Death in Venice

about getting revenge on the Christians to becoming fanatical about killing Antonio as the play progresses from act 1 to act 3. Shylock can be associated with the “devil” as he was being portrayed as a devious and scheming Jew who plotted Antonio’s death. His character is fascinating and multi-layered, as seen in act 3 scene 1, when he gave a powerful speech about acceptance that is difficult to ignore. “Hath not a jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?…” (act 3 scene 1,…

Known for her large-scale public installations, Jenny Holzer is a neo-conceptual artist who creates thought provoking narratives through her installations. Her medium includes billboards, buildings, posters, stickers, light projections, plaques, photographs, and perhaps her most famous medium, LED signs. No matter which medium she uses, however, her work never fails to incite and arouse the public. Holzer’s aesthetic includes language and narratives as art, which continues to inspire people…

humiliated in court. Antonio is discussing Shylock’s punishment with the court. “So please my lord the duke and all the court to quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content, so he will let me have the other half in use, to render it upon his death unto the gentlemen that lately stole his…

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…

nature is crystal clear at this point. Portia is also very clever and intelligent, tricking Lorenzo into thinking that she and Nerissa would be staying at a monastery during their husbands’ leave when they are actually following their husbands to Venice, disguised as men. Portia’s comical side is seen once again, as she states how she would act like an immature young man to pass off as a convincing…

Hospitals were built to allow easy application of the new policies. A prime example of plague specific hospitals can be found in the Lazarettes. Created in Venice to house those infected with the plague, the stone fortresses “...were two of the most powerful weapons in the fight against the plague between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries and were central to Venice’s public health strategy.” and the first…

After the horrible crisis of the Black Death, the world was in a sense of rebirth. Two of the world’s largest powerhouses, England and Italy, both had incredible and successful Renaissances. It was a perfect way for both of these places to recoup their former glory after the Plague. Both Renaissances, although prosperous, were both similar and different in their own ways. A major part of either part of the Renaissances was music. Seeing as how society in the past was mainly religiously…

Shakespeare saw and realized this in each of the plays he wrote. In The Merchant of Venice he showed that you can’t trample all over social hierarchies because many of them have been held steadfast for years and cannot easily be brought down by the action of one individual. This is why we ended up seeing Shylock wrecked man, who had everything…

Dramatic Significance Exposed by Risk in The Merchant of Venice Risk is the exposure to danger. Taking risks are necessary because risk reveals experience to an individual. Hazard has both malevolent and benevolent outcomes, which can affect the overall atmosphere in a play. The content of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice includes many scenarios of risk-taking among the relationships between characters. The Merchant of Venice consists of four different plots: the bond plot, casket…

This passage is imagery because it vividly describes the scene. Throughout the passage, Salarino paints the picture of the fear that would occur if his well-being depended on a ship in a detailed manner. For example, the last four lines of the passage describe a ship being destroyed by rocks and spilling the cargo into the ocean. Using words such as “dangerous rocks” and “roaring waters”, Salarino employs terms that create visual images and sounds within audience’s imagination. By effectively…