Who has the upperhand?

At the end of the play, social order should be restored. One facet of this in the 16th century is men having dominance over women. Is this true in this play? Who has the upper-hand, and why? Provide textual evidence.
For the first few acts it is sectioned off between the Green World which is Belmont where the social order is messed up or different from the normal social order present in Venice. This changes when the Green World invades the Normal World when Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as a law doctor and clerk and deceive the men into giving up their rings and with it their vows of love. 
"
BASSANIO
Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him.
Give him the ring and bring him, if thou canst,
Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.
"
At the end of the play, everything comes to an end and Portia and Nerissa tell their lovers of the deception and they give back their leadership to the men, thus social order is restored. This back to normality is assumed because it is assumed they all forgave each other. 
"
BASSANIO
(to PORTIA) Sweet doctor, you shall be my bedfellow.
When I am absent then lie with my wife.

ANTONIO
Sweet lady, you have given me life and living.
For here I read for certain that my ships
Are safely come to road
"

Comments

  1. Kim HarrisonFebruary 21, 2017 at 1:38 PM

    It seems that for the most part, order has been restored, but I am not convinced that the women are subdued. It is clear that Portia at least still retains more power than one would expect as she insinuates that she will refuse her husband sex if he ever loses the ring again.

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