High School

How do the women in "The Merchant of Venice" defy traditional gender roles?

Answer :

Portia shows her cleverness by pretending to be a male lawyer and outwitting men while Jessica defies her father and chooses her own love life, both of which demonstrate private volition and courage.

In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, some female characters such as Portia and Jessica defy the traditional gender roles of their time. Portia, for instance, disguises herself as a male lawyer, taking control and outsmarting the men in the court, which was unexpected and against societal norms during Shakespeare's era. This demonstrates her intelligence and independence.

Jessica, Shylock's daughter, also challenges traditional roles by disobeying her father and eloping with Lorenzo. Such an act of defiance and choice of her own love life again shows a form of independence unexpected of women in that era. This act also hints at her bravery and defiance.

Therefore, through the characters of Portia and Jessica, women in the Merchant of Venice are shown to double-cross societal and gender norms, displaying trepidity, independence and intelligence.

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