ABSTRACT
This chapter suggests that strong heroine types in seventeenth-century literature were inspired by the presence of strong female figures in society. This trend is echoed in the twenty-first century. As women take on more leadership roles in politics, strong heroine types are emerging once again in both literature and film. The deliberative heroine was not only a different kind of female protagonist but also the theatrical embodiment of a new definition of "reason." Early- to mid-seventeenth-century philosophers emphasized rationality. The uniqueness of the deliberative type may be seen in predicting how irrational, dutiful, and bold and brazen types would behave in deliberative heroine plots. The deliberative heroine type redefines what it means to exhibit reason. She goes beyond primal emotions to convey that love is more than just irrational lust or silly infatuation. At the same time, she wisely reflects on her troubles, rejecting the notion that women are incapable of rational thought.
