‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare is a play in which one of the main characters is portrayed as both a villain and a victim. The audience’s interpretation of Shylock oscillates throughout the play. We must also recognize that Shylock has most likely become a villain as a result of being unfairly victimized for having Jewish heritage. During the sixteenth century‚ when the play was written‚ mistreatment towards Jews was common; especially in Venice as it was an anti-sematic city. Jewish
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Bassanio shows his determined side when he first become accosted with the idea to court Portia‚ he doesn’t let the small problem of not having sufficient funds stand in his way as he uses his determination to drive his convincing argument to Antonio “ but if you please to shoot another arrow that self way…”But part of the reason behind this determination is his ulterior motive of gaining a lot of money from marrying Portia which can makes him a very materialistic person in the way he prioritizes her riches
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the first act to develop the sealing of a bond between Antonio‚ the merchant‚ and Shylock‚ the usurer. The purpose of this compact on Antonio’s part is to assist Bassanio to follow a winning suit for Portia‚ - a favor that in the retribution of good deeds will come back a hundred fold‚ through Portia‚ to Antonio. On the part of the Jew it is to get a hold over an enemy whom the Jew hates‚ and whom through legal means he intends to destroy. When the time comes for canceling the bond‚ although thrice
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ANTONIO I honestly don’t know why I’m so sad . I’m tired of it‚ and so are you. But I have no idea why I have gotten so depressed and I can’t figure out what is even making me feel this way. I must not understand myself very well. SALARINO You’re worried about your ships. Your mind is getting tossed around in the ocean with them‚ but they’re fine. They’re like huge parade floats on the sea. They’re so big they look down on the smaller ships‚ which all have to bow and then get out of the way.
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elope with Lorenzo‚ a Christian. Later on‚ Antonio’s source of money‚ his ship‚ is reported sunken in the English Channel‚ dooming him to the loss of one pound of his flesh. There is a trial on the bond‚ and when it seems sure that Antonio will die‚ Portia‚ disguised as a doctor of laws legally gets Antonio out of the situation and Shylock receives harsh penalties. Antonio and Shylock‚ two similar businessmen of Venice‚ are viewed differently and are treated oppositely to heighten the drama of the
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points and ideas included in the merchant of Venice are the role of women‚ the power of love and friendship and justice and mortality. All of these themes are present in today’s modern society. The role of women in the play is represented though Portia‚ Nerissa and Jessica. The three of the women are very different yet they are all the same as they stand up to the typical Elizabethan women way of being a ‘happy little housewife’ with no voice or backbone. Jessica is the Jewish daughter f the ‘villain
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overruled his love for money. We understand the message about money not being able to represent everything through Bassanio’s choice of caskets. When Bassanio makes the difficult decision of choosing the caskets which determine if he will obtain Portia‚ Portia worries as all the other suitors have made the wrong
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in tradition and loyalty rather than law‚ while on the other hand the contract between Antonio and Shylock for a ‘pound of flesh’ is an example of a legal and unorthodox contract. The theme of justice as well as mercy are also seen in the play when Portia is acting the part of a Doctor of Laws at court. Throughout the whole play‚ Shylock is the epitome of justice as he understands it. Shylock’s reaction to constantly being spat on by the Christians brought him to a locked idea of revenge on them
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The Merchant of Venice illustrates a clear discrepancy between the moral values of its Christian characters and those of Shylock; at last revealing favor for the mercy‚ generosity‚ love‚ and self-sacrifice of the Christians. Irrespective of the religious hypocrisy displayed by the Christians of the play‚ they ultimately prove the victors‚ while those who disregard the virtues of Christian doctrine suffer highly disagreeable consequences. Shylock‚ a miserly Jew and heartless usurer characterized
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Shylock didn’t receive his money‚ he and Antonio both agreed that Shylock would receive a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body. The married couple Bassanio and Portia‚ are friends with Antonio and they realized they had to help him. Portia offered Shylock triple the amount of what the money was really worth. Shylock rejected the offer but Portia had a plan to solve the dilemma – Disguise as a male judge to save her friend and also be more extreme by making Shylock worthless. Analysis. In the movie
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