Henry V is definitely geared more for the male audience. There are only two or thre

The Merchant of Venice, does have a strong cast of women who play very important roles throughout the play. These women are much more impressive than those found in Henry V. Portia, in particular, is by far the superior one of the play. Like Queen Elizabeth herself, Portia's character is a blending of femininity and masculinity. Portia has great strength of character, a quick wit, and is very well educated in the affairs of the world around her which is not a common theme in Shakespeare's women. She is in every respect far superior to the fools she ends up being surrounded by. This might not have been the case if it weren't for the fact that she, with all her intelligence and wit is still being dictated by a male. Her dead father dictates her life through his will. I guess Shakespeare does not miss an opportunity to put even the most superior of all women in her place as he does just that to Portia. For all her power, riches, and strengths, she still is no better than the man she marries. Her new husband, Barsenio, is no match for her, and yet he is handed over everything that belongs to her, including her soul. Although Shakespeare gives the very best of qualities and traits to the female character Portia, he knows that in spite of her superiority and domination over all the other characters including the male characters, he can later strip her of all her greatness at any time, and does just that at the end of the play. What I find so unbelievable is the way that Shakespeare's women just hand over everything including themselves, no questions asked, to a man they hardly know and yet willingly and happily marry. I have a hard time believing that women of his day did this duty so graciously.

When reading Shakespeare it is easy to question what his motives might have been. Scholars have been doing this for centuries. We will never be sure as to whether or not Shakespeare was reflecting the times or his own feelings. One must keep in mind when reading Shakespeare that hs writings are not historically accurate and therefore most likely only reflect his views on things. I only hope that is the case, for I can't imagine women ever being so passive. Could we have really been the passive beings that Shakespeare portrays women as, I seriously doubt it.

While the men are off fighting the battle, Katherine, the future Queen of France, does not appear to be a bit concerned over the fate of her own country. Instead, she readily accepts her fate as she prepares herself for the role of Queen of England.

This play is very biased and one-sided. Most of the English men are portrayed as noble, humble and superior to the French. Henry himself can do no wrong, and is portrayed through out the play as the best leader that the English have ever had. This image that he can do no wrong and is as close to being perfect as one can get, only holds up if you don't go digging around in Henry's past, in which he had been portrayed as a spoiled, pampered partying boy. The French, in contrast to the English, are presented as arrogant, incompetent, and weak, very similar to what Henry had been not to long ago. There is, however, one thing lower than a Frenchman, and that is, a French woman.

Some common words found in the essay are:
Elizabeth Portia's, Merchant Venice, Frenchman French, Shakespeare's It's, French Henry, Venice Henry, Prize Shakespeare, Queen France, Queen England, Grand Prize, female characters, merchant venice, shakespeare's women, female character, glimpse katherine, women characters, characters merchant venice, characters merchant, reading shakespeare, play queen elizabeth, play roles, elizabeth portia's, queen elizabeth portia's, particular superior play, elizabeth portia's character,
Approximate Word count = 2607
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page double spaced)