Book Report Merchant of Venice Characters: Shylock Lorenzo Portia Nerrisa Antonio Graziano Jessica Bassanio Despite being written in the late sixteenth century‚ Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a timeless piece and provides great themes to be analyzed for purposes of a book report. The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s less popular comedies‚ having been plagued in recent times with complaints of anti-Semitic themes. The summary of this really has
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He knows of a moneylender who will probably lend him the necessary amount‚ and Bassanio can use Antonio’s good name as security for the loan. At Belmont‚ Portia speaks to Nerissa‚ her confidante‚ telling her how tired she is of the constant stream of suitors‚ and how she wishes to be free of the perverse obligation of her father’s will: Portia cannot choose her own husband; she can marry only the man who chooses the correct one of three caskets—one gold‚ one silver‚ and one lead; one contains her
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Jew‚ Spaniard or a Moor deceived and Shakespeare clearly tried to give his audience what it wanted. In contrast‚ many‚ particularly ladies‚ would have admired the strong and witty Portia and even though she appears arrogant and racist this would have been accepted in Elizabethan England. Any deception carried out by Portia would therefore be admired and applauded by Shakespeare’s audience and it is not surprising therefore she carries out that many deceptions. A major theme running though the
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statement saying that the main issues of The Merchant of Venice are credited to the development of Shylock and Portia. Throughout the story‚ the characters of Shylock and Portia are the ones who raise many significant matters to do with Venetian society and even our society today. Shylock’s experiences in the story bring up topics of racism and revenge‚ while through the character of Portia‚ issues such as justice‚ mercy and the role of women in a patriarchal society‚ are explored. However‚ I also
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title heroine is Portia. Portia‚ as I will explain is quite an atypical hero figure. She is rich and beautiful‚ so we assume wrongly at first that she will be spoilt and inconsequential to the action of the play. This could not be further from the truth. Portia is not to be underestimated. Without Portia‚ there would be no titular merchant at the end of this Romantic Comedy. Portia may be ‘fair’ and ‘richly left’ but she is not a prize to be won. We quickly learn that Portia has intelligence and
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made and achieve their own goals‚ only to return to their subordinate positions as wives. Portia‚ Nerissa and Jessica’s assumption of the male form to move unnoticed between Belmont and Venice allowed them a glimpse into the world of feministic ideals. In later scenes‚ when Portia and Nerissa push the boundaries of their disguise‚ they specifically emphasize the nature of radical feminism. The altering of Portia‚ Nerissa‚ and Jessica’s gender to suit the society of Venice is a direct spat in the face
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the character Portia is not the helpless and innocent young women many other characters perceive her to be but in reality she is completely different. Shakespeare shows Portia’s true colours when she makes racist jokes towards Jews and people of dark complexion. Also‚ she is disrespectful by mocking how other characters dress‚ and talk bad things about their mothers. First‚ during the era of Shakespeare most people were not as respectable to each other like today’s society. Portia might look like
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and Literary Context When Written: 1596–8 Where Written: England When Published: 1623 Literary Period: The Renaissance Related Literary Works: Though some describe The Merchant of Venice as a comedy because it ends with the marriage of its heroes Portia and Bassanio‚ it can also be described as a kind of “revenge tragedy.” Typically‚ a revenge tragedy revolves around the quest of its central character to avenge a wrong committed against him‚ which usually leads to the deaths of many characters‚ almost
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2: Act III Scene 2 Analysis In Belmont‚ Portia begs Bassanio to delay before making his choice among the caskets. If he chooses incorrectly‚ she will lose the pleasure of his company. Though she refuses to break the terms of her father’s riddle of the caskets‚ she confesses that if it were up to her she would give herself to him entirely. Bassanio‚ though‚ is tortured by the uncertainty of waiting‚ and convinces her to let him try the riddle. Portia is so strictly bound by the legal rules
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subservient to men; they were taught that men were their superiors. They relied on men to provide all of their daily needs‚ so they listened and agreed to everything that they had to say. Rich heiress Portia‚ on the other hand‚ does not adhere to those expectations and rules. Through irony and pun‚ Portia proves herself to be an intelligent and witty woman who is not afraid to challenge traditional social norm. She is a heroine with refreshing initiative that displays great knowledge of how to use her
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