Much Ado About Nothing Structuralism Essay
Like Father, Like Daughter: Structuralism Amongst the Women in Shakespeare
During the Renaissance, it was common for women to behave in a certain manner in
a patriarchal society. Women were subordinate to any man in their life, whether it
was a husband or a father. However, Shakespeare creates female roles in his plays
that often steer away from the common script. These women challenge, deceive, and
steal from these men, including one s closest to them in their lives. In Merchant of
Venice, young Portia and Jessica are two examples of these strayed female
characters. They feel trapped in the hands of their father s and do their best to break
free of that hold. In Much Ado About Nothing, Hero is a young woman who feels her
relationship with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This shows the extreme version of a rebellious teenager in order to escape her
father. Once Shylock finds out his daughter has disappeared with his money and
jewels, he is outwardly upset with the fact that his possessions are gone. He even
states that he wished his daughter were dead at [his] foot, and the jewels in her
ear! Would she were hearsed at [his] foot, and the ducats in her coffin! (Act III,
Scene i, 76 79). Surely, one can t believe there are any similarities in this
relationship, however, structuralism shows the underlying pattern between Shylock
and Jessica. Diane Dreher author of Domination and Defiance: Fathers and
Daughters in Shakespeare, points out that the two hold a common trait: Greed.
Shylock s greed is expressed through his constant talk on commerce and his
precious ducats, and Jessica has inherited that ideology. Before running away with
Lorenzo, she drops down a basket filled with money and jewels belonging to her
father. One would assume it was an act of reprisal, however, Dreher argues it is
greed much like her father s. She describes her as bad and disloyal, unfilial, a thief;
frivolous, greedy, without any more conscience than a cat, (pg. 102). These two
characters know that money holds a powerful position in their lives. Along with this
greed, both are very determined characters in terms of fighting for what they want.
With Shylock, he is constantly trying to receive justice through the deal he made with
Antonio. Despite the strange request, he demands that he receives his pound of
flesh from Antonio and stops at nothing to see it through. This passion can be seen
in Jessica as well when she is determined to marry Lorenzo despite her father s
wishes. She gets to the point of disguising herself as a man in order to be with him.
She goes great lengths to be with Lorenzo by eloping, but