“Behind every man is a greater woman,” an old saying reads. In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, this phrase is remarkably true, considering seemingly marginal figures such as Calpurnia and Portia, the only two women in the play, help excavate the characters of Brutus and Caesar. The women are only flaunted through their relationships with their husbands, and therefore greatly show contrasts in the nobles’ characters. Brutus’ wife, Portia, has far more lines in the play, and shows more noteworthy anecdotes about Brutus than Calpurnia does about Caesar. Women in Julius Caesar, though often absent and seemingly insignificant, provide a domestic view on the male character’s lives and convey how disrespected women are treated in the setting of the historical …show more content…
Immediately after Brutus says that Portia is honourable, Portia fires back, saying that if she really was, she would know his secret. She retaliates his statements by throwing her nobility, which is contradicted by her sex, in Brutus’ face. She explains why she believes she has the right to know the truth across a few passionate lines. Portia heartfully says, “If this were true, then should I know this secret./ I grant I am a woman; but withal/ A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife;/ I grant I am a woman; but withal/ A woman well reputed” (Shakespeare, II.i 291-295). These few lines contain implicit meaning that refers to Brutus’ domestic life and how women are mistreated. Portia knows what she is conveying to her husband, which is made apparent in the tone of her voice and the wording of her language. Portia uses repetition when speaking to Brutus, a common speaking and writing technique used to display importance. Her repeating of the line “I grant I am a woman; but withal” shows the reader that not only does Brutus and the rest of society see her as inferior, but it is very possible that Portia has her own self doubts about her full potential because she is a woman. Her tone of voice also suggests flattery aimed toward Brutus’ hubris. Talking about Brutus in a godlike manner by referring to him as “Lord Brutus” and …show more content…
Portia is still listing meaningful reasons for Brutus to put faith in her, and ends up accidentally degrading herself whilst doing so. She says, “I grant I am a woman; but withal/ A woman well reputed, Cato’s daughter/ Think you I am no stronger than my sex/ Being so father’d, and so husbanded” (Shakespeare, II.i 294-298)? Portia is once again providing a window for the reader to see into the mindset of their time. Her words reflect that she is not accountable for her own worth and personality, only the men who sired or married her show her worth. Brutus, being one of these men, is being directly charmed, as well as possibly accused. Portia brings up that she is not only the noble woman that Brutus chose to marry, but the daughter of Cato, the powerful and respected soldier. She is implicitly saying that by denying her access to the information, Brutus can also be insulting Cato and his family name. Portia says these things to speak to Brutus’ hubris and Cato’s importance, proving that her character, like the other women in the society, is entirely built upon and based on men’s
Brutus uses rhetorical questions, faulty reasoning and hyperboles to create the tone of persuasion while convincing the Roman people to be on his side. To start off his funeral speech, he wants the citizens to trust and believe what he has to say about Caesar, Brutus announces; “Believe me for mine honor, and have respect for my honor, that you may believe me”(Shakespeare 42). In this case, faulty reasoning is shown because Brutus has done nothing to prove him honorable to the citizens. Given that, he has no evidence that he is trustworthy, Brutus still try’s to persuade the crowd to believe what he has to say about Caesar is true, which is
Brutus commands Portia to not kneel for him and she is quick to explain she wouldn't have to if he would just tell her what was bothering him. She then brings up their marriage testing the strength of it, ¨Within the bond of marriage, tell me, Brutus/ is it expected I should know no secrets/ that appertain to you?¨ (II.i.280-282). This rhetorical question is to make Brutus feel guilty for making Portia believe that Brutus sees no respect in their relationship. That he should not be keeping things from her since she is his other half. Even with the rhetorical question taking a blow to him he refuses to tell me, instead he tries to mend her sadness with words of love and appreciation for being his honorable wife.
Portia was a loyal wife, and very patience and trustworthy. She had been ‘asleep,’ throughout most the play, although she had known there was something going on that Brutus is not telling her. Portia begged Brutus to tell her his intentions, and upon refusing, she reveals a stab, in which she had done herself, to prove her patience, a keeper of secrets, and to convince Brutus. She is well-aware of how to prove her honor, which was to inflict harm on herself. Portia exclaims, “Portia is Brutus' harlot, not his wife,” (2.1.310) this is her saying that if she, Portia, can not learn of her husband’s aim, she is not a wife, but another prostitute.
Brutus also contains several other characteristics of a tragic hero. For example, Brutus possesses a hamartia. “Th’ abuse of greatness is when it disjoins/ Remorse from power; and, to speak truth of Caesar” (Shakespeare II.1.18-19). In this quote from the story, Brutus is saying that he believes Caesar would abuse the power of being crowned king.
A Modern View of Feminist Criticism William Shakespeare 's "Othello” can be analyzed from a feminist perspective. This criticism focuses on relationships between genders, like the patterns of thoughts, behavior, values, enfranchisement, and power in relations between and within sexes. A feminist examination of the play enables us to judge the distinctive social esteems and status of women and proposes that the male-female power connections that become an integral factor in scenes of Othello impact its comprehension. I believe that the critical lens that provides modern society with the most compelling view of literature is Feminist Criticism because it analyzes distrust and disloyalty among relationships, women being treated as possessions
Portia can also give Brutus some ideas about how to run everything. Brutus says this about Portia, “You are my true and honorable wife, as dear to me as are the ruddy drops that visit my sad heart. ’’I chose this quote because it explains how Brutus thinks she honorable and will trust
In Portia and Brutus ' conversation, we see a strong connection between the couple. Portia deeply cares for her husband and his well-being, and accordingly Brutus has a reverence for her that is superior to that of Caesar to his wife. In the scene, Portia confronts Brutus saying she has detected a change in his behavior. "You suddenly arose, and walked about. Musing and sighing arms across."
It may seem like Shakespeare treats his female characters worse than his male characters, but it is his female characters that drive the plot
In The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, William Shakespeare includes prophets, omens, and natural phenomenon that point to the tragic end of the three main characters: Julius Caesar, Marcus Brutus and Gaius Cassius. Writing a play based on such a well known historical event, Shakespeare’s audience would have known the outline of the events before entering the theater. Therefore, the inclusion of the omens would have served as a reminder for his audience. Though the omens suggest a sense of predetermination that would have satisfied the historical outlook of the audience, it is abundantly clear that it is the choices that those characters make that dooms them. Ultimately, Shakespeare suggests that it is the flaws of the main characters that leads
As Caesar loved me, I weep for him; // as he was fortunate, I rejoice at it; // as he was valiant, I honour him: // but, as he was ambitious, I slew him” (JC, 3.2.20-30), leaves the mob more disturbed and bitter than ever before they succumb to Antony’s appeal to emotion as he continues to exploit their self-love. Brutus’s naïve belief that he has successfully justified his actions in the eyes of the Romans with such a short speech lacking any self-love is a sign of his naivety – a form of foolishness that lacks folly. On the other hand, Antony’s long speech is brave and fearless – a sign of a fool who embodies folly. According to Folly, “I [folly] is also the champion of prudence” (Folly, 27) as prudence is derived from experience, and men who lack
Brutus responds saying that it is not true; it's just that he had a lot on his mind lately. Brutus has a soliloquy that addresses his inner conflict over how to deal with Caesar. "The abuse of greatness is when it disjoins remorse from power, and, to speak truth of Caesar, I have not known when his affections sway'd." Later after Caesar's death, Brutus and Cassius are preparing to assault the armies of Antony and Octavius. Brutus wanted power more than he valued his friendship with Caesar.
For Shakespeare’s plays to contain enduring ideas, it must illustrate concepts that still remain relevant today, in modern society. Shakespeare utilises his tragic play Othello, to make an important social commentary on the common gender stereotypes. During early modern England, Shakespeare had to comply to the strict social expectations where women were viewed as tools, platonic and mellow, and where men were displayed as masculine, powerful, tempered, violent and manipulative. As distinct as this context is to the 21st century, the play exposes how women were victimised by the men who hold primary power in the community in which they compelled women to conform to the ideal world of a perfect wife or confront an appalling destiny for challenging the system. Moreover, Shakespeare utilises the main antagonist, Iago, to portray how men are desperate to achieve what they want and to indirectly fulfil the stereotype of masculinity and power through manipulation.
In his play “Othello,” Shakespeare is very compassionate towards the women of his era. He treats Desdemona with special sympathy. She is the victim of two crossed male aspirations — the devilry of villain Iago and the jealousy of her husband. The main cause of Desdemona’s tragedy is the total absence of women’s personal liberty. The lack of self-development without restrictions of society and family constricts the mind.
Men did not think that women could ever be as smart as they were, and did not listen or take advice from women that is why Portia had to dress up as a man just to get the men to listen to her and Antonio was saved just because of her intelligence. Here is revealed the idea of love that women can do everything to see their husbands
Society during that time, believed that women weren’t intelligent enough to take on such roles. Women in the Merchant of Venice go against their gender roles. Men did not think that women could ever be as smart as they were, and did not listen or take advice from women that is why Portia had to dress up as a man just to get the men to listen to her and Antonio was saved just because of her intelligence. Here is revealed the idea of love that women can do everything to see their husbands happy. Jessica also goes against the gender role of women, because she is making her own decision about her life.