TWO MAJOR THEMES IN MERCHANT OF VENICE A major theme in the Merchant of Venice is mercy. Mercy depicts a large part of this play‚ mercy is one of themes that ends it. In the courtroom scene of Act 4‚ scene 1‚ both the Duke and Portia present mercy as a better alternative to the pursuit of either law or revenge. The other characters accept that the law is on Shylock’s side‚ but they all expect him to show mercy‚ which he refuses to do. Portia then tries to persuade him to be merciful
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The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Key Quotations Act One Scene One 1) Antonio- In sooth‚ I know not why I am so sad. 2) Salerio- Your mind is tossing on the ocean 3) Antonio- I hold the world but as the world‚ Grationo; a stage where every man must play his part and mine a sad one. 4) Bassanio- Grationo speaks an infinite deal of nothing. 5) Antonio- My purse‚ my person‚ my extremist means‚ lie all unlocked to your occasions. Scene Two 1) Portia- The brain may devise laws for
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A Discussion Guide for Educators A Publication of the Anti-Defamation League Anti- Semitism and The Merchant of Venice: A Discussion Guide for Educators Barbara Balser‚ National Chair Abraham H. Foxman‚ National Director Kenneth Jacobson‚ Deputy National Director Caryl M. Stern‚ Senior Associate National Director/ Chief Operating Officer Marshall S. Levin‚ Senior Associate National Director/ Director‚ National Development Michael Salberg‚ Associate National Director/ Director‚ International Affairs
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Humanities English II -4 21 February 2011 Dialectical Journals: The Merchant of Venice Source | Quotation | Analysis | Act 1. Sc.1 Pg.17Ln. 147-151‚ 153-159 | “In my school-days‚ when I had lost one shaft‚ I shot his fellow of the self-same flight. The self-same way with more advised watch‚ to find the other forth‚ and by adventuring both‚ I oft found both.” “I owe you much‚ and‚ like a willful youth‚ that which I owe is lost; but if you please to shoot another arrow that self-way which you
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Florence Lau College Writing Block H April 11th‚ 2013 Role of Justice in Count of Monte Cristo and the Merchant of Venice The Role of Justice Justice‚ as defined by the American Oxford Dictionary‚ is the quality of being fair and reasonable. The role of justice is to maintain peace and harmony in a society by making sure that virtuousness is outshining maliciousness. This role is often upheld by one of a higher authority who acts as a judge and gives an impartial analysis of a certain situation
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Shylock as Villian in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice In Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice the antagonist of the play is Shylock. Shylock is a wealthy Jewish moneylender. Shylock is probably the most memorable character in the play because of Shakespeare’s excellent characterization of him. Shylock is the antagonist in the play because he stands in the way of love‚ but this does not necessarily make him the villain of the play. Shylock can be seen as both the
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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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Discrimination and hatred across religions can be often become a normal part of everyday life‚ and can be difficult to eradicate and extinguish. In William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice‚ the idea of the “normality” of everyday prejudices comes across in interactions and the portrayal of Shylock‚ a Jewish moneylender in Venice. Through Shylock’s character‚ Shakespeare provides a commentary on how his society has viewed Judaism in a dehumanizing way for many generations‚ but also expresses how difficult
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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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Talley British Literature Theme paper for Merchant of Venice October 29‚ 2014 A theme is an underlying idea the author hopes to communicate in his/her story. Sometimes a theme is also another way an author can leave a message for his or her readers to think about. In the Merchant of Venice‚ Shakespeare added themes of prejudice‚ love versus greed‚ and mercy versus revenge and justice. Prejudice was one of the key themes in this story. The Merchant of Venice shows the religious discrimination between
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