In one of his plays‚ titled "The Merchant of Venice"‚ Shakespeare presents to us several views on a form of racism‚ namely anti-Semitism. The main "victim" is the character Shylock‚ a Jewish moneylender‚ who is mistreated by Antonio. Antonio openly hates Jews‚ and makes like hard for Shylock for no other reason than religion. It should be noted though that Shylock himself has also become a racist. This is proven when he makes a comment about Antonio saying "I hate him for he is a Christian." Both
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Themes in the Merchant of Venice Gender stereotypes are not a modern notion and as such expectations and limitations have always existed for both men and women. Fortunately women‚ who have formerly beared great burdens of discrimination‚ now have very liberated roles in society as a result of slowly shifting attitudes and values. Shakespeare was integral in challenging the subservient role expected of women in the 16th century. Throughout the play‚ ‘The Merchant of Venice’‚ women are expressed as
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William Shakespeare is likely the world ’s most famous playwright. He is considered a genius for his skill with words‚ his understanding of people and of human nature‚ and his sense of what really pleases an audience. In Shakespeare ’s play‚ The Merchant of Venice‚ Shakespeare uses his great skill in writing to make a character appear as if he is both a villain and a victim. A victim can be defined as an unfortunate person who suffers from a destructive action or through the dishonesty of others. Although
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In Shakespeare’s edgy and suspenseful play‚ “The Merchant of Venice”‚ the character of Shylock may evoke complex feelings within the reader. Shylock is clearly a villain in the sense that he takes repeatedly takes advantage of people in vulnerable economic situations and makes a handsome living in this way. He is not an inherently likeable character throughout “The Merchant of Venice” by Shakespeare; he avoids friendships‚ he is cranky‚ and he is steadfast in his beliefs to the point of being rigid
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The Merchant of Venice is a comedy written by Shakespeare‚ but it is arguable that it can also be called a tragedy. A dictionary meaning of a tragedy is‚ “a drama or similar work‚ in which the main character is brought to ruin or otherwise suffers the extreme consequences of some tragic flaw or weakness of character.” Shylock is a main character and succumbs to the tragic flaws he possesses. This play introduces Shylock‚ a Jew fighting against Christian society. Although Shylock is depicted in the
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Question 1.The Merchant of Venice: A Romantic Comedy From Insights‚ 1992 The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s romantic comedies‚ probably written in 1596 and 1597‚ and forms one of a group of such comedies‚ along with The Two Gentlemen of Verona‚ As You Like It‚ andTwelfth Night. Romantic comedy was a popular and much-preferred type in Elizabethan theatre‚ and all the trappings of such are present in The Merchant of Venice. First‚ the romantic involvement is represented not by one couple
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The Merchant of Venice Written task 1 How and why is a social group represented in a particular way? The Merchant of Venice was written by Shakespeare and printed for the first time around the sixteen hundreds‚ just after a revolutionary play that depicted the main character as a great villain and Jew‚ The Jew of Malta‚ by Christopher Marlow. Shakespeare’s inclusion of a Jewish character in his play was not usual‚ and until today it is discussed whether he was trying to show an anti-Semitic opinion
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morals. These morals revolved around the superiority of followers of Christianity to followers of other religions‚ particularly Judaism. Works such as the Merchant of Venice may seem to today’s audience as anti-Semitic while extolling Christian virtues‚ or at least the perceived virtues of what it meant to be Christian. In the Merchant of Venice‚ the Christian virtue of mercy as a “divine” quality seems to be upheld for the pleasure of an Elizabethan audience. However‚ it seems that Shakespeare may
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history‚ revolves around the idea of fooling society through the use of misinterpretations with the art of deceptions. In the play The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare‚ as a result of preconceived judgement of worth allows for a disconnect between appearances and reality‚ ultimately highlights how items of lesser value can create powerful results. Set in Venice in the 1500’s with a civilization that possesses a different perspective of standards and beliefs‚ Antonio‚ a Christian‚ borrows 3000
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Shakespeare has written very many different pieces but The merchant of Venice is by far the best I have ever read. There are very many differences in the novel but also many similarities in characters‚ plots and in themes. The characters I will compare are Antonio and shylock. The plots I will compare are the bond plot and the lottery plot then I will compare the business and law theme versus the emotional relationship theme. First‚ Antonio and shylock are very different people and have very
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