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The Feminist Portrayal Of Women In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar

Decent Essays

Shakespeare is known for his unjust portrayal of women in his arts. Women are usually sub characters who as they might bring importance to the story they are repressed by the male characters within the play. Not only does Shakespeare improperly portray the strength of women he also is using the stereotypical characteristics of women to show “weakness” within the male characters of the play. In the play “Julius Caesar” Shakespeare’s sexist ideas were not an attempt to keep the story with its historical times, his degrading of women was what he himself witnessed within the Elizabethan era. The play “Julius Caesar” has an abundance of characters, over 25, yet only two of these characters are female. Both of these characters …show more content…

Portia’s major role is when she attempts to gain insight of what is troubling her mate. She feels as a married couple they should share the feelings and happenings of each other’s lives. Portia feels as though she is only left out because of her gender, she feels that this ignorance her husband subjects onto her makes her feel like nothing but a whore. She feels like she has no power. Even with these roles set in place by society within the play, Portia is not afraid to stand up for herself. Even though Portia found herself as a strong woman she feels trapped in male dominated world. “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, Cato's daughter. , Think you I am no stronger than my sex, , Being so father'd and so husbanded? , Tell me your counsels, I will not disclose em., I have made strong proof of my constancy, Giving myself a voluntary wound , Here in the thigh. Can I bear that with patience, And not my husband's secrets?” (Julius Caesar, Shakespeare, 2.1.6), this quote was spoken by Portia while proving her strengths and stabbing herself in the thigh to show that dispite her Greek god given sex she is just as strong as Brutus. “Portia argues with Brutus, saying that she is a woman of a good reputation, with a famous, noble father, and a famous, noble husband. She, she says, is easily noble enough to be able

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