Father-Daughter Conflicts in Shakespeare’s Plays Essay

William Shakespe be is a gatherwright and poet with no need of introduction. He has write several(prenominal) of the around distinguished and wholesome-received spells in the hi reputation of literary writing. With so more than ruminateion foc enjoymentd on his whole kit and writings, little is said ab come forth Shakespe bes personal life. It has been generally accepted and that Shakespeare himself had ii missys and one son. Shakespeare placed keen value in the cleverness of his way out to immortalize his let put forward and to refer the dignity of his family (Bevington 193). However, his hopes were not to be carried out through Hamnet, his unaccompanied son.With Hamnets earlyish death, Shakespeare was left to look to his girls for the propagation of the applaud due his family name (Bevington 193). This closure family with his little girls may have opuseuvered a part in the establishment of many an(prenominal) bugger off-daughter contrasts in his pl ays. This paper depart unless inspect several plays indite by Shakespeare with particular focus on the scram-daughter human kindreds displayed in the texts to be studied. Five plays have been elect for this study The merchant of Venice, A summer solstice Nights Dream, Romeo and Juliet, might Lear, and Othello.The elements of the puzzle-daughter human relationship in all(prenominal) play pass on be discussed individually. By the end of this paper, it pull up stakes have been sh profess that Shakespeare uses fix-daughter conflict twain as a piece construction and as a meaning of reflecting views regarding take-daughter relationships. Where there is a conflict betwixt sustain and daughter, the fundament invariably revolves around the daughters pulling away from her baffle. Thus, it git be seen that through the daughters locomote in fuck and the fathers choice of an ideal mate, there is a strain amid father and daughter.The cope to maintain strength everywhe re daughters causes fathers to turn back indomitably to their decisions, leading daughters to resort to other kernel to happen upon their own appetites. A midsummer Nights Dream In A midsummer Nights Dream, Egeus demands that his daughter Hermia wed Demetrius when in rightfulness it is Lysander whom she cognizes (Shakespeare 6). This causes the rift amongst the father and the daughter. A dominant musical theme in the play is thus the fathers obstinate legal opinion that his word is fair play everywhere his daughters affairs. Because of Egeus mislead belief Hermia is forced to resort to her won measures in attaining the delight she professes.Smith discusses that the conflict between the father and the daughter in this play serves to highlight the need for Hermia to establish her own char good turner in gear up to free herself of the dictates of the authorities in her life. It should as well as be noted that the play reflects the em male monarchment of women. Egeus hurls no reason why Hermia should follow his wishes digression from the f go that he is her father and he is the primary male assurance in her life. Hermia gets her way and her own will is upheld against that of her fathers. However, this does not uncontaminatingly constitute the power of the woman to decide for herself.If nothing else, the play precisely serves to put the point across that the womans opinion is of spell out as well as the mans. It is the duke, Theseus, who all overrides the will of Egeus and validates Hermias pick out for Lysander (Shakespeare 152). Thus, it is the will of a man of greater authority from which Hermia derives her exemption to act as she would. In this particular play it can be seen that the conflict between father and daughter serves more to move the biz foregoing than to speak of the actual interaction between the cardinal.Egeus stubbornness gives insight into the latter besides serves more as a barricade mechanism for Hermias story t o ascend (Bevington 193). The refusal of Egeus to have Hermia wed Lysander served to birth the spotless story. This shows how Shakespeare used the relationship between the father and daughter as a mend device. It is true that Shakespeare expressed through the scenes how Hermia postulate to break free from her fathers authority in cabaret to accomplish her own ambitions. However, Hermia inevitably found such(prenominal) liberty only through other man clothed with a greater power than her father further to whom they both were correction.Thus, the intricacies of the father-daughter relationship though touched on, were not fleshed out. It served a greater purpose as a literary device. Romeo and Juliet Another clear illustration of the utility of the father-daughter relationship as a mend device is the relationship of Juliet with her father. The feud between the Capulets and Montagues was an communicable controversy substantially barrackd by Juliets father. over professio nal Capulet, Juliets father, serves as a literary plot device designed to give an obstacle to the b terminationoming love of Romeo and Juliet (Bevington 193).In this regard, Romeo and Juliet is much like A midsummer Nights Dream. Lord Capulet alike serves as the authority figure over Juliets life and her decisions. Thus, Juliet and Romeo have to cover the restrictions set by Lord Capulet Upon conclusion her own voice, Juliet is able to overcome the prohibitions of her father against her desiring a Montague. Juliet thus matures and finds that there is no sin in a name and Romeos name does not ferment him her enemy. This reflects how Juliet is pulling away not only from her fathers rules moreover even up from her familys tradition in order to blaze a path for herself and her love. contrary in Hermia and Lysanders story, the greater authority figure does not arrive to adopt a peaceful reconciliation of the conflicts sort of the arrival of the Prince and his judgment of exile for Romeo starts the unbeatable turn of events leading to the demise of the two lovers. It is only upon seeing his daughter light and hearing of the monument that the Montagues have distinguishable to erect for Juliet that Lord Capulet decides to accept this love that his daughter has found by raise a monument for Romeo as well (Shakespeare 239).Given however that even this uttermost act of acceptance is fueled by rivalry, it can be shown that there was no real reconciliation between father and daughter and the strain between them a mere tool for the evolution of the plot. The merchant of Venice In The Merchant of Venice, Bevington insists that the father-daughter conflict is still other round-eyed plot device (Bevington 193). However, in this play there are more distinct reflections of the daughters pulling away from her father. The character in focus herein is Jessica, the daughter of loan shark the merchant.It should be noted that one of the wholeest themes in this text is the religious battle between Jews and Christians. usurer himself is a strong advocate for Judaism, as is shown in a consider of his lines as he mocks and argues with Christian philosophy. It is thence a devastating blow when Jessica travel in love with a Christian. She professes, although not to her fathers face, that she is unbid hideaway to fit a Christian in order to become Lorenzos wife Alack, what flagitious sin is it in me To be disgraced to be my fathers tiddler But though I am a daughter to his blood,I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, If thou go by promise I shall end this strife, endure a Christian and thy loving wife. (Shakespeare 61). This shows how willing Jessica is to sever her ties with her father and pursue her own hearts will. Considering the splendor that Shylock places on his religion, Jessicas defiance of her inherited religion is much the same as Juliets repulsion of her familys rivalry. When Jessica in the end succeeds in running away with Lo renzo, the vastness that Shylock places in her worth as a daughter is revealed.Shakespeare reflects the basis of the strong paternal possessiveness 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 (p. 81) Smith interprets these lines in the mise en scene of Jewish tradition regarding the place of daughters in the continuation of family lineage. It is explained that in Jewish tradition families are matriarchal by reputation thus the family line is passed down through the female line (Smith).Jessica being an only daughter, Shylocks security in his lineage depended on her acquiring a suitable husband. The cries of Shylock connecting his money with Jessica reflect how he viewed her as another factor for the attainment of his success. This theme hits quite close to the personal views and state of family affairs that Shakespeare himself was subject to at the time. Oth ello Othello on the other exit presents a more distinct depicting of the tension between father and daughter. redden Bevington (pp. 193-194) admits to the different quality of father-daughter relationship that is make manifest in this text.Here the conflict is more than a simple plot device utilized to move the story forward. Much like in The Merchant of Venice, the theme of the story touches on the role of marriage in the life of a family. In the fountain play, marriage was a means of joining together throng while those who were not married became dislocated and desolate. In Othello, marriage again serves as a divider between father and daughter as Desdemona elopes with the protagonist, Othello. Their elopement causes much meet to her father, Barbantio who feels that he has been deceived by his daughter (Bevington 194).In an attempt to maintain his authority over his daughter he asks of her to whom she owes her allegiance but is devastated by her answer I am hitherto your da ughter. But heres my husband, And so much duty as my mother showed To you, preferring you forrader her father, So much I challenge that I may profess Due to the Moor my lord (Shakespeare 41). This shows how upon marrying, the daughter ceases to hold primary obedience towards her father and his house and moves toward the household of her groom. The hurting that Barbantio manifests is thus not only a offspring of the elopement of Desdemona but more so of his feelings of loss of his progeny.This play therefore serves to show more vividly the change in relationship that occurs between a father and his daughter as the daughter marries. yet though reason is planted in the wisdom of Desdemona, the possessiveness of fathers as a result of the many years of reflexion over and protecting their daughters is a force to be reckoned. The want to bind unto themselves their daughters is so strong that fathers brashly discount the bind of the marital tie between their daughter and another ma n. queen mole rat Lear The sense of entitlement to the loyalty and love of a daughter are shell demonstrated in Shakespeares fagot Lear.In this play ability Lear tests his collar daughters in order to assess whether or not they deserve to get their ploughshare of the inheritance of his kingdom. Because of their desire to gain, Goneril and Regan outbid each other in professing their love for the King. However, the third daughter, Cordelia, professes that she loves the King as she is down the stairs obligation to do so but will reserve some of her love for her future husband (Shakespeare 36). This outrages the King and he refuses her the portion of the inheritance allotted to her, accept her to be an ungrateful daughter.It is revealed however that Goneril and Regan are the ungrateful ones as they soon plot to overthrow their father and appropriate for themselves his rule. King Lears desire to possess the integrality of his daughters hearts and their dedication is not without reason. His use of the word ungrateful reflects how he sees his relationship with his daughters. He has invested much into their relationship both in terms of material and stirred up store. He therefore expects to reap what he has sown into all three daughters. The King has reached old age, an age wherein it is only registration that he be cared for by others.As most levys who reach this age feel, the King imagined that the years he had spent pickings care of his daughters should be repaid through attend to him at his infirm age. However, Cordelia spoke sagely when she pointed out that her heart should be allowed the freedom to serve other men aside from her father. The words of Desdemona ring true herein as well. A wife should early be loyal to her husband before serving her father. Although a daughter is induce to show respect and gratitude to her parents through her military service to them, she is also allowed to experience the freedom of a life apart from her parents.S hould a parent disallow a child such liberalities, then the entire essence of watching such a child spring up and mature should have been for naught. Conclusion The tail fin plays reviewed herein serve to show the importance that the father-daughter relationship held for Shakespeare. The relationship was one so strong that instabilities in the same confirm the evolution of complete stories based on singular notions. There is no question that the conflict between a father and daughter is a strong plot device which was utilized by Shakespeare in a number of his plays.The result gave go on to some of the best works written by Shakespeare, including the popular Romeo and Juliet. The conflict may take the get of a daughters moving away from the den of a father or from a fathers overzealous attempts to carry through a daughters love. The former has been shown in Shakespeares plays through several acts. It may be a simple disobedience to a fathers will. Sometimes it may take the form of invariance to the beliefs and traditions held by the father. However, it is seen that Shakespeare repeatedly uses the get down of marriage and love to dishonor the father.It has also been shown though that fathers themselves may desire unreasonably the regard of their daughter. In King Lear most especially has this desire been shown to be impractical as the daughter who was punished had committed no act of disobedience to her father. In the various plays it can thus be seen that the underlying theme in father-daughter conflicts is the daughters desire to break free from the authority of her father. This act of separation allows for the daughters ability to decide for herself what is best and what is desirable.Along with the freedom that the separation gives the daughter however is the dread that it visits upon the father. The daughter to some is the only means of ensuring family lineage and to most the daughter is the hoarded wealth that has been protected for so long and sho uld be given away only to the most worthy. The breaking away of the daughter from the fathers authority therefore leads to jeopardy and feelings of loss from the side of the parent. It is this sense of loss which causes the strife between father and daughter, peculiarly so as the father continues to stupefy to the power he holds over his daughter.It is this traffic pattern of removal from the fathers clam up that is repeatedly shown in Shakespeares themes. kit and boodle Cited Bevington, David. Shakespeare The Seven Ages of Human Experience (2nd ed. ). MA Blackwell Publishers, 2005. 1. Shakespeare, William. A Midsummer Nights Dream. redact by Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. NY cap second power Press, 1993. Shakespeare, William. King Lear. Edited by Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. NY majuscule Square Press, 1992. Shakespeare, William. Othello. Edited by Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. NY Washington Square Press, 1993. Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet.Ed ited by Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. NY Washington Square Press, 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Edited by Mowat, Barbara A. and Paul Werstine. NY Washington Square Press, 1992. Smith, J. N.. GradeSaver Midsummer Nights Dream write up Guide. www. gradesaver. com. 11 whitethorn 2008. GradeSaver. 11 May 2008 <http//www. gradesaver. com/classicnotes/titles/midsummernight/fullsumm. hypertext mark-up language>. Smith, J. N.. GradeSaver Merchant of Venice Study Guide. www. gradesaver. com. 11 May 2008. GradeSaver. 11 May 2008 <http//www. gradesaver. com/classicnotes/titles/merchantvenice/fullsumm. html>.