Porcia Vs Portia

Porcia vs Portia

Porcia Catonis was a roman woman who lived during Caesar's times. She was born from a rich family and married twice. The second husband being Brutus, Caesar's famous killer, while her first was Bibulus and even before that time she had many suitors. Portia's figure is presented in many literary texts, especially during the 18th century, due to the fact that she was one of the very first women to challenge patriarchy or androcentric views.

In her life Porcia showed how she wants to challenge society’s view on women. When Brutus was conspiring against Caesar, he spent hours in his study worrying and contemplating on the matter. Portia noticed his change and wanted to know what was on his mind, however Brutus wouldn’t confide in her. Portia believed that he wouldn’t trust her due to the fact that she was a woman and thought of her as weak. To prove him wrong and show him her worth she decided to stab her thigh with a dagger to demonstrate how she can endure pain, despite her gender. In the end, Brutus told her the secrets and his plan to kill Caesar.

During Porcia’s lifetime, women were being especially oppressed and were deemed much weaker than men; the women weren’t allowed to vote, go to school or take part in sports. On account of this, it is understandable as to why Porcia tried to prove her value. Hence, what she did can be greatly iconic and it is not surprising that she was used as the basis of many literature characters, notably Portia in Julius Caesar or Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare.

In Julius Caesar, the character of Portia is very similar to the real one as they both do the same things. However, the only difference is that Shakespeare’s Portia still believes that women are weaker and that she is just an exception. On the other side, the Portia in Merchant of Venice is the most distinct one as her background story is completely changed, though there is still much evidence of where Shakespeare still connected his character with the real Portia.  

Very similar to the real one, the Portia in the Merchant of Venice is being forced to have an arranged marriage under the conditions of her father’s will leading her to have countless number of suitors that she never truly found attractive until the last, Bassanio, was finally able to steal her heart. The Porcia from Rome also did not love any of her suitors and was forced to marry her first husband. Fortunately, when Brutus arrived, Porcia love him till her dying days.

The Portia by Shakespeare and the real one both attack an androcentric society through their actions. While Porcia stabbed herself, Portia dressed up as a male lawyer in order to save her husband’s friend, Antonio. This act can be deemed very brave and anti-patriarchal as women were not allowed to act as lawyers.