Jew‚ Spaniard or a Moor deceived and Shakespeare clearly tried to give his audience what it wanted. In contrast‚ many‚ particularly ladies‚ would have admired the strong and witty Portia and even though she appears arrogant and racist this would have been accepted in Elizabethan England. Any deception carried out by Portia would therefore be admired and applauded by Shakespeare’s audience and it is not surprising therefore she carries out that many deceptions. A major theme running though the
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title heroine is Portia. Portia‚ as I will explain is quite an atypical hero figure. She is rich and beautiful‚ so we assume wrongly at first that she will be spoilt and inconsequential to the action of the play. This could not be further from the truth. Portia is not to be underestimated. Without Portia‚ there would be no titular merchant at the end of this Romantic Comedy. Portia may be ‘fair’ and ‘richly left’ but she is not a prize to be won. We quickly learn that Portia has intelligence and
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made and achieve their own goals‚ only to return to their subordinate positions as wives. Portia‚ Nerissa and Jessica’s assumption of the male form to move unnoticed between Belmont and Venice allowed them a glimpse into the world of feministic ideals. In later scenes‚ when Portia and Nerissa push the boundaries of their disguise‚ they specifically emphasize the nature of radical feminism. The altering of Portia‚ Nerissa‚ and Jessica’s gender to suit the society of Venice is a direct spat in the face
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the character Portia is not the helpless and innocent young women many other characters perceive her to be but in reality she is completely different. Shakespeare shows Portia’s true colours when she makes racist jokes towards Jews and people of dark complexion. Also‚ she is disrespectful by mocking how other characters dress‚ and talk bad things about their mothers. First‚ during the era of Shakespeare most people were not as respectable to each other like today’s society. Portia might look like
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and Literary Context When Written: 1596–8 Where Written: England When Published: 1623 Literary Period: The Renaissance Related Literary Works: Though some describe The Merchant of Venice as a comedy because it ends with the marriage of its heroes Portia and Bassanio‚ it can also be described as a kind of “revenge tragedy.” Typically‚ a revenge tragedy revolves around the quest of its central character to avenge a wrong committed against him‚ which usually leads to the deaths of many characters‚ almost
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strong women? People can look at Portia and Calpurnia as just weak women that lived in the shadows of their marriage. The five act play consists mostly of the plot involving the assassination of Julius Caesar and very little of Portia and Calpurnia involvement. However‚ it can be analyzed that William Shakespeare intended that these women were meant to be complex characters‚ both women unique to her circumstances/marriage. To begin‚ there is Portia. In Act II Portia sees that Brutus is struggling
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subservient to men; they were taught that men were their superiors. They relied on men to provide all of their daily needs‚ so they listened and agreed to everything that they had to say. Rich heiress Portia‚ on the other hand‚ does not adhere to those expectations and rules. Through irony and pun‚ Portia proves herself to be an intelligent and witty woman who is not afraid to challenge traditional social norm. She is a heroine with refreshing initiative that displays great knowledge of how to use her
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interest on the loans needed by businessmen‚ and the law is interpreted literally without mercy. In contrast to this business-like picture of Venice‚ Belmont is the ideal romantic world‚ filled with music‚ happiness‚ harmony‚ and love. It is here that Portia lives‚ and where Bassanio and Gratanio come to find happiness. LIST OF CHARACTERS / CAST Major Characters Antonio A merchant of Venice. He is a model Christian gentleman. He is esteemed and loved by his many friends‚ though his outward appearance
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Though she is frustrated wuth her situation‚ Portia respects his dying wishes. Act 1 scene 2 of the play the merchant of venice written by William Shakespeare has three major purposes. First‚ it outlines the lottery of the caskets for us‚ which will provide the dramatic basis for the scenes in which the various suitors risk their chances of marriage for Portia’s hand. Second‚ it introduces us to Portia — not simply as Bassanio’s love interest‚ but as also a witty woman of
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way‚ it also shows the respect and the way women are treated. Yet another Christian‚ Portia is to be married to her future husband Bassanio but firstly he must follow her father’s wishes to pick one of three boxes‚ one holding the chance for his and Portia’s marriage to commence. This novel and a very famous Shakespearean play consists of many women’s rights issues which will further be discussed‚ including Portia being controlled by her father’s will and men thinking women could not be as smart as
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