In a world where one mans’ decisions predict the future of a whole country it can become uncertain what is to come next. In the play The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare, we learn about the life of a man named Julius Caesar. He became ruler of Ancient Rome after the downfall of Pompey, a previous leader in Rome. Once Caesar had gained a tremendous amount of power, a group of men from the senate decided Caesar had become too powerful and now posed as a threat. This group of people would be known as the conspirators. One of these men in particular was a good friend of Caesar; his name was Brutus. Brutus had a wife named Portia. Although she played a small role; she had a huge impact. Throughout the play, we learn part about Portia’s character such as her unstable nature, troubling anxiety, and dramatic tendencies. …show more content…
In Act II we see her go as far as stabbing herself in the leg to capture Brutus’ attention. Portia had realized abnormal behavior from her lover. When he refused to tell her the reason for his previous actions, she took a knife and jabbed it into her thigh to prove her loyalty to Brutus. Another great example of Portia’s uneasy character is her death. We are told she died in an abnormal manner. We later learn she “swallowed fire.” In modern translation, we realize this means she swallowed burning coals. Brutus tell us he blames Mark Antony by saying “Impatient of my absence, and grief that young Octavius with Mark Antony have made themselves so strong-for with her death that tidings came.” (Brutus 68). Both of these erratic actions prove that Portia was an unstable
...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.
The act of deceiving basically means to delude someone by a misleading appearance or statement. Within the entire Merchant of Venice, the readers see many references to deceiving, which supports the argument that Portia does in fact represent deceit. As it has been recognized, Portia is beautiful. At the beginning of the story Bassanio says, "In Belmont is a lady richly left; And she is fair, and fairer than that word, Of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages. Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued". (797) Bassanio description reveals her beauty, and breathtaking ambiance, yet nothing relating to her intelligence is spoken about. When Portia is incognito, and dressed as a "doctor", we see...
Julius Caesar is the leader of Rome and is seeking to become king in a matter of time. Though he is a good military strategist, he lacks knowledge in running government and is too greedy to have any concern for the peasants when he is alive. Caesar is all about conquering and power and he is afraid of nothing. Before he is murdered, he says “The things that threatened me ne’er looked but on my back. When they shall see the face of Caesar, they are vanished” (II, ii, 575). Th...
Julius Caesar is a great tragedy written by one of, if not the greatest, writer from the 15th century, William Shakespeare. To write the play Shakespeare based the events in the play on historical events that happened to Julius Caesar in reality. The only source for the play in that time would most likely to have been The Life Of Julius Ceasar by Plutarch. The main point of the play is the conspiracy against and the assassination of Caesar. The main part I can relate to today’s world is that the government of the time betrayed everyone and did all they could do to cover their mistakes instead of fixing the problem. Another big tactic that those in charge use that is also cohesive with today’s world is the “fear factor” used to manipulate people. In the play the officials made Caesar out to be a tyrant that was bent on destroying the world as they knew it. That is much like the tactics of our current political leaders. They play down the important issues while putting dire consequences on frivolous matters that only increase the severity of the state of things.
Both Brutus and Portia are effective speakers and have their own style of speaking; however, only one remains to be the more convincing person. Brutus rejects Cassius’ plan of murdering Mark Antony along with Caesar, saying that to do so would be too violent and would seem unjust to the commoners. He eventually persuades the men that are involved in the plan to let Antony live by the reasons of seeming insane in front of the people and that Antony is not a threat because he simply only supports Caesar (“Shakespeare” 163-184). Brutus is able to put himself in the shoes of the commoners, so that the action of killing Caesar could be justified. In addition, he reminds the men that their original plan is to only kill Caesar to prevent the fall
Including Thomas Anna, Portia’s step- sister, also display cruel character in Portia’s life. Instead of Anna trying to nurture Portia, who has lost both her parents and is attempting to adapt to a new lifestyle, she only takes out anger and ill emotions on Portia, amplifying Portia’s feelings of confusion and misery. Anna expresses her true emotions towards Portia well speaking to herself she states, “She has put me into a relation with Thomas that is no more than out taunting, feverish jokes. My only honest way left it to be harsh on both them, which I honestly am.” (Bowen 343) Anna obviously blames Portia for her failing marriage and makes an effort to taunt Portia.
As the play opens, Brutus is known as a Roman nobleman and a member of one of the most illustrious families in Rome. He is first seen in Act I, scene ii, as one of Caesar’s “close friends” who is part of his entourage. But while alone with Cassius he is persuaded into taking a part in the assassination of Caesar. He is weary at first, and it seems as though it took Cassius some time to talk him into agreeing, yet Brutus looked at Caesar as some type of threat as well.
One of the most comedic aspects of the play would Shakespeare’s use of mistaken identities. We see Portia and Nerissa disguised as a judges clerk and doctor during Antonio’s trial. In act 4 scene 1 lines 293-298 Bassanio says “Antonio, I am married to a wife which is dear to me as life itself, but life itself, my wife, and all the world are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all here to this devil, to deliver you.” Here, Bassanio is telling his closest friend, Antonio, that he would lose anything for him even his wife, although, he does not realize his wife is in the room with him.
Portia was defined by her obedience. She remained strictly obedient to the law and to her father’s wishes without ever wavering. She did complain a little but did not consider breaking either the rules of the law or her father. Portia first showed her law-abiding nature when she remained true to her father’s wishes despite her desire to do otherwise. In Portia’s first scene she is quite upset about the terms of her father’s will. “I may neither choose who I would, nor/ refuse who I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter/ curb’d be the will of a dead father. Is it not hard,/ Nerissa, that I cannot choose one, now refuse none?” (Merchant of Venice, I.ii.23-26). ...
	Shakespeare illustrated Caesar as a tragic hero by showing that he was a noble man of high rank. Every Roman followed his leadership and Caesar also defeated the great Pompey. First of all, At the Feast of Lupercal Caesar manipulated the commoners and made himself look noble to the commoners. Casca said, "Why there was a crown offered to him;...people fell a-shouting" (I,ii,221-223). Next, To show how noble and great Caesar was, the Romans would stand along the street sides to watch him pass by. "Madam not yet, I go to take my stand; /To see him pass on to the Capitol," said the soothsayer (II,iv,25-26). Finally, Caesar had the greatest rank possible as he would have been crowned king if it wasn’t for the conspiracy’s plot. As Casca said, "Indeed they say senators tomorrow; /Mean to establish Caesar as king..." (I,iii,87-88).
Words alone are not the only means by which imposters operate. A far more effective mode is one that fools the eye for it cannot pierce through the surface. Portia, the new wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer in order to deceive the court. However, unlike Shylock's motive, Portia's intent is far more noble and selfless. She manipulates the law in such a way to save Antonio from certain death by the hand of Shylock. Through the eyes of the law, the imposture of a lawyer, especially by a woman at that time, was seen as extremely illicit.
Throughout the play Shakespeare develops Portia’s character from what seems like a subservient woman, who is forced into a marriage, to an independent woman who is considered equal by her husband. The arranged marriage shows that Portia was given no freedom by her. dominant dead father, which may be why Portia seems to be horrible. comments about all the suitors that come to try to complete the life – changing the task of the. At the beginning of the play Portia has no control over her financial.
Throughout the final act, Portia proves that the plot is truly in her hands. In fact, the dominant idea in this scene is that everyone’s happiness lies on Portia’s shoulders. In this quote from Antonio, the man elucidates exactly what the other men are thinking; Nerissa, and especially Portia, came in clutch to save Antonio’s life and ‘find’ his ships. Far and away the most adroit character in the play, act five is Portia’s time to shine, even more than
Moving on to Cleopatra’s Power, it can be seen that she uses her coercive sexual power to entice and manipulate Antony’s behaviour and decisions, inevitably ending in the weakening of their relationship. Cleopatra knows her powers of manipulation: "I drunk him to bed;/ Then put my tires and mantles on him, whilst I wore his sword Philippan.“2.5.21-23. She makes a mockery of him as he is the Philippan victor that is metaphorically stripped of his sword and therefore his political and sexual power, by a woman. She is described by him in a metaphor, as an “enchanting queen” which connotes a sense of uncontrolled mesmerisation with a powerful figure. To those removed from the situation, such as Caesar, she is described as a “whore” and Antony's life with her is full of “lascivious wassails” demonstrating the wanton behaviour that Cleopatra has almost imposed on Antony.
Portia was a wealthy woman that inherited all her fathers money and her father left three caskets if someone wanted to marry her they would have to pick a casket if they pick the wrong casket they are never allowed to marry again but if they pick the right casket all of Portia wealth goes to her husband. Several men came to woo her in Act 1 Sc 2 Portia spent time talking about these men. Portia and Nerissa make fun of the Neapolitan Prince because they liked to insult foreigners and saying he only talk about he's horse and that he's mother had sex with a blacksmith.