Merchant of venice

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In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, women were suppressed by the societal ideals of the Elizabethan era. In this play, the female characters Jessica and Portia stray away from the expected stereotypical passive role of women in society, and show rather dominant and powerful traits that men were expected to have. Portia, the heroine of this play is bound to a lottery set up in her father's will, which gives male suitors the chance to choose between three caskets made up of gold, silver, and led in order to win her hand in marriage. Portia’s scheming throughout the whole process caused Bassanio to have a better chance in choosing the correct casket, while also allowing her to keep the promise of not disclosing the truth about the caskets to any of the potential suitors. Along with her manipulative ways, she was very comfortable in playing a masculine role. Her powerful and confident actions make her stand out from other women in The Elizabethan society. Jessica, like Portia steps out of the stereotypical weak woman role in society and takes on a dominant role. By running away from her father and converting to Christianity with her lover, Lorenzo, she disrespects and disowns her father. By starting a new life without her father's rules, she shows the strength and confidence of an ideal man of her time. The actions of both these characters earn them praise for their feminist actions. However, while both Portia and Jessica show admirable feminist actions, they both lose the opportunity to be noteworthy when they return to the act of submission that they must play to the patriarchal society.

Despite the similarities between these two female characters, Portia and Jessica seem to take on their rebellious, daring rol...

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...s way of speech is much different from Jessica's in that it shares many common characteristics with the men's way of speech. In her declaration of financial support to Bassanio, she says, " I would not be ambitious in my wish to wish myself much better, yet for you I would be trebled twenty times myself, A thousand times more fair, ten thousand times more rich, that only to stand high in your account I might in virtues, livings, friends, exceed account. (Act 3. Scene 2. 155-161)" This choice of words shows that Portia is very comfortable with speaking about money. She speaks this way most likely because it comes so naturally from her, as opposed to a woman who is less fortunate than she is. Portia seems to be extremely comfortable with taking on the masculine role of a financially successful and responsible man, while she also seems to not want to leave this role.

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