Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Cross-Dressing in Merchant of Venice Essay - 1305 Words

In William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, gender roles are explored, culminating in two distinct scenes of cross-dressing. The men of Elizabethan society enjoy a prominent status based solely on gender, to which women are clearly outsiders. This is particularly evident in Jessica’s newfound freedom when dressed as a pageboy in Act 2 and Portia’s and Nerissa’s immediate elevation in social standing when they take on male personas in Act 4. Through these two instances of cross-dressing, Shakespeare presents class not in terms of socioeconomic status but in the benefits of being male. Although the three women all partake in cross-dressing as a means of undermining patriarchal constraint, the consequences vary as there are several†¦show more content†¦The very fact that Jessica is forced to pose as a male in order to gain freedom –thus shirking the cultural norm –highlights the subjugation of women in Shakespeare’s time. F urther enforcing Jessica’s lower social standing is her acceptance to be Lorenzo’s torch-bearer. Shakespeare provides a negative connotation because â€Å"torch-bearer† insinuates the image of a servant or otherwise owned individual, which the audience equates with what Jessica will become after her marriage ceremony. Other less pronounced limitations arise in regards to Jessica’s transvesting. The practice of cross-dressing becomes exceedingly important to practical applications later in the play because the women, specifically Portia, must interact with mainstream society. The resulting consequence of taking on a male faà §ade ultimately provides empowerment for the otherwise subjugated women. Jessica’s cross-dressing, though it was insightful and served its purpose well, remains ineffective and powerless to change Lorenzo or impact society in any way. In Portia’s case, however, the potential for change exists because her character a ctively undercuts male conceptions of female frailty and inability, unlike Jessica’s enforcement of that very claim. Shakespeare initially introduces Portia in a way that her wealth and socioeconomic status are immediately evident. Not only is Portia rich and stunningly beautiful, but she rounds out the image of aShow MoreRelated Merchant of Venice: The Effects of Cross-Dressing Essay1866 Words   |  8 PagesShakespeare challenges the assumption that men hold more power than women do. He subtly hints that the power men posses is superficial when Jessica dresses like a boy, and later when Nerissa and Portia disguise themselves as men in The Merchant of Venice. Masculinity is merely a costume that can be donned or doffed at will; therefore its associated power can be removed and redistributed as well. Shakespeare emphasizes gender barriers, yet also challenges them to show their inconsistencies. InRead More Cross-dressing in Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and The Merchant of Venice3276 Words   |  14 PagesCross-dressing in Twelfth Night, As You Like It, and The Merchant of Venice Any theatrical performance requires a two-fold exchange. The performers must act in such a way as to engage the audience and draw them into the story of the stage. However, the audience itself must yield to the imagination, allowing at times the irrational to take precedent over rational expectations. This exchange between performers and audience creates the dramatic experience; one cannot exist without the otherRead MoreBlurred Gender Lines And Elizabethan Fear Of Femininity1819 Words   |  8 Pagesdetermined in society, yet the cross-dressing plots in Shakespeare’s As You Like It (1599) and The Merchant of Venice (1597) illustrate how even within this time period, the identity of gender were constantly being questioned. 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Shakespeare wrote these two female characters’ sexualitiesRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1102 Words   |  5 Pagespassed, but even today, women are being treated unfairly in certain situations. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effective feminist play, which is demonstrated throug h the assertive and cleverRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare1153 Words   |  5 Pagesprogressed as time has passed, but even today, women are treated unfairly. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effective feminist play, which is demonstrated through the assertive and cleverRead MoreThe Societies Portrayed By Machiavelli And Shakespeare1423 Words   |  6 Pagesor leaders see fit, and they usually always use it to benefit themselves. The individuals that have the most power in a society determine what justice is, in order to benefit themselves; this is depicted by the individuals in The Prince and Merchant of Venice. According to Machiavelli, princes must exert a certain level of justice in order to acquire and maintain control over their principality. In The Prince, it is clear that the princes have the most power in the society and can determine whatRead MoreGender Roles And Roles Of William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice 1837 Words   |  8 Pages Gender plays an important role in Shakespeare’s comedies. Cross gender roles and cross dressing are essential not only for the inherent humour of the situation but also for the advancment of the plot. English Renaissance stereotypes of women and men and their various roles and responsibilities in society are reflected in Shakespeare. What sets Shakespeare apart is the fact that he also challenges, and at times even breaks down those stereotypes especially in his comedies. Hamlet may proclaim â€Å"FrailtyRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice By Michael Radford1309 Words   |  6 PagesThe Merchant of Venice has never been Hollywood’s favorite Shakespeare play. With deep homoerotic and anti-Semitic undertones, the closest thing we’ve had to a mainstream version of the movie was a parody on The Critic called The Merchant of Venice Beach starring Keanu Reeves. Other than that, the story of the Jew moneylender Shylock and the comic relief relationship between Bassanio and the cross-dressing Portia hasn’t hit the silver screen since the silent-film days. Films are hard to make whenRead More Twelfth Night Essay: The Necessity of Cross-dressing800 Words   |  4 PagesThe Necessity of Cross-dressing Twelfth Night      Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The action of Twelfth Night begins shortly after a damaging tempest shipwrecks the heroine, casting her upon foreign shores. Upon arrival in this strange seaport, Viola--like the Princess Leonide--dons male disguise which facilitates both employment and time enough to orient herself in this unfamiliar territory.    Violas transvestism functions as emblematic of the antic nature of Illyrian society. As contemporary feminist and Shakespearean

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