Merchant Of Venice Essay, Research Paper

When William Shakespeare wrote, The Merchant of Venice, he included a female

character that influences the drama dramatically. In most of Shakespeare & # 8217 ; s dramas,

the adult females have small power and intelligence. In The Merchant of Venice,

nevertheless, Portia is a adult female that saves the life of a adult male with her humor and

intelligence. Another adult female created by Shakespeare that posses qualities similar

to Portia is Beatrice, from Much Ado about Nothing. Both adult females add to the chief

subjects of the drama because of their ability to utilize their intelligence and witty

comments every bit good as holding a loving bosom. The adult females portion many similarities as

good as many differences which seem to be inevitable because Portia seems to be

put on a base that really few can make. Portia is one of Shakespeare & # 8217 ; s great

heroines, whose beauty, lively intelligence, speedy humor, and high lesson

earnestness have blossomed in a society of wealth and freedom. She is known

throughout the universe for her beauty and virtuousness, and she is able to manage any

state of affairs with her crisp humor. In many of Shakespeare & # 8217 ; s dramas, he creates female

characters that are presented to be clearly inferior to work forces. The one female,

Shakespearian character that is most similar Portia would be Beatrice, from Much

Bustle about Nothing. Both of the adult females are known for their humor and intelligence.

Beatrice is able to support her positions in any state of affairs, as does Portia.

Shakespeare gives each of them a sense of power by giving their heads the

ability to alter words around, use multiple significances and reply sagely to the

work forces environing them. By adding a loving bosom to both of these adult females,

Shakespeare makes their intelligence more appealing. Even though Beatrice fells

the loving side of her character for most of the drama, she still expresses her

kindness and love in other ways. Like Portia, she is a beloved friend and an

obedient girl. In the 4th act, after Portia has saved the life of

Antonio, she uses her humor, merely as Beatrice does to prove Benedict & # 8217 ; s love, to

convince Bassanio to give up the ring that he vowed he would ne’er portion with.

After merely inquiring for it and being unsuccessful, she decides to utilize her

intelligence and says, “ I see sir, you are broad in offers. / You taught

me foremost to implore, and now methinks / You teach me how a mendicant should be answer & # 8217 ; vitamin D ”

( IV.ii.438-440 ) . The lone chief difference between the two adult females is the manner they

are perceived by the other characters. Portia is thought of as a perfect angel

possessing no defects, which is shown when Bassanio depict

her to Antonio and

says, “ In Belmont is a lady richly left, / And she is just and, fairer than

that word, / Of fantastic virtuousnesss? Nor is the broad universe ignorant of her worth,

/ For the four air currents blow in from every seashore / Renowned suers, and her sunny

locks / Hang on her temples like a aureate fleece, / Which makes her place of

Belmont Colchis & # 8217 ; strond, / And many Jasons come in pursuit of her ”

( I.i.161-172 ) . Portia displays all the graces of the perfect Renaissance lady.

She is non ambitious, she is quiet instead than restrictive. She is modest in her

self-estimation. Her generous spirit makes her wish she had more virtue, wealth,

and friends so that she can break aid those she loves. Beatrice, on the other

manus, is non described as beautiful and even though she is good liked in her

society, she is non thought of in the same reverent manner as Portia is. Besides

salvaging the life of Antonio, Portia is besides used to convey the subject of delusory

visual aspects. Throughout the drama, Shakespeare uses his characters to demo the

audience that a individual can non be judged by how they appear to the oculus and that a

individual can genuinely be identified by their interior psyche. Bassanio chooses the lead

coffin and proves that even though the other coffins appeared to be beautiful

and trustworthy, the hoarded wealth was found in the coffin of lead. Shakspere

foreshadows the subject of visual aspects when Portia says to her new hubby,

“ You see me, Lord Bassanio, where I stand, / Such as I am? But the full

amount of me / Is an unlesson & # 8217 ; d miss, unschool & # 8217 ; vitamin D, unpractic & # 8217 ; vitamin D, / Happy in this, she

is non yet so old / But she may larn ; happier than this, / She is non bred so

dull but she can larn ” ( III.ii.149-164 ) . After stating this to her hubby,

she subsequently dresses up as a adult male and finds a manner to let go of Antonio from his bond

with Shylock, when no 1 else is able to. She proves to the audience and to her

friends that even though she might hold been perceived as an “ unlesson & # 8217 ; vitamin D,

unschool & # 8217 ; vitamin D, unpractic & # 8217 ; d miss, ” her inner ego, posses the strength,

intelligence and experience that enables her to make what she did. When

Shakespeare created Portia & # 8217 ; s character, he contributed the similitude of Beatrice

and added the elements of a perfect Renaissance adult female. Even though Portia is a

adult female, she still posses the intelligence to utilize and pull strings words, the beauty

to court work forces, and the psyche that stands above many others. Her visual aspect adds to

her beatific repute and her wisdom allows the audience of the drama to

acknowledge the subject of delusory visual aspects.

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