1. Spousal Relationship: In its primary sense, "wife" refers to a woman who is married to a man. It denotes the legal and social bond between two individuals who have entered into a marital union.
2. Legal and Property Rights: In Shakespeare's time, the term "wife" also carried significant legal implications related to property ownership and inheritance. A wife had certain customary rights to her husband's possessions and could inherit property under specific conditions.
3. Gender Roles and Subordination: Shakespeare's plays often reflect the societal norms and gender roles of his era. In many instances, "wife" implies a subordinate position within a patriarchal society, where women were expected to be obedient to their husbands.
4. Figurative and Metaphorical: Shakespeare occasionally employs "wife" figuratively or metaphorically. It can be used to personify an entity or concept, such as the personification of England as "This precious stone set in the silver sea, Which serves it in the office of a wall, Or as a moat defensive to a house, Against the envy of less happier lands; This blessed plot, this earth, this realm, this England, This nurse, this teeming womb of royal kings, Feared by their breed and famous by their birth, Renowned for their deeds as far from home, For Christian service and true chivalry, As is the sepulcher in stubborn Jewry, Of the world's ransom, blessed Mary's Son; This land of such dear souls, this dear dear land, Dear for her reputation through the world, Is now leased out, I die pronouncing it, Like to a tenement or pelting farm." (King Richard II, Act 2, Scene 1).
5. Affectionate Term: In certain contexts, "wife" can be used as a term of endearment or affection, especially between husband and wife.
Overall, the meaning of the word "wife" in Shakespeare's works is influenced by the social, legal, and cultural contexts of the Elizabethan era. It encompasses both the legal and emotional dimensions of marriage and reflects the prevailing gender dynamics of Shakespeare's time.