The ‘Merchant of Venice’ is a play, written in the renaissance era, about the default on a large loan provided by a Jewish lender. From Act 4 scene 1 it could be seen that Shakespeare was predominantly writing a story about women and how they should be viewed in the society using cross dressing and mistaken identity to prove his point. The Renaissance era is full of contradictions and was a male dominated society. In this era, women were under the rule of men and were perceived to be less rational and not as intelligent as men. Cross-dressing in the Renaissance era highlighted the inferiority of women to men; Shakespeare’s use of cross-dressing then presented an important change of stereotypical views. Since a woman was not supposed to live
The structure of Shakespearean comedy always starts with harmony then leading to chaos, resolution and restoration. Sean McEvoy commented that ‘critics tend to regard something as a comedy not so much because it makes us laugh. Laughter may be evoked in tragic circumstances but because a certain set of conventions is being followed’, which is exactly how Shakespearean comedies play out.
Act 4 Scene 1 is seen by both the renaissance and modern audience as the most critical scene and climactic moment of the play. Shakespeare’s use of cross dressing and disguise in this scene strongly highlights Shakespeare’s aims to breakdown the stereotypical views and bring to light the abilities of women. In Act 4 Scene 1, Portia takes on a masculine disguise. Her masculinity is constructed through her lawyer garments, masculine behavior and voice; “speak between the change of man and boy”. Portia takes full control of the dispute in the courts as a “most reverend doctor”, a “learned judge”. Act 4 Scene 1 is exceptionally a comic and tragic scene with the setting lending a hand to it. The scene takes place in a court house causing the audience to
To the audience, both modern and renaissance, there are a lot of questions raised as to why Shakespeare chose a woman to play the protagonist, considering the era which it was written was very patriarchal. However, it is important that the audience knows that at the time the book was written a woman was in political power, Queen Elizabeth. Shakespeare therefore constructs his female characters based on a woman of power to be able to cater for his female readers and not only to the man. It can be viewed that Shakespeare’s use of identity, disguise and cross dressing was to dispel gender stereotypes and patriarchy. Also to show that women aren’t inferior to men but that woman and men are the same in terms of power, protection and intelligence and any other view are maybe just prejudiced. The use of identity, disguise and cross dressing, employed by Shakespeare, was to give freedom to the woman. Living in a society that is strict on the woman must be suffocating; therefore Shakespeare used these devices to allow the woman express her true self. This is displayed when she scold Bassanio after his declaration of love to Antonio; “your wife will give you little thanks for that if she were by; to here you make the offer”. Portia has displayed herself as being a judge
...rs in the play) to function as the spokesperson for the law suggests that rather than an attack on the female sex, The Merchant of Venice subtly questions patriarchal assumptions about women.
...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.
Though its primary function is usually plot driven--as a source of humor and a means to effect changes in characters through disguise and deception—cross dressing is also a sociological motif involving gendered play. My earlier essay on the use of the motif in Shakespeare's plays pointed out that cross dressing has been discussed as a symptom of "a radical discontinuity in the meaning of the family" (Belsey 178), as cul-tural anxiety over the destabilization of the social hierarchy (Baker, Howard, Garber), as the means for a woman to be assertive without arousing hostility (Claiborne Park), and as homoerotic arousal (Jardine). This variety of interpretations suggests the multivoiced character of the motif, but before approaching the subject of this essay, three clarifica- tions are necessary at the outset.
During the Elizabethan era women had a status of subordination towards men. They had a role to marry and oblige to their husband’s wishes. Shakespearean literature, especially illustrates how a woman is psychologically and physically lesser to their male counterpart. The play, Othello, uses that aspect in many different ways. From a Feminist lens others are able to vividly examine how women were subjected to blatant inferiority. Being displayed as tools for men to abuse, women were characterized as possessions and submissive; only during the last portion of the play did the power of women take heed.
In William Shakespeare’s tragic play Othello there are numerous instances of obvious sexism aimed at the three women in the drama -- Desdemona, Emilia and Bianca – and aimed at womankind generally. Let us delve into this subject in this paper.
William Shakespeare’s The Tempest provides dialogue that portrays the social expectations and stereotypes imposed upon women in Elizabethan times. Even though the play has only one primary female character, Miranda, the play also includes another women; Sycorax, although she does not play as large a roll. During many scenes, the play illustrates the characteristics that represent the ideal woman within Elizabethan society. These characteristics support the fact that men considered women as a mere object that they had the luxury of owning and were nowhere near equal to them. Feminists can interpret the play as a depiction of the sexist treatment of women and would disagree with many of the characteristics and expectations that make Miranda the ideal woman. From this perspective, The Tempest can be used to objectify the common expectations and treatment of women within the 16th and 17th Centuries and compare and contrast to those of today.
Statement of intent: The role of women in William Shakespeare’s play Othello is portrayed through the behaviors and actions of Desdemona, Emilia, and Bianca. William Shakespeare integrates his Elizabethan society to create the patriarchal Venetian society in the play. Women in his society were seen as inferior to the men. The three women play a significant role in different social stratification. How are women submissive, possessions, bold, and degraded to sex objects and whores? How have they displayed unconventional acts and boldness?
The Women of Othello All through history, the role of women and their place in the general public has tremendously changed. William Shakespeare’s Othello was established during a time period where the role of women and their collective value were downgraded in the Venetian and Elizabethan era. During the Venetian era, women were dominated by their sexual orientation. The Venetian era had a patriarchal society.
The Merchant of Venice is a play set in a very male and Christian dominated society where other religions and women rights weren’t very well accepted by the community. However Portia, a rich woman who had previously been controlled by men, triumphs as she manipulates tricks and saves the lives of the men.
The play Othello is presented as a male-dominated society where women are only recognized as property; objects to own and to bear children. Women in the Elizabethan society and in Shakespeare society were not seen as equal to men and were expected to be loyal to their husbands, be respectful, and to not go against their husbands judgements or actions. Shakespeare presents Desdemona, Emilia , and Bianca as women in the Elizabethan time where they were judged based on their class, mortality, and intelligence. Shakespeare makes his female characters act the way they would be expected to act in an Elizabethan society. The role of these women in Othello is crucial because they show how women were treated and how unhealthy their relationships between men really were in both Elizabethan and Shakespeare's society.
Throughout Shakespeare’s various works, it has been observed that he rarely uses females in his literature, but when he does, he uses them for a distinct purpose, as is evident in Julius Caesar. By defying the societal standards of her gender and showing genuine interest in her husband’s thoughts and feelings, Portia, the wife of Brutus, reveals key aspects of his character while adding depth to the story. For her time, Portia was a woman who both respected herself and took pride in herself, without allowing society to make a mark on her. This is evident when she states, “Think you I am no stronger than my sex/ Being so father'd and so husbanded?" (Port...
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
Shakespeare's Portrayal of Female Characters in The Merchant of Venice and Henry V. Shakespeare's presentation and portrayal of his female characters in The Merchant of Venice and Henry V follows a typical pattern that is present in all of the Shakespearean plays that I have read so far. When looking closely at the fate of his female characters, this pattern becomes even more evident as it repeats itself no matter how different the plays are. For instance, Henry V and The Merchant of Venice are different in every respect. The female characters not only come from different backgrounds, they also have very different personalities. However, as different as these plays and their characters are, the female characters end up suffering the same fate.
The play, The Merchant of Venice drastically altered the perception of women during the time as Shakespeare makes women during the Italian Renaissance appear independent and intellectual, such as the beautiful Portia and the young Jessica. This play shows that women are not only beautiful people to look at but also powerful and intelligent individuals. The characteristics of the women in this play show the possibilities of equality between men and
In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare introduces a new concept of the modern women for his current society. In his time, women aren’t working at high standard jobs like lawyers and they aren’t educated like men. The society denies women’s freedom and constrains their mental capabilities to some domestic grafts such as sewing and weaving. Shakespeare demonstrates throughout the play how women possess the power to change the world around her. Women can’t be enticed by the beauty and appearance as men do. Women can alter the traditions, the woman possesses the capabilities to make choices and engage her husband. Jessica flees from her father’s house with the man she chooses. Portia assists Bassanio to know where her image is to marry him. Shakespeare claims that sapient woman can counter the argument and bring up what is unexpected. Portia restrains Shylock with his bond and rescues Antonio from Shylock’s hand when no one is able to do that. Conversely, Shakespeare posits that women still need men’s assistant either directly or indirectly to achieve their work. Portia asks directly for law doctor’s help to go to Venice. In addition, Portia and Nerissa disguise as men as an indirect way to go to the court to save Antonio.