Shakespeare Paper on Merchant of Venice
This paper will focus on The Merchant of Venice, to analyze an interpretive issue and show how it develops/responds to issues of concern to Renaissance culture. I would like the paper to enter the interpretive question: What are the power dynamics between Portia and Bassanio—in what ways do those dynamics challenge renaissance ideas about marriage? A potential thesis idea I have and I’d appreciate if you’d make it stronger and more concrete is: Shakespeare challenges the strict social views put on women during the Elizabethan era through the portrayal of Portia who challenges male authority and is celebrated as a hero?? This is not have to be the thesis you take on but I would like the thesis to be tied to the question. I would like to introduce introduction to set the scene of the era the play was written in including the renaissance and the Elizabethan Era. The intro should end with a very clear thesis statement. Some scenes from the book that I’d like you to focus on would be the trial scene where Portia is cross dressing as a male clerk and the significance of that scene in regards to the question. I am no expert so if you think taking a different route or even different scenes will strengthen the thesis and the over-arching question, please take it. I appreciate your help and I really hope that I can get an A! Let me know if you still need clarification, thank you.
I am also willing to extend the deadline a few hours.
