The Dilemma Of Portia s Feminism - 1483 Words

Christy Chandra Professor David Landreth GSI Aileen Liu English 117A 30 September 2015 Merchant of Venice: The Dilemma of Portia’s Feminism Known as the female lead in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Portia is designed by Shakespeare to posses a high degree as equal as the other lead male characters in the play. The reason is definitely due to her position as the heir of a rich father who has passed, leaving her to be installed as his replacement. Bounded with a promise upon her father’s death, Portia has to marry a man and choose her suitor out of the caskets lottery. In the play, Portia falls for a Venice’s merchant’s best friend, Bassanio. Eventually, the candidates lost their luck marrying Portia to Bassanio and they immediately resume their wedding. Shortly after, Portia sponsored Bassanio to sail away to save Antonio as he is being detained by Shylock for debt issues. Ironcically the debt that has caused Antonio to be detained is because of Bassanio, who used the debt to pursue his journey to propose Portia. Later on, Portia disguises as a young, male lawyer, and cleverly judge on Shyl ock in order to save Antonio and Bassanio. Portia’s intelligence and bravery suggest a feminist trait being embedded within her, but her motivation doesn’t fit in with the criteria. Hence, in her entirety, Portia’s motives suggest her submission towards her husband, Bassanio, a male lead in the play. As traced from the introduction of the play, Merchant of Venice states,