Merchant of Venice: Portia was No Feminist
The question has been proposed whether Portia was her own woman, and if after she married Bassanio would she still be the protector of her fortune. I researched for evidence to the theory that Portia was not her own, her fortune was not her own, and she was bound financially to her husband after marriage. There is nothing out of the ordinary about this particular arrangement, and I don't feel that the relationship should continue to be hailed as a progressive, feminist relationship.
The best evidence I could find were the words which were spoken out of Portia's own mouth,
One half of me is yours, the other half yours--
Mine own, I would say; but if mine, then yours,
And so all yours. III.ii.16-18.
There you have it. Portia is Bassanio's. This may be idle lover's talk; however, it does signify the beginning of a possessive relationship in which Bassanio is the possessor!
Directly after Portia is "won" by Bassanio's correct choice in caskets she states,
Happiest of all, is that her gentle spirit
Commits itself to yours to be directed,
As from her lord, her governor, her king.
Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours
Is now converted. . . . I was the lord of
this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself; and even now, but now
This house, these servants, and this same myself
Are yours. . . . III.ii.163-171
I struggle to see how the relationship between Portia and Bassanio is worthy of feminist hurrahs. I believe Portia is a woman worthy of feminist scholarship, but not the relationship to her husband.
Compare The Successes And Failures Of Patriarchy In Colonialism, In “The Tempest”, “Translations” And “Things Fall Apart”.
John Stuart, my mentor and a fellow anti-Jackson legislator, is seated across from me. His unperturbed countenance speaks of his familiarity with the proceedings soon to begin. I, on the other hand, expose my inexperience with a line of perspiration collecting along my newly starched collar. At the urging of several New Salem friends, Coleman Smoot a...
Many critics throughout the years have given the Wife of Bath a title of that of a feminist. She is a strong-willed and dominant woman who gets what she wants when she wants it, by manipulating her husbands into feeling bad for things that they didn’t do, or by saying things that put them to utter shame. No man has ever been able to give an exact answer when she asks to know how many husbands a woman may have in her life...
...on, Mitchell. "Alexander Graham Bell." American Science and Invention: A Pictorial History. New York: Bonanza, 1960. 278-83. Print.
...at to the Slave of the Fourth of July?", thus positioning himself as an activist and a spokesperson. Douglass went on to publish two more narratives, My Bondage and My Freedom in 1855, and The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in 1881. In between the time when he was writing his other autobiographies, Douglass worked for the New National Era, a weekly newspaper in Washington D.C. Aside from his writing accomplishments, Douglass became a key figure in the abolitionist and the equal rights movements. He was revered as a speaker, author and statesman.
Within Shakespeare’s Othello there is an analysis into the context of the female. Brabantio’s rhyming couplet “Look to her, Moor, If thou hast eyes to see/ She has deceived her father, and may thee,” demonstrates his domineering and patronising attitude, as the Elizabethan era was a patriarchal society and the role of the female was to be ‘obedient’ to their father or husband. Brabantio also endeavours into placing a seed of doubt in Othello’s mind as a result of his jealousy. Consequentially Brabantio objectifies Desdemona when he states, “Where has thou stow’d my daughter?” exemplifying how he deems her as a possession, which can be stolen like any other. Othello prolongs this objectification through asserting that he “won his daughter” portraying Desdemona as a prize to be won, and a possession to be owned and argued over by husband and father. Desdemona is depicted early on in the play as the “angel” wi...
The search continues, with no end in sight, what will Telemachus do with only a deadline in sight?
Baptista is looking for suitors to marry his daughters and views the marriage as a monetary transaction: "After my death the one half of my lands, and in possession twenty thousand crowns." (2.1 122-123). In this quote, Shakespeare is using the characterization of Baptista to demonstrate how women were viewed as nothing more than objects that could be sold. Baptista told this to Petruchio when he asked how much Kate was worth. In addition, Baptista was attempting to appeal to suitors: "Proceed in practise with my younger daughter; she 's apt to learn and thankful for good turns. Signior Petruchio, will you go with us, or shall I send my daughter Kate to you?" (2.1 165-168). Shakespeare uses Baptista to demonstrate how poorly women were viewed. Baptista is practically selling his daughters and attempting to make them more appealing to suitors, so much as offering to bring Kate to Petruchio. Throughout most of the play, Baptista is looking to marry off his daughters. "Faith, gentlemen, now I play a merchant 's part, and venture madly on a desperate mart." (2.1 345-346). Shakespeare uses Baptista to demonstrate once again the little value women have and how they are viewed as objects. Baptista is acting as a "merchant" when he is selling his
The nature of the contract between Portia and her father is as follows, Portia’s father state’s that all suitors must first select on of three caskets in order to marry her. The caskets are made of gold, silver, and base lead, all containing different messages. Only one of the three caske...
It develops the character of Portia as being someone madly in love with another person. It is clear to me that she is in love with Bassiano. She talks about how she could teach Bassiano how to choose right, but she can’t because of her father’s will. To me, she is really sick. It advances the plot so that the love Portia has for Bassiano, and the love that Bassiano has for Portia, can be more looked at.
The literary works, Hamlet and Lady Oracle, chart both the life’s course of their main characters and underline the protagonist’s trajectory in some decisive moments of their existence, when both of them, Hamlet and Joan Foster, need to take some decisions which may change their destinies.
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.
Bassanio was so grateful towards Balthazar that he was able to place Balthazar of above importance to Portia his wife. Portia then compares Bassanio giving up her beloved ring to if she were to give her body to the doctor as a parallel. Prior to the men being made aware of Portia and Nerissa’s disguises, they explain their reasoning’s as a necessity. Once Bassanio and Gratiano know the truth, they apologize with fear as they now know the power these two women posses. Gratiano ends the play by stating “I’ll fear no other thing so sore as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring” (V, I, 324-325). Gender roles are now reversed as the play concludes which shows that gender itself is a social construct and is not
The wife of bath is not a feminist fighting for the rights of all women. She claims to know what pleasures men because she is experienced in love and sex. She believes in giving men what they desire, which is sexual pleasure from her. This proves that she is not fighting for freedom of women. This is definitely an antifeminist view. She is using sex to manipulate men just as men do to. Giving in to the man's desire goes against feministic beliefs, she had a choice of not giving in to man, but she lets men attain sexual pleasure and power for his own desire. At first I would believe that she is trying to win women freedom and liberation, but in reality is not. She is an extremely selfish and an authoritative woman.
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