The Characters of Portia and Calphurnia in Shakespeares...

The Characters of Portia and Calphurnia in Shakespeares Julius Caesar For thousands of years, humanity has been ruled mainly by a Patriarchal society. In this society women have often been seen as objects or inferior humans through the eyes of their male counterparts. The Elizabethan era was no exception to these beliefs, and works of literature often supported these misogynistic views. In Shakespeares Julius Caesar, however, the author appears to portray the characters of Portia and Calphurnia in a positive light, ignoring the common stereotypes often associated with female characters. Although Portia and Calphurnia have minor parts in the play, their strength is discernible. Both female characters are portrayed as†¦show more content†¦She tries to convince Brutus into divulging his secret by invoking the vows of love they made to each other, and also by begging him on her knees. Brutus shows his respect for Portia by stating, Kneel not, gentle Portia, (II, I, 300). When Brutus lifts Portia off of her knees to face him, this reve als Brutus admiration for his wife. Despite Brutus respect for his wife, he still continues to withhold his secret. Portia once again declares that as his wife she deserves Brutus respect and adoration: But, as it were, in sort or limitation, To keep with you at meals, comfort your bed, /And talk to you sometimes? Dwell I but in the suburbs/Of your good pleasure? If it be no more, /Portia is Brutuss harlot, not his wife, (II, I, 305-310). Portia is describing to Brutus that by excluding her from his secret, that she has been reduced to his concubine. Brutus responds to Portias statement by stating, You are my true and honorable wife, /As dear to me as are the ruddy drops/That visit my sad heart,(II, I, 311-313). Brutus shows that despite, his depressed state, he still loves and cares for his wife showing the mutual relationship Brutus and Portia share that is based on love. Portia still tries to uncover the cause of Brutus sorrow, and proves she is worthy of keeping a secret because of her nobleness. First she states, I grant I am a woman, but withal/A woman that Lord Brutus took to wife. /I grant I am a woman, butShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Taming Of The Shrew 2561 Words   |  11 PagesDeshal Desai Professor: Thomas Gilligan EN 358 7 August 2016 Characteristic of Women’s Taming of the Shrew: KATHERINE Negative Characteristics: Katherine is the title character (the â€Å"Shrew†) of the play. She is the eldest and unmarried daughter of Baptista. She is hot tempered and can slap people around her when they make her mad. Katherine Minola is a fiery, spirited women and seeing her such behavior, the people around her doesn’t quite know how to react with her or what to do with her. MostRead MoreJulius Caesar as the Noblest Roman of Them All Essay686 Words   |  3 PagesJulius Caesar as the Noblest Roman of Them All In William Shakespeares Julius Caesar the victorious Mark Antony calls his rival Brutus, the noblest Roman of them all. At the start of the play we witnessed Cassius persuade Brutus to join a conspiracy to kill Caesar. In my essay I intend to discuss four main characters in order to prove or disapprove Mark Antonys statement. The play starts off with Julius Caesar entering Rome after his victory in the civilRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Julius Caesar Essay1833 Words   |  8 Pages INTRODUCTION The seemingly straightforward simplicity of â€Å"Julius Caesar† has made it a perennial favourite for almost 400 years. Despite its simplicity, almost Roman in nature, the play is rich both dramatically and thematically, and every generation since Shakespeare’s time has been able to identify with some political aspect of the play. The Victorians found a stoic, sympathetic character in Brutus and found Caesar unforgivably weak and tyrannical. As we move into the twenty-first century, audiences