Exploring Feminism in The Merchant of Venice

Abstract

William Shakespeare is the most well-known playwright in the world. The Merchant of Venice is one of the four great comedies by William Shakespeare. It is set during the Elizabethan period with rapid economic development and wide spread Renaissance humanism. Kindness and love are the main themes of the play. Against the backdrop of the spirit of humanism, the female characters in the play have preliminary feminist spirit and subject consciousness though there are some limitations. This article analyzes the feminist spirit in the play and women’s progress on their road of liberation. It suggests that while reflecting the initial emancipation of women in the West in the 16th century, the play also reveals the reality of the enormous social barriers on the road of women’s emancipation. The emancipation of women is an enduring topic in the development of society and a goal that people all over the world are still striving for.