After reading The Merchant of Venice‚ one may think that Antonio or even Bassanio is the hero. While that may be true‚ there is a possibility that there is no hero. There is a heroine. Portia is not expected in the beginning to emerge as a heroine or even as a major character. She is merely a background character from the subplot. As the play begins to wind down‚ the reader will find many examples in which Portia saves major characters from their own dilemmas. The first (and most obvious)
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The Merchant of Venice is a play set in a very male and Christian dominated society where other religions and women rights weren’t very well accepted by the community. However Portia‚ a rich woman who had previously been controlled by men‚ triumphs as she manipulates tricks and saves the lives of the men. We see how she is manipulated by men through her father‚ who though dead‚ still manages to control who she marries from his will. He states in his will that from three different caskets the suitors
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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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is always varying‚ upwards and downwards" (John Locke). A villain is a cruelly-malicious-person who does bizarre and unlawful things. In William Shakespeare’s‚ The Merchant of Venice‚ Shylock is a Jewish character who is portrayed as a Villain because of the freakish things he does. Shylock is a bad example for the people of Venice: he is a very selfish‚ he is evil‚ he has no mercy for anyone and he will do anything to have Antonio dead. A villain is someone who is selfish and does not care about
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Shakespeare Merchant of Venice Essay I have been studying the play The Merchant of Venice written by William Shakespeare. The play genre is drama and it is set in the late 1590s. It is set in two cities Venice and Belmont. The play is about usury between a Christian and a Jew. The Christian is a man named Antonio‚ who is The Merchant of Venice. The Jew is a wealthy man called Shylock who is facing a lot of religious rivalry at the time. Antonio’s friend Bassanio comes to him to ask for money
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In William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venise there were a lot of important scenes. But the ‘Trial scene’ was perceived to be the most important scene in the play. The playwright uses this scene to convey a number of key ideas such as Jews vs Christians‚ Mercy vs Justice and Appearance vs Reality. In addition the ‘Trial scene’ exposes the personalities of main characters. Furthermore‚ this scene is the highlight of the play and provides an excellent climax to the play which the audiences would enjoy
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Jasdeep Bains Mrs. Valdez ENG2D1-05 Wednesday May 28‚ 2008 Appearance Vs Reality in Merchant Of Venice This theme of Appearance Vs. Reality is used throughout the play to mislead and confuse so things may not always be what they seem. Shakespeare uses deception to enhance the unfolding drama and involve his audience more fully in the play – the audience are party to deceptions which the characters themselves are unaware of. Prejudice was common and the word “Jew” applied to hardhearted unscrupulous
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The City of Love “A realist‚ in Venice‚ would become a romantic by mere faithfulness to what he saw before him.” says Arthur Symons of the Italian city named after Venus‚ the ancient Roman Goddess of Love. Venice emerged like life itself‚ made up of 118 island tied together by some 400 bridges built on water (Buckley). The beautiful Italian language and stunning location of the city make it one of the most visited and praised cities in Europe. Couples are bound to fall in love all over again in
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Themes in The Merchant of Venice This resource is designed as a reference guide for teachers. We have listed the major themes and motifs within The Merchant of Venice and provided examples of scenes where you can study them. Themes Prejudice and social injustice Revenge‚ justice and forgiveness Money and love Motifs (Recurring elements and patterns of imagery in The Merchant of Venice which support the play’s themes) Gold/ducats‚ jewels and caskets The law Rings Music Registered charity no. 212481
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The Merchant of Venice Questions Act IV Before the trial proper begins‚ what does Antonio say the Duke has already tried to do (4.1.1-12)? Antonio says he knows the duke has done all that he can to lawfully counter Shylock’s malicious intentions‚ and that since nothing else can be done‚ Antonio will respond to Shylock’s rage “with a quietness of spirit”. What does the Duke assume Shylock will do (4.1.15-33)? What is Shylock’s response? Why is Shylock unwilling to show mercy? How does he respond
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