Shakespeare was a FEMINIST before it was invented An Outlook in the Merchant of Venice

The construct of feminism is based upon the woman’s struggle in society for social, political, and economic equality with men. Feminism seeks to eliminate the notion of sexism, which is the degradation, oppression, and subordination of women.Portia’s father’s power over his daughter even in death is a testament to the control men have in the affairs of women, as though they are property and not human beings. According to her father’s will, Portia’s husband will be the man who chooses the correct casket that contains the picture of Portia. Oh, me, the word, choose ! I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father (Shakespeare,121211-12). While the casket selection appears to be a strict stipulation, the clever Portia deciphers a method in which she can still have an influence upon the man that she marries. Portia accepts the fact that she must marry Bassanio after he selects the lead casket as the fulfillment of her father’s desires. She was able to tip the scales of the decision-making process in her favor so that she could choose her husband by discreetly providing clues to indicate the correct casket. Let the music sound while he doth his choice…Let us all ring fancy’s knell I’ll begin it-Ding, Dong, bell. Ding, Dong, bell (.2122.2.3-11).Superficially, the situation relates to the overarching patriarchy and its strength: Portia however, acts to work against the oppressive contract she is bound to and chart the course of the selection of her husband

کلیدواژه ها:

radical feminism ، cross-dressing ، struggle for dominance ، male-dominated society