Characters with Issues
The Merchant of Venice, dated 1596, was written by William Shakespeare. The story is set in Venice. The critical issue is that the main characters, Shylock and Antonio, make a bond upon a pound of flesh. When Antonio fails to fulfill his end of the bond, Portia comes in and saves Antonio 's life. Many scholars have analyzed the play and it has become known as “the play of problems”. In The Merchant of Venice the main characters all show the characteristics of prejudice, mercy, and deception.
In the novel The Merchant of Venice, Portia shows prejudice in her own way. Portia is considered an outsider during this time period because she is a woman. In the article, written by Novy, “Women and Jews could be seen as symbolic of absolute otherness- alien, mysterious, uncivilized, unredeemed” (Novy, np). Portia defies the stereotypes of women in that time period. Women in 1596 were considered to be inferior, yet in the …show more content…
Shylock tells the court, “I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond” (Shakespeare 4.1. 195-196). This is a phrase Shylock declares over and over. He is eager to get a pound of flesh and demands no less. Shylock is too caught up in hatred to see the negative outcome of this trial. The article “Giving and Taking in The Merchant of Venice” states, “ Shylock , however, speaks for and suffers from the most threatening possibilities of self- assertion. He is portrayed as one who is ambitious for himself alone” ( Novy np). Shylock shows at the beginning of the trial, he has no mercy. Shylock has no mercy for his daughter. Shylock is completely alone because he is so set in his ways, no one seems to be good enough for him. Shylock is selfish and wants the things that will benefit him. Due to Shylock showing no mercy, no mercy was given in
The Merchant of Venice, dated 1596, was written by William Shakespeare. The story is set in Venice. The critical issue is that the main characters, Shylock and Antonio, make a bond upon a pound of flesh. When Antonio fails to fulfill his end of the bond, Portia comes in and saves Antonio 's life. Many scholars have analyzed the play and it has become known as “the play of problems”. In The Merchant of Venice the main characters all show the characteristics of prejudice, mercy, and deception.
In the novel The Merchant of Venice, Portia shows prejudice in her own way. Portia is considered an outsider during this time period because she is a woman. In the article, written by Novy, “Women and Jews could be seen as symbolic of absolute otherness- alien, mysterious, uncivilized, unredeemed” (Novy, np). Portia defies the stereotypes of women in that time period. Women in 1596 were considered to be inferior, yet in the …show more content…
Shylock tells the court, “I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond” (Shakespeare 4.1. 195-196). This is a phrase Shylock declares over and over. He is eager to get a pound of flesh and demands no less. Shylock is too caught up in hatred to see the negative outcome of this trial. The article “Giving and Taking in The Merchant of Venice” states, “ Shylock , however, speaks for and suffers from the most threatening possibilities of self- assertion. He is portrayed as one who is ambitious for himself alone” ( Novy np). Shylock shows at the beginning of the trial, he has no mercy. Shylock has no mercy for his daughter. Shylock is completely alone because he is so set in his ways, no one seems to be good enough for him. Shylock is selfish and wants the things that will benefit him. Due to Shylock showing no mercy, no mercy was given in