Merchant of Venice - Portia was No Feminist :: Merchant Venice Essays

Merchant of Venice Portia was No Feminist   The header has been proposed whether Portia was her own woman, and if after she married Bassanio would she still be the protector of her fortune.  I researched  for evidence to the theory that Portia was not her own, her fortune was not her own, and she was bound financi eithery to her husband after marriage.  There is nothing out of the ordinary roughly this particular arrangement, and I dont feel that the relationship should continue to be hailed as a progressive, feminist relationship.                The best evidence I could find were the talking to which were spoken out of Portias own mouth,               One half(a) of me is yours, the other half yours--             Mine own, I would say but if mine, then yours,             An d so all yours. III.ii.16-18.   There you have it.  Portia is Bassanios.  This may be idle lovers talk however, it does imply the beginning of a possessive relationship in which Bassanio is the possessor                straightaway after Portia is won by Bassanios correct choice in caskets she states,               Happiest of all, is that her alleviate spirit             Commits itself to yours to be directed,             As from her lord, her governor, her king.             Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours             Is now converted.  . . . I was the lord of             this blank mansion, master of my servants,              Queen oer myself and even now, but now             This house, these servants, and this uniform myself             Are yours. . . . III.ii.163-171   I struggle to see how the relationship between Portia and Bassanio is graceful of feminist hurrahs.  I believe Portia is a woman worthy of feminist scholarship, but not the relationship to her husband.