Fathers and Daughters Relationships in Shakespeare’s Literature Essay

The paternitys and missys relationships in Shakespe atomic number 18 drama and literature shake up attracted a enceinte deal of scholarly attentions specifically in the influence of womens liberationist criticism. in that location is an apparent shifting affection towards returns and girlfriends when the latter struggle to negotiate a passage into adulthood and marriage with their get under ones skins blessings, and when the induces struggle to leave or relinquish their young girlfriends to other mentheir future husbands. around(prenominal) of the time the fathers, who often be keen-sighteds to royalty or upper class, rejects the men that their daughters distinguish because of their lower standing. Apparently, round fathers judge the appropriateness of the men through their properties, specialty and affable positions. Also Shakespeare incorporates fathers from the middle life who are also loth to release their daughters at the thresh doddery of adult commitment in m arriage. The engagements, fears, and insecurities, as each faces a crucial challenge of adulthood, cast new clean on questions of moral development, male and female person sex roles, and traditional and progressive social norms.In earlier marriage, the father is the wiz who mostly manipulate his daughters decision making and thus making a womans sense of free will powerless. Meanwhile, many appraisals in fathers and daughters relationship in Shakespeares literature are typically more(prenominal) sympathetic to the fathers. Some daughters manifest tyrannical possessiveness taking advantage to her social standing and the excess parental affection of her father. Some are world manipulated by the daughters exemplary conduct such as capriciousness, coldness and disloyalty. plot some rebels against fathers possessiveness towards them as a recognise debauch by the power a patriarchal society confers on him. Juliet and her father Old Capulet in the story of Romeo and Juliet, Desde mona and her father Branbantio in the story of Othello, Portias submissiveness to her fathers standard in The Merchant in Venice, though she knows it is quite wrong, all consciously or unconsciously moves to the whims of patriarchy. Meanwhile the calibre of Cordelia, the youngest daughter of force Lear, refused to go over board in her bidding of extol towards her father, and Jessica shows her disobedience and rebellious nature towards her father moneylender in The Merchant of Venice.Apparently, there are deuce facets of fathers and daughters relationships in Shakespeare literature first, some of his literature shows daughters submissiveness towards the standards of patriarchy as the daughters allow their fathers to dominate their lives to the extent that they are helpless to change their fate, and second, some daughters boldly oppose their fathers standards through feed and rebellion. These deuce facets creates such ambiguity as to whether Shakespeare is a pro feminist as he p resents sexist oppression or did Shakespeare somehow trunk within the tradition of patriarchy?Most of the tensions and conflicts between the fathers and daughters revolve near the impending marriages of the daughters. In various Shakespearian hunts, the father is often the one who chooses his daughters husband, which normally goes against the daughters will. The daughters in some Shakespearean literature break the emotional strings that tie them to electric razorhood, defying agnate authority to assert emotional independence (Dreher 5).One good case that shows defiance in paternal authority is when Juliet proceeds to marry Romeo concomitant though Capulet, her father, strongly disagrees since Romeo is a Montague, the familys rival clan. This action from Juliet creates conflict between her and her father which up to nowtually leads to added drama throughout the play. Capulet is forced to discard his take daughter because of her act of disobedienceHang thee, young baggage, noncompliant wretch/ I tell thee what get thee to church o atomic number 90/ Or never after look me in the face/ tell non, reply non, do not answer me/ My fingers itch.  Wife, we scarce thought us blest/ That God had lent us but this only electric s spend a pennyr/ But now I see this one is one in any case oft,/ And that we have a curse in having her/ Out on her, hilding. (Shakespeare 207).Capulet feels standardised he is not world just rejected as a father but her patriarchal role has been rejected as well. As for Juliet, her opposition towards her father especially in terms of hunch illustrates her wishing for emotional freedom and desires for life transition that will give her opportunities for private growth.But Juliet apparently holds her fathers opinion in high school regard and respect because after receiving her fathers brain, she says Good father, I beseech you on my knees,/ Hear me with patience but to speak a word (Shakespeare 207). She apparently do es feel badly for disappointing her father. Therefore, some Shakespeares female characters think very highly of their fathers opinions as part of their tradition, but proceed to do what they feel is in their own best interests and advantage.Though Juliet disobey her father after falling in spang with Romeo but her love for the man develops her sense of independence and matureness since Juliet in the initial part of the play plays the role of an innocent child who comes at her parents command immediately and who perceives marriage an honour that I fantasy not of (Shakespeare 48).Similarly, Juliet and Lord Capulet have a strong relationship in the beginning of the play wherein the latter treats her daughter with so much love and compassion but not until he wishes her to marry Paris in Scene 5 of Act III. When Juliet disobeys, he put his judgment against her daughter with rage. But when Juliet returns apologetically to her father, and agrees to marry Paris, he once again returns to b eing the loving and caring father the readers initially identified.This also shows that Juliet, though has an main(a) mind, is still attached to the belief that she has a responsibility as a daughter to obey her father. Basically, the play Romeo and Juliet shows how the limitations set forth by the father in a patriarchal society can affect a daughters life while she lives under his roof.The patriarchal or authoritarian demands made by Juliets father, Juliets marrying Paris, in confederacy to Juliets secret marriage to Romeo, her fathers most despised enemy, with child(p)ly contributed to Juliets suicide and tragedy. Although Capulet is genuinely distraught over his daughters suicide at the end, leading us to believe that his love for her was greater than his dictatorial display of affection for her throughout the play, he is and one of the chief culprits for her demise.Desdemona and Brabantios relationship has one of the most unique father and daughter relationship in all Shak espeareans plays. The subtle conflict between the two starts when Desdemona fallen in love with a man of a different race, culture and color. She marries Othello til now though she knows that her father will greatly oppose on it.  She conceals her intentions and weds without her fathers consent which as a result, she loses her fathers affection.Brabantio is a Venetian Senator with definite ideas on the subject and behaviour of his daughter. He, as much as possible, wants her daughter to choose a husband who he feels is of her caliber, soulfulness that will fit her complex psychological traits and as well as someone who will raise their familys esteem in Venetian society.But Desdemona acts contrary to what is expected of her. She instead marries a Moor and not a Venetian man and an army global who does not have a lot of money but only prestige. Furthermore, Othello is also old nearly like her fathers age since the two are friends. Brabantio apparently wants her son in law to h ave a long life expectancy to inherit the familys wealth and so that Desdemona would not be widowed or have to return to her fathers dependence.Meanwhile, Desdemonas father doesnt also understand Desdemonas judgment in marrying Othello since her actions are so out of keeping with his sense of her character. He apparently believes that Desdemonas decision to marry Othello is so incongruous with both the social norms and Desdemonas usual self. Thus Brabantio then believes that she must have been bewitched since he couldnt believe that his actions are all voluntary,For Ill refer me to all things of sense,/ If she in chains of magic were not bound,/ Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,/ So opposite to marriage that she shunnd/ The wealthy curled darlings of our nations,/ Would ever have (t incur a general mock)/ Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom/ Of such a thing as thouto fear, not to delight (Shakespeare Othello 10).Though Othello says that Desdemona was captivated by his t ales of threaten and suffering not bewitched, My story being done/ She gave me for my pains a world of sighs/ She swore, in faith, twas strange, twas passing strange/ Twas grim, twas wondrous pitiful (Shakespeare Othello 16). But nonetheless, whatever the intentions behind Desdemonas decision, her actions illustrates disobedience to social norms and finally to her fathers expectations.In the Merchant of Venice, two separate father-daughter relationships play an integral role in the central narrative of the play. The play illustrates the agonistic relationship of Venetian and Jewish money lender Shylock and his daughter Jessica and the non existent association on Portias relationship with her deceased father.Shylock, devastated with the death of his wife Leah many years earlier, kept his house and environment with great mourning out of her respect for her. The continuous dedication or even obsession of Jessicas father to her mother created distance between Shylock and his daug hter Jessica, who can never completely understand the great love her parents shared. Jessicas father is strictly puritanical too, wherein he keeps Jessica locks up in their small world isolating her from the outside.Moreover, Shylock also shows little love and affection towards his daughter that perhaps motivated the latter to be rebellious and disloyal. She meets secretly with Lorenzo who is a Christian. When the two fled together, Shylock becomes even more overrule discovering that his valuables disappeared with them,My daughter O my ducats O my daughter / Fled with a Christian O my Christian ducats / Justice The law My ducats and my daughter / A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, / Of double ducats, stoln from me by my daughter / And jewelstwo stones, two rich and precious stones, / Stoln by my daughter Justice fancy the girl / She hath the stones with her, and the ducats (Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice 40).Jessica is not a good daughter at all since she let her rage a gainst her father to dominate her actions and decisions. Likewise, Shylock is not a good father since he gives more richness to tradition, mourning and wealth giving little attention to his daughter. Portias father on the other hand is just as controlling as Jessicas father however, Portia approach her fathers wishes with submissiveness. Though Portia is one of the strongest female characters in all Shakespeareans plays, she respects her fathers wishes.King Lear, who is old enough to retire from power, decides to divide his royalty amongst his 3 beautiful daughters. He offers the largest share to the one who loves him best.Goneril and Regan, who significantly give importance to position and royalty, proclaim passionately and with all hypocrisy that they love their father more than anyone and any material thing in this world. Their statements completely recreate the King. However, Cordelia, the Kings youngest daughter, refuses to flatter him exaggeratedly, displaying a mild and fo rbearing temperament. Cordelias honest assertion annoys and offends the King.Easily persuaded by the hollowness of his two daughters pretensions out-of-pocket to his blindness and wrong judgment of character, King Lear then decides to disinherit Cordelia and divides the acres only between the two. The subtle conflict of the Cordelia and King Lear starts on this. King Lear is basically hurt with what he perceived as an insult. He is expecting a flattering affirmation for him by his daughter but the latters genuine statement insulted him.