The Role Of Women In The Merchant Of Venice

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Divisions separating the roles of men and women have been prevalent since ancient history. In general, people deemed females as inferior to men and ultimately regarded the entire gender role of women as less important in society as a whole. This condescending view of women is especially prevalent in the Renaissance period, as wives and daughters were expected to be submissive and obedient objects of desire as opposed to normal human beings. As arguably the most famous writer of the Renaissance, Shakespeare and his works of literature provide a window of insight into his own perspective on the values and ideals of the time period. While his play The Merchant of Venice is widely read as the story of religious conflict between renowned Christians …show more content…

Her clever tongue is revealed early on in the play, where she expresses her distaste for the suitors through subliminal messages, declaring that to Prince of Morocco that he “stood as fair / As any comer I have look 'd on yet / For my affection” (II.i.20-2). While the prince may believe she is complimenting his looks, she really laces her words with a double meaning to seem like words of praise when they truly intend to insult. Portia’s high intelligence and brilliant reasoning is most effectively applied in the scene of Shylock and Antonio’s trial, where she shows unmatched legal knowledge and speaks eloquently about how “the quality of mercy is not strain 'd” (IV.i.184). Because of her wit and intelligence, Portia is able to reverse the punishment onto Shylock by finding a loophole in the bond: “this bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; [...] in the cutting it, if thou dost shed / One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods / Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate” (IV.i.309-11). This in itself shows strength and power that the typical Renaissance woman was said not to have. Through her ability to single-handedly save Antonio’s life and the surrender of Shylock afterwards, Shakespeare emphasizes the power of his female characters and the deserved praise of women

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