In a world where one mans’ decisions predict the future of a whole country it can become uncertain what is to come next. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, we learn about the life of a man named Julius Caesar. He became ruler of Ancient Rome after the downfall of Pompey, a previous leader in Rome. Once Caesar had gained a tremendous amount of power, a group of men from the senate decided Caesar had become too powerful and now posed as a threat. This group of people would be known as the conspirators. One of these men in particular was a good friend of Caesar; his name was Brutus. Brutus had a wife named Portia. Although she played a small role; she had a huge impact. Throughout the play, we learn part about Portia’s character such as her unstable nature, troubling anxiety, and dramatic tendencies. …show more content…
In Act II we see her go as far as stabbing herself in the leg to capture Brutus’ attention. Portia had realized abnormal behavior from her lover. When he refused to tell her the reason for his previous actions, she took a knife and jabbed it into her thigh to prove her loyalty to Brutus. Another great example of Portia’s uneasy character is her death. We are told she died in an abnormal manner. We later learn she “swallowed fire.” In modern translation, we realize this means she swallowed burning coals. Brutus tell us he blames Mark Antony by saying “Impatient of my absence, and grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony have made themselves so strong-for with her death that tidings came.” (Brutus 68). Both of these erratic actions prove that Portia was an unstable
Julius Caesar is the leader of Rome and is seeking to become king in a matter of time. Though he is a good military strategist, he lacks knowledge in running government and is too greedy to have any concern for the peasants when he is alive. Caesar is all about conquering and power and he is afraid of nothing. Before he is murdered, he says “The things that threatened me ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished” (II, ii, 575). Th...
As the play opens, Brutus is known as a Roman nobleman and a member of one of the most illustrious families in Rome. He is first seen in Act I, scene ii, as one of Caesar’s “close friends” who is part of his entourage. But while alone with Cassius he is persuaded into taking a part in the assassination of Caesar. He is weary at first, and it seems as though it took Cassius some time to talk him into agreeing, yet Brutus looked at Caesar as some type of threat as well.
...ligent, and sometimes vicious character, in her society it is not acceptable for her to be a strong, intelligent, vicious woman. Sadly, Portia's public image must remain that of her speech in Act III. Though she will have ultimate control over herself and her husband, she still must call herself "an unlessoned girl," hiding her true authority under a thin mask of submission. Ironically, it is only when Portia dons a disguise that we see her as she truly is - a shrewd, calculating judge, willing to convict and sentence not only the inadequate suitor or the much-abused Jew, but also her own unsuspecting husband.
Words alone are not the only means by which imposters operate. A far more effective mode is one that fools the eye for it cannot pierce through the surface. Portia, the new wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer in order to deceive the court. However, unlike Shylock's motive, Portia's intent is far more noble and selfless. She manipulates the law in such a way to save Antonio from certain death by the hand of Shylock. Through the eyes of the law, the imposture of a lawyer, especially by a woman at that time, was seen as extremely illicit.
Both Brutus and Portia are effective speakers and have their own style of speaking; however, only one remains to be the more convincing person. Brutus rejects Cassius’ plan of murdering Mark Antony along with Caesar, saying that to do so would be too violent and would seem unjust to the commoners. He eventually persuades the men that are involved in the plan to let Antony live by the reasons of seeming insane in front of the people and that Antony is not a threat because he simply only supports Caesar (“Shakespeare” 163-184). Brutus is able to put himself in the shoes of the commoners, so that the action of killing Caesar could be justified. In addition, he reminds the men that their original plan is to only kill Caesar to prevent the fall
Throughout the rest of the play we see Portia fight back not only through giving herself control of who she marries but also through deceiving the Duke into believing that she is a clever, young lawyer named Balthazar by writing a letter that the Duke receives from, supposedly, Bellario telling him that he cannot make the court hearing but he has sent a young man, a disguised Portia, called Balthazar to take his place. She starts the letter with flattery, saying, ‘Your Grace shall understand…’ This makes the Duke feel elevated and respected because Your Grace is a sign of humbleness showing respect and a feeling of status. She then writes that Bellario is ‘very sick’ so that the Duke would have sympathy for Bellario and therefore be more likely to agree to Balthazar being the prosecution councillor.
Portia and Abigail are two characters with very different values. Portia in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice remained true to her religion, and her father’s wishes throughout the play. Abigail, on the other hand, changed religions and disobeyed her father. However, the writers used these two women to make similar statements about religion. Portia represented the quintessential Christian. Abigail of Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta, was more of an ethically ambiguous character, but it can still be argued that she was the most principled character in the play. Both Shakespeare and Marlowe used the daughter character to represent the ideal human being. In The Merchant of Venice the ideal human being is the perfect Christian. In The Jew of Malta the ideal is more of a Machiavellian that can still display some love and loyalty. Regardless of the principles Shakespeare and Marlowe wish to convey in their plays, they both chose young, females to express them.
	Shakespeare illustrated Caesar as a tragic hero by showing that he was a noble man of high rank. Every Roman followed his leadership and Caesar also defeated the great Pompey. First of all, At the Feast of Lupercal Caesar manipulated the commoners and made himself look noble to the commoners. Casca said, "Why there was a crown offered to him;...people fell a-shouting" (I,ii,221-223). Next, To show how noble and great Caesar was, the Romans would stand along the street sides to watch him pass by. "Madam not yet, I go to take my stand; /To see him pass on to the Capitol," said the soothsayer (II,iv,25-26). Finally, Caesar had the greatest rank possible as he would have been crowned king if it wasn’t for the conspiracy’s plot. As Casca said, "Indeed they say senators tomorrow; /Mean to establish Caesar as king..." (I,iii,87-88).
Throughout the Merchant of Venice, while Portia is being courted. the reader can see that she does not like any of the suitors, except Bassanio. She finds a flaw in all the suitors and readers, as well, can see. the flaws in each as they present themselves to her. Her true love however, is for Bassanio
Everyone is deceived and believes Portia is truly a man therefore showing that she has the capabilities to exert the traits of a man. Portia is described as the “wise young judge” (IV, I, 228) and an “excellent young man” (IV, I, 252) by Shylock showing that he believes in the gender identity of Balthazar. Bassanio, Portia’s husband, is also fooled as he states that Antonio’s life is more valuable to him than Portia. Her credibility in turn gives her power over the men in the scene. She is able to use the balances of justice along with her knowledge in order to save Antonio. The turn in this scene is when she repeats, “A pound of flesh” (IV, I, 315) and states the specific words used in the document as no blood can be dropped from Antonio or else Shylock will be punished and strikes fear into Shylock. This shows that it is possible for a woman to obtain the masculine qualities of being powerful and intellectual. If Portia were to have not dressed as a man, but merely a woman, due to the social constructs of the time she would not have had any power in this situation. Portia tells Bassanio “I pray you, know me when we meet again” (IV, I, 432) which shows her feelings towards Bassanio not knowing her true identity, even through her disguise. Her actions were that of her individual, but due to her altering her appearance of gender it changed the way others viewed her
characters in Portia’s life, she deals with equally negative characters in her life. Thomas, her half brother is given the responsibly to take care of Portia. However, the only way he takes care of her is financially. He provides no emotional stability or companionship for Portia; instead he shuts her out and treats her like a stranger. When Thomas and Anna decide to take a summer vacation, Portia never crosses their minds as an extra companion.
Moving on to Cleopatra’s Power, it can be seen that she uses her coercive sexual power to entice and manipulate Antony’s behaviour and decisions, inevitably ending in the weakening of their relationship. Cleopatra knows her powers of manipulation: "I drunk him to bed;/ Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippan.“2.5.21-23. She makes a mockery of him as he is the Philippan victor that is metaphorically stripped of his sword and therefore his political and sexual power, by a woman. She is described by him in a metaphor, as an “enchanting queen” which connotes a sense of uncontrolled mesmerisation with a powerful figure. To those removed from the situation, such as Caesar, she is described as a “whore” and Antony's life with her is full of “lascivious wassails” demonstrating the wanton behaviour that Cleopatra has almost imposed on Antony.
One of the most comedic aspects of the play would Shakespeare’s use of mistaken identities. We see Portia and Nerissa disguised as a judges clerk and doctor during Antonio’s trial. In act 4 scene 1 lines 293-298 Bassanio says “Antonio, I am married to a wife which is dear to me as life itself, but life itself, my wife, and all the world are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all here to this devil, to deliver you.” Here, Bassanio is telling his closest friend, Antonio, that he would lose anything for him even his wife, although, he does not realize his wife is in the room with him.
Throughout the final act, Portia proves that the plot is truly in her hands. In fact, the dominant idea in this scene is that everyone’s happiness lies on Portia’s shoulders. In this quote from Antonio, the man elucidates exactly what the other men are thinking; Nerissa, and especially Portia, came in clutch to save Antonio’s life and ‘find’ his ships. Far and away the most adroit character in the play, act five is Portia’s time to shine, even more than
Portia was a wealthy woman that inherited all her fathers money and her father left three caskets if someone wanted to marry her they would have to pick a casket if they pick the wrong casket they are never allowed to marry again but if they pick the right casket all of Portia wealth goes to her husband. Several men came to woo her in Act 1 Sc 2 Portia spent time talking about these men. Portia and Nerissa make fun of the Neapolitan Prince because they liked to insult foreigners and saying he only talk about he's horse and that he's mother had sex with a blacksmith.