In this play of deceptive appearances‚ is Portia suspect of not being altogether what she appears to be? Critics have debated this question over the centuries-some with greater enthusiasm than others. One such critic is Anna Jameson. Jameson’ allegations are valid concerning Portia’s undoubted wealth‚ beauty‚ and intelligence‚ but she fails to recognize that she is not all that she appears to be (141). Jameson’s review gives much praise to Portia. According to Jameson‚ “Many critics are so dazzled
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Batts Why do Men Cheat? University of Pheonix Mr. Henderson June 25‚ 2010 Men who cheat do not think about the consequences behind what they do. Majority of men have reputations for being unfaithful. Men in committed relationships have illicit affairs for a variety of reasons‚
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William Shakespeare was a jack of all trades. He could do it all histories‚ tragedies‚ comedies‚ romances. While some people may say that Shakespeare’s tragedies are the most popular‚ his comedies are as popular as the tragedies‚ if not more. However‚ comedies of Shakespeare’s time are not what people of the twentieth century perceive to be "comedy." Some of the elements of Shakespearean comedy are similar to today’s comedy‚ such as physical comedy. People of Shakespeare’s time found the fall
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as a spendthrift and a “gold digger”? 3. Why‚ in Scene II‚ is Portia in such a melancholy mood? 4. Why does Shakespeare use the word “choose” so often in the second scene? 5. How is Portia characterized in Scene II? 6. In Scene II‚ why do Portia and Nerissa review the suitors who have come to court Portia? 7. How do Shylock’s first words in Scene III help to characterize him? 8. What is the point of Shylock’s comment about Antonio’s ships? 9. Why does Shylock refuse to eat with Antonio? 10
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the play however. Through disguises and false identities‚ the characters in the play are able to alter the play in an attempt to fulfill their needs. Viola does this successfully by using her disguise as a servant to get close and personal with Orsino‚ who she would not have been close to normally. Sir Andrew’s guise on the other hand‚ doesn’t work as well as he’d hoped. His attempts to cloak his true joking‚ fun-loving personality with a mask of machismo. His disguise ends up turning Olivia off
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Shakespeare’s heroines‚ for example: why has he chosen a female protagonist‚ given that he is writing in a predominantly patriarchal time period; how does he manipulate Renaissance gender constructions in order to convey his message; how is the patriarchal attitude explored through the women in the text; and many more. Using The Merchant of Venice as an example‚ this essay will attempt to explore Shakespeare’s representations of the characters of Portia‚ Nerissa and Jessica. It will seek to examine
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Aristocrats and noblemen from the four corners of the earth have come to a beautiful island near Venice. Besides the natural charm of the estate‚ they are enthralled by the golden sun that resides there - Portia. Her father‚ famous nobleman Marcus has left behind a huge fortune to his only daughter Portia and many wish to win her heart in order to gain access to it. What lies between her suitors and the fair-haired lady is a game of caskets devised in Marcus’ will. Three caskets of gold‚ silver and lead
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Portia is the heroine of he play. She is a beautiful and rich lady who is living on the will of her dead father‚ the person who wanted to marry her have to try his luck to choose one of the three caskets and in one casket is a portrait of Portia and if the suitors fail he cannot marry a woman in his life. She is very famous and people from all over the world come to propose her and try their luck. She says to Nerissa her friend : O me‚ the word ’choose!’ I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse
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Portia is a strong heroine in a play filled with‚ confused‚ selfish‚ niave men. It may seem that she is a controlling female who uses her power to get her way in the world‚ but she is given a bad rap. Sure she’s a bit controlling but how can we blame her‚ that’s how she was brought up‚ it’s part of her upbringing. It’s easy to accuse her of prying into her newly husbands life or taking control over something that wasn’t any of her concern‚ but it’s possible that like many other heroes and heroines
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TREATMENT OF PORTIA BY MEN IN THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Written in the late 16th century‚ The Merchant of Venice’s Italian setting and marriage theme are typical of Shakespeare’s earlier comedies. The characters‚ however‚ raise this play to new heights‚ especially that of Portia‚ Shakespeare’s first great female protagonist. Her character often contradicts that of the typical subservient Elizabethan woman as Shakespeare develops her into the most dominant character in the play. When we first meet Portia in act
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