Notes merchant of Venice Key characters Shylock‚ Antonio‚ Bassanio‚ Portia Need to know Personality traits How they impact on the plot of the narrative? How they change throughout the play? Key relationships The problems they must overcome Their characters importance in the plot key themes Law‚ mercy and revenge Self-interest vs love Prejudice and intolerance Wealth Greed vs generosity Love and friendship Law‚ mercy and revenge The law can be manipulated (scene 4) Law favors
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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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Why the Merchant of Venice is more tragic than comic * “The tragic feeling is invoked in us when we are in the presence of a character who is ready to lay down his life‚ if need be‚ to secure one thing‚ his sense of personal dignity” – Arthur Miller * Leading up to Shylock’s trial he undergoes a lot of struggle with regards to his bond with Antonio where. Antonio deceives Shylock when he doesn’t pay him and escapes the clause of the bond (pound of flesh). * Shylock At the same time
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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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Prejudice is a significant theme in The Merchant of Venice. This is expresses at various occasions throughout the novel. One of the most significant examples of prejudice in this novel is the Anti-Semitic views of the Christian citizens in Venice. A second act of prejudice in The Merchant of Venice occurs when the Prince of Morocco arrives in Venice. The third example‚ though more subtle‚ is the prejudice towards the Prince of Arragon. These three examples fall in to two major categories‚ racial
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take on a more “human” form. Appearance is what others perceive wheres reality underlies appearance; it is also the truth. It is possible that it is not uncommon to see the display of this particular theme in the setting of Venice‚ a centre for business and trade‚ where merchants or businessmen may perhaps be more scheming. Linking the theme of appearance versus reality to social context‚ similar to how Portia hid her true sentiments‚ others may put on masks of deception to achieve what they want while
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Sentence: Being the antagonist and villain throughout the play Shylock must be the antithesis to the general characteristics of the protagonist and supporting cast. B. Shylock was a Jew‚ a not very admirable quality during the late 16th century in Venice. C. “Shylock‚ albeit I neither lend nor borrow/ by taking nor by giving of excess” (Act 1‚ Scene 3‚ Lines 61-62) D. He is a usurer‚ something that Antonia literally despises and spits upon. E. This shows the hypocrisy of Antonio’s actions
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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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William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice shows many ideas and values that are still relevant today. Gender inequality‚ one of the main themes throughout the play‚ one of the most talked about topics in the country. Marriage in The Merchant of Venice left women with no freedom in choosing who they wanted to marry‚ while marriage now has given women the choice. Women did not have a say‚ their thoughts were never taken into consideration. Shylock makes a deal with Antonio who doesn’t fulfil his
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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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