Charles Brooks and Marilyn French explore the binary nature of women in the play. Brooks argues that Shakespeare intended to show, through the characters of Adriana and Luciana, that women possess both male and female traits. Adriana's vocal dissatisfaction with her marriage represents "male dominance" and Luciana's insistence on the proper role of a wife constitutes "female submission." French also sees Adriana and Luciana as complementing one another- Adriana's resistance to submission is "outlaw" and Luciana's acceptance of it is "inlaw."

Ann C. Christensen argues that the play shows the competition between the commercial/ public and domestic/private spheres. Antipholus of Ephesus is free to move about, conduct his business affairs, and meet with friends. Adriana, as his wife, is confined to the home, bored, and understandably angry when her husband will not leave his "world" for hers.

Ann Thompson notes, as many critics do, that because...