merchant of veniceportia
When William Shakespeare wrote, The Merchant of Venice, he included a female character that influences the play dramatically. In most of Shakespeare's plays, the women have little power and intelligence. In The Merchant of Venice, however, Portia is a woman that saves the life of a man with her wit and intelligence. Another woman created by Shakespeare that posses qualities similar to Portia is Beatrice, from Much Ado about Nothing. Both women add to the main themes of the play because of their ability to use their intelligence and witty remarks as well as having a loving heart. The women share many similarities as well as many differences which seem to be inevitable because Portia seems to be put on a pedestal that very few can reach. Portia is one of Shakespeare's great heroines, whose beauty, lively intelligence, quick wit, and high moral seriousness have blossomed in a society of wealth and freedom. She is known throughout the world for her beauty and virtue, and she is able to handle any situation with her sharp wit. In many of Shakespeare's plays, he creates female characters that are presented to be clearly inferior to men. The one female, Shakespearean character that is most like Portia would be Beatrice, fr
Besides saving the life of Antonio, Portia is also used to convey the theme of deceptive appearances. Throughout the play, Shakespeare uses his characters to show the audience that a person cannot be judged by how they appear to the eye and that a person can truly be identified by their inner soul. Bassanio chooses the lead casket and proves that even though the other caskets appeared to be beautiful and trustworthy, the treasure was found in the casket of lead. Shakespeare foreshadows the theme of appearances when Portia says to her new husband, "You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, / Such as I am... But the full sum of me / Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractic'd, / Happy in this, she is not yet so old / But she may learn; happier than this, / She is not bred so dull but she can learn" (III.ii.149-164). After saying this to her husband, she later dresses up as a man and finds a way to release Antonio from his bond with Shylock, when no one else is able to. She proves to the audience and to her friends that even though she might have been perceived as an "unlesson'd, unschool'd, unpractic'd girl," her inner self, posses the strength, intelligence and experience that enables her to do what she did. When Shakespeare created Portia's character, he contributed the likeness of Beatrice and added the elements of a perfect Renaissance woman. Even thou
Some common words found in the essay are:
Portia Shakespeare, Lord Bassanio, Antonio Portia, Antonio Belmont, Portia Shakespeare's, Beatrice Ado, Ii161-172 Portia, Merchant Venice, Venice Portia, Belmont Colchis', beatrice ado women, theme deceptive, loving heart women, portia woman, beatrice ado, wit intelligence, deceptive appearances, portia beatrice, ado women, heart women, portia beatrice ado, theme deceptive appearances, life antonio, loving heart,
Approximate Word count = 926
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
