Character Name: Portia Character Traits: Loyal “Oh‚ me‚ the word ‘choose’! I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father. Is it not hard‚ Nerissa‚ that I cannot choose one nor refuse none? (Act 1 Scene 2 lines 22~25) “In terms of choice I am not solely led by nice direction of a maiden’s eyes. Besides‚ the lott’ry of my destiny bars me the right of voluntary choosing. But if my father had not scanted me
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Anti-Semitism and the desecration of the Jewish population have been in existence for nearly five thousand years. In the Elizabethan era‚ a question of anti-Semitism invariably arises. In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice‚ we find that one of the characters is the embodiment and expression of anti-Semitic attitude that is pervasive in Elizabethan society. "Anti-Semitism was an intricate part in Shakespeare’s years. Jews were considered vile and scorned upon. Shakespeare presents
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Are men and women held to different standards of sexual conduct? In Derek Kreager and Jeremy Staff’s Article‚ The Sexual Double Standard of Adolescent Peer Acceptance‚ they look further into the sexual double standards that are held by male and female adolescents whether or not there is a sexual double standard for male and female adolescents. They define sexual double standard‚ “boys and men are thought to receive praise and positive attributions for nonmarital sexual contacts‚ while girls and women
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In the Merchant of Venice‚ Shakespeare illustrates his feelings towards Jews in 17th century England through the use of a commonly known stereotype during the time‚ the racial tension between Jews and Christians. Shylock is the focal point of the play‚ and acts as the traditional stereotype of the Jew in Elizabethan times. The merchant of venice is often seen as an anti-semitic work due to the stereotypical portrayal of the jewish character shylock. Some would argue that the most inevitable interpretation
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previously limited to that of the stage Jew. While most adopted this general theme using it to mock Jews in the hopes of a cheap laugh‚ one play has stood the test of time. This is of course none other then the Shakespearean masterpiece The Merchant of Venice. During the Elizabethan period‚ the concept of a Jew was based on rumour and the occasional public performance‚ for example Christopher Marlow’s infamous play “The Jew of Malta” in which a greedy stage Jew tries to poison‚ murder and generally
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In these last books of The Odyssey there is a theme of double standards‚ Odysseus is able to get away with anything. In the beginning of these books Penelope finally decides to pick a suitor to marry even though she does not really want to do this‚ she even prays for her own death. Her method of choosing a competition: whoever can string and shot Odysseus’ bow‚ that only he is strong enough to shoot‚ through twelve axes wins her hand in marriage. When Odysseus goes to tell her his story‚ still disguised
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(Lawrence&Lee 51). Society often victimizes individuals who have a value system or a personal sense of morality that does not conform with its own. William Shakespeare‚ Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee expertly articulate this concept within The Merchant of Venice and Inherit the Wind. Bertram Cates and Shylock experience multiple forms of persecution in each of their towns. The fact that both characters undergo a tangible penalty highlights the similarities as well as the differences between the two
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Shylock‚ Villain or victim? The Merchant of Venice June 8th‚ 2011 In the play The Merchant of Venice Shylock is supposed to be the protagonist‚ the definition of protagonist is; the leading character or a major character in a drama‚ movie‚ novel‚ or other fictional text. But the way Shylock is portrayed is more along the lines of being both victim and villain. Shylock is out for one pound of Antonio’s flesh which will in the end kill Antonio and the flesh will do him no good anyway. But he
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In "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare‚ Shylock is portrayed as an attractive villain. It is the relationship between Shylock and Antonio‚ Shylock and his daughter‚ Jessica‚ and his selfishness through his attitude to material possessions that make him an attractive villain‚ he is portrayed as an attractive villain‚ and I am going to look at the extent that this is true in "The Merchant of Venice." Shylock is portrayed as a stereotypical Jew which is one of the aspects that makes him
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balance and stability. In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice and Arthur Miller’s The Crucible the reader sees examples of injustice inflicted on the victims within the plays through the people with power within the community. The Christians in The Merchant of Venice mock Shylock the Jew countless times while the high court in The Crucible believe citizens are practicing witchcraft without a proper testimony. In both situations‚ the Christians and the court see themselves doing the right thing
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