Shakespeare Universal Questions Essay

Universal questions are found in many places. From day-to-day life, to movies, and even in Shakespearean literature. Shakespeare attempts to answer some of these questions in his plays. In Romeo and Juliet and The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare answers many universal questions, such as the nature of friendship through Antonio and Bassanio and the financial sacrifices they make for each other, faith and what people believe through Shylock and his social restrictions because of his religion, and how to deal with the death of loved ones through Lady Montague’s death following her son’s suicide. In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare addresses his perception of friendship, through Antonio and Bassanio, and their willingness to sacrifice for …show more content…
By making this sacrifice and by stepping out of his usual routine, he shows his caring nature and respect for Bassanio and their friendship. This caring shows us that the nature of friendship is to sacrifice things that one may not be willing to give up normally, but to do it anyways for your friend. Shakespeare uses Bassanio’s and Antonio’s willingness to sacrifice for their friendship and to help one another through tough times to fully explain the universal question of what exactly the nature of friendship …show more content…
Following Romeo’s suicide, Lady Montague is said to have died of grief. After this tragic event occurs, Lord Montague discusses his loss: “ Alas, my liege, my wife is dead tonight. / Grief of my son’s exile hath stopped her breath” (Romeo and Juliet V.iii.225-226). In this situation, he is simply saying that his wife, Lady Montague, died because she was experiencing so much grief after her son died that it killed her. Lady Montague dealt with Romeo’s suicide by experiencing extreme sorrow. Shakespeare uses Lady Montague’s grief to explain that grieving is a way to deal with the death of a loved one. Shakespeare therefore answers the universal question of how to deal with the death of a loved