John Locke’s enlightenment idea that the mind is born blank and is formed through experiences, was one of the most significant philosophies of the Enlightenment period. With that idea in mind, many have wondered how much an individual’s upbringing actually affects their identity. William Shakespeare’s, The Merchant of Venice, showcases exactly how an individual’s cultural background characterizes their life. The different hierarchical ranked cultures where the materialistic Christians and the money-depending Jews come from, create opposing views on the value of a dollar which results in a difference in lifestyle between the spendthrift Christians and the conservative Jews.
At this point in history, the Christians and Jews have two very opposing cultures: the Christians and their love for money, against Shylock and his need for money. Mercenary attributes are found in several Christian characters; Antonio with his risky business ventures (I. i. 22-40), Bassanio who wants to borrow money to marry a rich lady (I. i. 208-223), and Portia’s father who is arranging his daughter to marry a man who cares about money (I. ii. 24-30). Shylock, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. The only profession he is able to practice is money lending, in which he charges interest and depends on it to survive. The different …show more content…
However, this characteristic is what differentiates them from each other as well. Shylock’s greed for money is just a motivation for survival, while the Christians want money to maintain an image; these factors are all decided by the culture they were brought up in. You adopt a certain lifestyle based on your cultural background’s relationship with money. The same thing is present in today’s world, although cultural discrimination isn’t as present in today’s society, your ability to make money will affect the way you spend it, ultimately having an impact on your
At this point in history, the Christians and Jews have two very opposing cultures: the Christians and their love for money, against Shylock and his need for money. Mercenary attributes are found in several Christian characters; Antonio with his risky business ventures (I. i. 22-40), Bassanio who wants to borrow money to marry a rich lady (I. i. 208-223), and Portia’s father who is arranging his daughter to marry a man who cares about money (I. ii. 24-30). Shylock, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. The only profession he is able to practice is money lending, in which he charges interest and depends on it to survive. The different …show more content…
However, this characteristic is what differentiates them from each other as well. Shylock’s greed for money is just a motivation for survival, while the Christians want money to maintain an image; these factors are all decided by the culture they were brought up in. You adopt a certain lifestyle based on your cultural background’s relationship with money. The same thing is present in today’s world, although cultural discrimination isn’t as present in today’s society, your ability to make money will affect the way you spend it, ultimately having an impact on your