Characteristics of Portia and jessica‚ as well as several attributes of the plot in the play‚ prove that Shakespeare builds his female roles to be confident and powerful‚ rather than sub-standard to the male equivalent. Overall‚ this dominant portrayal of women challenges the common Elizabethan stereotypes of gender. The characterisation of Portia‚ through her actions and overall identity‚ is perhaps the best illustration of Shakespeare’s defiance of these female stereotypes in the play. At first‚ Portia appears
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relationships between males and females and their roles in life. Feminist criticism also shows the many basic roles that women and men have in life. But with feminist criticism the roles are switched. In Julius Caesar‚ Portia and calphurnia show their empowerment through assertion. Portia is Brutus’ wife and she tries her hardest to be the best wife she can be. She wants her husband to be trustworthy and not to be so separated from her. She tries asserting her power by telling him what’s on her mind:
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To what extent is the play a microcosm of the Elizabethan Era? In Elizabethan England‚ many of the general public were anti – Semitic and driven by extreme dislike of other religions other than Christianity. This anti – Semitic sensitivity has lasted since the early ages‚ dating back to 1300 B.C. when the Jews were expelled from Egypt at the end of the nineteenth Dynasty.. Jews were accused of exploiting Christians and they were actually banned from England in 1290‚ and were not allowed back
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mother is absent‚ even the most cursory inspection shows relevant differences in both the characters and their relationships to one another. That is not to say there follows no similarities. Let’s open with the relationship between Deceased Father/ Portia and Prospero/Miranda. For both of these relationships we have daughters who worship the ground their father’s walk on. They think very highly of their fathers and are well treated by them. They are kept in good health‚ and within the best means
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Mercy v. Justice Old Testament v. New Testament While the conflict between justice and mercy plays a key role in determining the outcome of The Merchant of Venice‚ this conflict is even more important because it provides a setting for the contrast between the rigid law and rules of the Old Testament and the concepts of mercy and forgiveness as taught by Christ in the New Testament. It is in the climactic trial scene that The Duke‚ hoping Shylock will excuse Antonio’s penalty‚ asks him‚ "How
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ignoble friend. Brutus lacked loyalty and faithfulness to his friend Julius. His disloyalty moved him to turn his back against Julius and kill his best friend without any remorse. Brutus could never be honest with his wife Portia after the many requests made by her. Character Portia is portrayed with nobility. To prove her loyalty to her husband Brutus she stabbed her thigh with a knife to show him that she would rather suffer pain then to betray his trust. Shakespeare characterizes Brutus as ignoble
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through Antonio towards Bassanio‚ romantic love is shown through Portia and Bassanio and self love is shown through shylock. However Shakespeare also illustrates hates during the play through the characters shylock and Antonio and shylock and his daughter Jessica. The Merchant of Venice is a play about love‚ the play mainly revolve around the romantic love of these main characters Portia and Bassanio. As written in the play‚ Portia was a rich woman that was left alone by her wealthy father. Many
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Quek Lin Yuan (25) 212 Act 2 (To be graded) In Act 2 Scene 1‚ Portia is polite towards the Prince of Morocco and assures him that she would not discriminate against him for his dark complexion and he stood and equal chance. “Yourself‚ renowned prince‚ then stood as fair / As any comer I have look’d on yet / For my affection.” However‚ at the end of Scene 7‚ we later learn that Portia is rather racist‚ as she is prejudiced towards others of a very different skin colour‚ when she says “Let all of
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Mohamad Saleh1rst Hour 11/05/14 Caesar Adjective Quiz Brutus: A. Brutus is patriotic. To be patriotic a person must feel love and duty toward their country. Brutus after reading the letter Lucius had found he says "Oh‚ Rome‚ I make thee promise If the redress will follow‚ thou receivest Thy full petition at the hands of Brutus" (Act 2‚ Scene 1‚ Lines 56-58). Also during his explanatory speech after killing Caesar he says to the people “Not that I love Caesar less but that I loved Rome more" (Act
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How does Shakespeare present strong feelings about love in ‘Romeo and Juliet’ and ‘The Merchant of Venice’ In Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice There are many examples of strong love. The two most prominent examples of strong love are romantic love and unrequited love. In Romeo and Juliet‚ there appears to be more examples of unrequited love than that of romantic love‚ despite the main theme of the play being the romantic love between Romeo and Juliet. The unrequited love between Romeo
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