Samarqand state institute of foreign languages faculty of english philology and translation studies mirzayeva ozoda

MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND INNOVATIONS OF THE REPUBLIC OF UZBEKISTAN
SAMARQAND STATE INSTITUTE OF FOREIGN LANGUAGES FACULTY OF ENGLISH PHILOLOGY AND TRANSLATION STUDIES

MIRZAYEVA OZODA
Course work

Theme: Female characters in Shakespeare's comedies (Portia ("The Merchant of Venice"), Rosalind (" As You Like It"))

Samarqand 2023

CONTENTS
Introduction ...........................................................................................................3
1.1 Female Characters Who Do Not Return Men’s Love ................................5
1.2 Female Characters Who Get Publicly Humiliated............................7
1.3 Female Characters Who Have to Act Against Their Beliefs...................19
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….32
Bibliography..........................................................................................................33

Introduction
William Shakespeare is known to have created some of the most iconic female characters in literature, and his comedies are no exception. In this coursework, we will examine two of Shakespeare's most well-known female characters in his comedies, Portia from "The Merchant of Venice" and Rosalind from "As You Like It". Both characters are strong, intelligent, and resourceful, and they challenge traditional gender roles of their time. Through their actions and words, they subvert societal expectations and show that women are capable of achieving great things. Portia is one of the central characters in "The Merchant of Venice" and is often considered to be one of Shakespeare's most complex female characters. She is the wealthy heiress of Belmont and is admired by many suitors who are vying for her hand in marriage. However, her father's will stipulates that she must marry the man who chooses the correct casket from among three choices: one made of gold, one made of silver, and one made of lead. Portia is unhappy with this arrangement and hopes to marry for love rather than wealth or social status. In her first appearance in the play, Portia is shown to be intelligent, witty, and quick-witted. She is able to hold her own in conversations with the men who come to court her, and she uses her intelligence to test their worthiness as potential husbands. When Bassanio, the man she ultimately falls in love with, chooses the correct casket, she reveals herself to be a loving and devoted partner. However, Portia is not just a passive love interest, and her character continues to develop throughout the play. One of the most striking aspects of Portia's character is her sense of agency. She is not content to sit back and let the men in her life make decisions for her. Instead, she takes an active role in shaping her own destiny. When her father dies and leaves her in the care of a male relative, she recognizes that she needs to take action to secure her own future. She disguises herself as a male lawyer and goes to Venice to help her friend Antonio, who is in danger of losing his life to the moneylender Shylock. As the male lawyer, Portia is able to use her wit and intelligence to outsmart Shylock and save Antonio's life. She delivers one of the most famous speeches in the play, in which she argues that mercy is a more important virtue than justice. This speech is not only a testament to Portia's intelligence and rhetorical skills but also to her sense of empathy and compassion. She recognizes the humanity in both Antonio and Shylock and works to find a solution that is fair to both parties. Overall, Portia is a multifaceted character who challenges traditional gender roles and expectations. She is intelligent, resourceful, and independent, and she uses her skills and abilities to help those around her. She is not content to be a passive love interest but instead takes an active role in shaping her own destiny and the lives of those she cares about. Rosalind is another of Shakespeare's famous heroines, and is the central character of "As You Like It." Like Portia, she is intelligent, witty, and resourceful. However, Rosalind's situation is somewhat different from Portia's. She is not a wealthy heiress, but rather the daughter of an exiled duke. When her father is banished from the court, Rosalind flees with him to the Forest of Arden, where she disguises herself as a man in order to protect herself. Rosalind's male disguise in "As You Like It" is somewhat different from Portia's. While Portia adopts a male identity in order to gain power and agency, Rosalind's disguise is more of a protective measure. As a woman alone in the forest, she is vulnerable to attack and harassment, but as a man, she is able to move around more freely and avoid danger. However, Rosalind's male disguise also allows her to explore and challenge traditional gender roles. As Ganymede, she is able to interact with the male characters in the play in a way that she would not be able to as a woman. She is able to engage in witty banter and intellectual discussions, and even teaches Orlando how to court her as if she were a woman.