Why did men play the female roles in Shakespeare's plays?

A. Girls and women were not allowed to work in the theater during Elizabethan times.

B. The roles went to young boys who were apprentices in the theater. C. Young boys' voices had a higher pitch, so they played the female roles. D. Acting companies hired 12 men to play all the roles, so there were no women to play the female roles.

Question

Sabrina Bradshaw

English

19 November, 17:53

Why did men play the female roles in Shakespeare's plays?

A. Girls and women were not allowed to work in the theater during Elizabethan times.

B. The roles went to young boys who were apprentices in the theater. C. Young boys' voices had a higher pitch, so they played the female roles. D. Acting companies hired 12 men to play all the roles, so there were no women to play the female roles.

+2

Answers (2)

Know the Answer?

Lamar Wells · Answer 1

Women were not allowed during the time period

Camryn Holland · Answer 2

Girls and women were not allowed to work in the theater during Elizabethan times.

Explanation:

Women were not allowed to be on the stage because it was considered "dangerous." Men played male characters as well as female characters! "The Greeks believed that allowing women to perform publicly would be too dangerous and that having men portray them neutralized the danger."