Fathers and Daughters Relationships in Shakespeare’s Literature Essay

The takes and little girls relationships in Shakespe ar drama and literary works have attracted a great deal of scholarly attentions specific in t turn up ensembley in the influence of feminist criticism. There is an apparent geological fault affection towards overprotects and little girls when the latter struggle to negotiate a passage into matureness and marriage with their vexs blessings, and when the pay offs struggle to surrender or spare their young lady friends to other mentheir future husbands.Most of the time the dons, who a potful belongs to royalty or upper class, rejects the men that their daughters choose because of their lower standing. Apparently, whatsoever sticks judge the appropriateness of the men through their properties, strength and social positions. in corresponding manner Shakespeare incorporates novices from the middle life who are also reluctant to release their daughters at the thresh honest-to-god of adult commitment in marriage. The conf licts, fears, and insecurities, as each faces a crucial ch every(prenominal)enge of adulthood, cast new light on questions of object les news development, male and female sex usages, and customal and progressive social norms.In earlier marriage, the father is the one who mostly manipulate his daughters decision making and thus making a womans sense of free entrust major powerless. Meanwhile, some appraisals in fathers and daughters relationship in Shakespeares literature are typically more sympathetic to the fathers. round daughters manifest tyrannical possessiveness taking advantage to her social standing and the superabundance parental affection of her father. Some are being manipulated by the daughters typic conduct much(prenominal) as capriciousness, coldness and disloyalty.While some rebels against fathers possessiveness towards them as a love corrupted by the power a patriarchal society confers on him. Juliet and her father Old Capu allow in the story of Romeo and Juli et, Desdemona and her father Branbantio in the story of Othello, Portias submissiveness to her fathers standard in The merc excreteiser in Venice, though she k immediatelys it is quite untimely, all consciously or unconsciously moves to the whims of patriarchy. Meanwhile the character of Cordelia, the youngest daughter of tabby Lear, refused to go over board in her avowal of love towards her father, and Jessica shows her disobedience and rebellious nature towards her father Shylock in The Merchant of Venice.Apparently, at that place are two 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 transmute their fate, and second, some daughters boldly oppose their fathers standards through escape and rebellion. These two facets creates such ambiguity as to whether Sh akespeare is a pro feminist as he presents sexist oppression or did Shakespeare somehow remains within the tradition of patriarchy?Most of the tensions and conflicts in the midst of the fathers and daughters revolve around the impending marriages of the daughters. In various Shakespearean molds, 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 childhood, defying paternal authority to swear emotional independence (Dreher 5).One total example that shows defiance in paternal authority is when Juliet proceeds to marry Romeo event though Capulet, her father, powerfully disagrees since Romeo is a Montague, the familys rival clan. This action from Juliet creates conflict between her and her father which eventually leads to added drama throughout the play. Capulet is forced to disown his own daughter because of her act of disobedienceH ang thee, young baggage, disobedient wretch/ I tell thee what get thee to church o Thursday/ Or neer after look me in the face/ Speak non, reply not, do not answer me/ My fingers itch.Wife, we scarce thought us blest/ That divinity fudge had lent us just now this only child/ But now I see this one is one too much,/ And that we have a curse in having her/ Out on her, hilding. (Shakespeare 207).Capulet feels like he is not being just rejected as a father exclusively her patriarchal role has been rejected as well. As for Juliet, her opposition towards her father especially in terms of love illustrates her need for emotional granting immunity and desires for life transition that will give her opportunities for personal growth.But Juliet simply holds her fathers opinion in high regard and respectfulness because after receiving her fathers judgment, she says Good father, I beseech you on my knees,/ Hear me with patience only when to speak a word (Shakespeare 207). She simply doe s feel badly for disappointing her father. Therefore, some Shakespeares female characters count very highly of their fathers opinions as part of their tradition, however proceed to do what they feel is in their own best interests and advantage.though Juliet dis observe her father after falling in love with Romeo but her love for the man develops her sense of independence and maturity since Juliet in the sign part of the play plays the role of an innocent child who comes at her parents statement immediately and who perceives marriage an honour that I dream not of (Shakespeare 48).Similarly, Juliet and shaper 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 return s to being the loving and fondness father the readers initially identified.This also shows that Juliet, though has an independent mind, is still given up 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 bottom of the inning affect a daughters life while she lives under his roof.The patriarchal or authoritarian demands do by Juliets father, Juliets marrying Paris, in combination to Juliets orphic marriage to Romeo, her fathers most hated enemy, greatly contributed to Juliets felo-de-se 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 prideful display of affection for her throughout the play, he is nevertheless one of the tribal chief culprits for her demise.Desdemona and Brabantios relationship has one of the most unique father and daughter relationship in all Shakespeareans 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 even 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 decisive 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, someone that will curb her complex psychological traits and as well as someone who will raise their familys esteem in Venetian society.But Desdemona acts wayward to what is expected of her. She instead marries a Moor and not a Venetian man and an army general 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 w ants her son in law to have a long life hope to inherit the familys wealth and so that Desdemona would not be leave behind 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 curve darlings of our nations,/ Would ever have (t incur a general mock)/ Run from her guardage to the jet bosom/ Of such a thing as thouto fear, not to delight (Shakespeare Othello 10).Though Othello says that Desdemona was captivated by his tales of adventure and suffering not bewitched, My story being done/ She gave me for my pains a serviceman of sighs/ She swore, in faith, twas strange, twas passing strange/ Twas pitiful, twas wondrous pitiful (Shakespeare Othello 16). But nonetheless, whatsoever the intentions behind Desdemonas decision, her actions illustrates disobedience to social norms and ultimately 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 strained relationship of Venetian and Jewish money lender Shylock and his daughter Jessica and the non existent tie-up on Portias relationship with her deceased father.Shylock, devastated with the death of his wife Leah m all an(prenominal) 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 daughter 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 upset discovering that his valuables disappeared with them,My daughter O my ducats O my daughter / Fled with a Christian O my Christian ducats / nicety The law My ducats and my daughter / A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats, / Of in two ways ducats, stoln from me by my daughter / And jewelstwo stones, two rich and strange stones, / Stoln by my daughter Justice Find 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 against her father to dominate her actions and decisions. Likewise, Shylock is not a good father since he gives more importance to tradition, mourning and wealth vainglorious little attention to his daughter. Portias father on the other hand is just as controlling as Jessicas father however, Portia glide path 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 three 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, inebriate passionately and with all hypocrisy that they love their father more than anyone and any material thing in this world. Their statements completely please the King. However, Cordelia, the Kings youngest daughter, ref uses to flatter him exaggeratedly, displaying a mild and forbearing temperament. Cordelias honest statement annoys and offends the King.Easily persuaded by the hollowness of his two daughters pretensions due to his blindness and wrong judgment of character, King Lear then decides to disinherit Cordelia and divides the kingdom only between the two. The subtle conflict of the Cordelia and King Lear starts on this. King Lear is basically blemish with what he perceived as an insult. He is expecting a flattering averment for him by his daughter but the latters genuine statement insulted him.