating women in the end. Both the ma}or female
characters represent the Elizabethan upper class women who
have much liberty. On the other hand, the male characters
are Beaumont's and Fletcher's spokesmen. Beaumont and
Fletcher want to return to the standard norms which exist in
the society.