Shakespeare Paper 1 Throughout all of Shakespeare’s plays we’ve read power struggles have been very apparent in all of them. Whether it is between genders, religions, social or economic class power struggles are a recurring theme. Generally, the rich, white, protestant males come out on top when power struggles occur. Whether Shakespeare agrees with this or is appealing to his audiences, this result sheds light on the societal norms/expectations of his time. The struggle for power between genders is very prominent in Shakespeare’s plays. The struggle for power between genders is very apparent in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. In the first Act, we see a gender struggle occur between Theseus and Hippolyta when they are discussing their wedding.
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Initially, Shylock whom is a Jewish moneylender in Venice tries to reach out and befriend Bassanio, a Christian merchant who takes a 3000 ducat loan from Shylock. He refuses his friendship, remembering how Antonio would curse about him, “misbeliever, cut-throat, dog / And spit upon [his] Jewish gaberdine” (Act 1 Scene 3 107-108). By the end of the play, Shylock’s wife has left him for another man who is Christian. Shylock at this point is distraught and requests his loan back in a pound of flesh. In my opinion, he does this as a way to salvage his pride that was stepped on for being Jewish. He refuses the repayment of three times the original amount. The conflict is brought to court where they rule in favor of the Christians and completely deny any sort of repayment whether it be monetary or other. To add insult to injury, they force Shylock to convert Christianity as a way to prevent him from loaning more money out. “Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live.” (Act IV Scene 1) Once again, we see a recurring theme of the Christian males winning these power struggles. During Shakespeare’s time of living, Jews had already been expelled from England. “This antipathy eventually culminated in his legislating for the expulsion of all Jews from the country in 1290. Most were only allowed to take what they could carry.” (Hyamson 157) All remaining Jews had to keep hidden to prevent any further persecution. In my opinion, Shakespeare was once again trying to expose this fact that the people of England and Europe were suppressing Jews. Whether Shakespeare was for or against this is unknown to
Initially, Shylock whom is a Jewish moneylender in Venice tries to reach out and befriend Bassanio, a Christian merchant who takes a 3000 ducat loan from Shylock. He refuses his friendship, remembering how Antonio would curse about him, “misbeliever, cut-throat, dog / And spit upon [his] Jewish gaberdine” (Act 1 Scene 3 107-108). By the end of the play, Shylock’s wife has left him for another man who is Christian. Shylock at this point is distraught and requests his loan back in a pound of flesh. In my opinion, he does this as a way to salvage his pride that was stepped on for being Jewish. He refuses the repayment of three times the original amount. The conflict is brought to court where they rule in favor of the Christians and completely deny any sort of repayment whether it be monetary or other. To add insult to injury, they force Shylock to convert Christianity as a way to prevent him from loaning more money out. “Nay, take my life and all; pardon not that: You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house; you take my life When you do take the means whereby I live.” (Act IV Scene 1) Once again, we see a recurring theme of the Christian males winning these power struggles. During Shakespeare’s time of living, Jews had already been expelled from England. “This antipathy eventually culminated in his legislating for the expulsion of all Jews from the country in 1290. Most were only allowed to take what they could carry.” (Hyamson 157) All remaining Jews had to keep hidden to prevent any further persecution. In my opinion, Shakespeare was once again trying to expose this fact that the people of England and Europe were suppressing Jews. Whether Shakespeare was for or against this is unknown to