"She Is A Woman, Therefore To Be Won"

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MARGARET
Why speak'st thou not? What ransom must I pay?
SUFFOLK [aside]
She's beautiful, and therefore to be wooed.
She is a woman, therefore to be won.
MARGARET
Wilt thou accept of ransom, yea or no?
SUFFOLK [aside]
Fond man, remember that thou hast a wife,
Then how can Margaret be thy paramour?

In this passage from Henry VI, Part 1, Suffolk struggles with his feelings for Margaret, despite the fact he is already married. The internal conflict he experiences is palpable as he tries to reconcile his desire with his existing marital obligations. Suffolk's musings reveal the societal notions of the time, where a woman's beauty is seen as a reason for her to be pursued and "won." Such a view underscores the objectification of women, reducing them to prizes rather than individuals with autonomy. His aside, "She is a woman, therefore to be won," suggests an expectation that women can be easily persuaded or claimed. This exposes Suffolk's inner turmoil and moral conflict as he attempts to quell his attraction to Margaret with the reminder of his marital vows. The passage highlights the tension between duty and desire, a recurring theme in Shakespeare's works.

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