Merchant

Appearance and Reality in Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice There are many things in the world which appear to be something but are complete opposites in reality. In the same manner, Shakespeare has used appearance and reality in his play as a major theme. Various characters in the play are shown as giving examples of appearance and reality. Moreover, they betray as well as are betrayed many times because of their inability to differentiate between reality and appearance. The characters in the…

Shylock shows the intriguing conflict between the Christians and the Jews in Venice. Shylock immediately shows his hatred for Antonio, as he says in an aside, “I hate him for he is a Christian; But more, for that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis”. This shows his loathing for Antonio based on that fact that he dislikes Christians and highlighting the conflict between Christians and Jews in Venice, furthermore, Antonio is seen as a rival in his business, this further emphasizes the…

Everyone behaves differently, but eventually their behaviour can have a positive or negative effect on their life. Normally, people with good behaviour tend to live a happier life than those with bad behaviour. In the play, The Merchant of Venice, the behaviour of characters somewhat depicts their lifestyle. For example, the lower class is outgoing while the higher class are more strict. Some characters such as Bassanio, play an important role throughout the play and each plot due to their…

In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Shylock creates a sense of self pity, gives in to his greed and blinds himself with revenge, which ultimately leads to his downfall at the end of the play. Shylock, the antagonists of the play, is a Jewish man living in Venice who makes a living by giving out loans, with interest, to people in need. He begins the story, though not happy, at his most content state and as his story continues and he continues to make decisions based on his defining…

Differences between villains and victims can vary in each play, movie, or book. Can a person be a victim and also be a villain? Is Shylock a villain or victim In the play Merchant Of Venice written by William Shakespeare two moneylenders Antonio and Shylock both have a feud with each other over money. Antonio a borrows money from shylock the jewish moneylender for his best friend Bassanio. Shylock and Antonio made an agreement that if the money was not paid back on time plus interest Shylock…

The Merchant of Venice, written around 1594, was, continues to be, and always will be a highly discussed book in many academic communities. It is known to many as a play but for those who have studied it, the book is a political statement. It’s a revolutionary work meant to influence the minds of thousands. But what opinion was Shakespeare trying to plant in the minds of those who would experience his writing first hand? Could it have been one of anti-Semitism like many believe? Was he possibly…

In Shakespeares, The Merchant Of Venice, a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, was in trial over a contract. This contract was between Shylock and Antonio, another main character who was a Christian, which stated that Antonio must pay back the 3000 ducats that he borrowed in 3 months, in failure to do so Antonio must give Shylock one pound of his own flesh. Antonio failed to pay him back so a trial was held and the contract was presented so that Shylock could and would be allowed to collect “his” pound…

Lorenzo’s importance in the Merchant of Venice It’s common for fathers to grant a blessing for the elopement of two individuals. This blessing is usually given if they approve of the two who are wishing to be married. However, if the father doesn’t want his daughter to be married, then his wish should be respected. This is hardly the case in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Lorenzo, a minor character, intends to elope and run off with Jessica, the daughter of a rich Jew named Shylock.…

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. This play is about a Venetian Merchant, Antonio, who takes out a loan in order to help his friend court a wealthy heiress. Antonio’s contract with the moneylender states that if Antonio cannot repay the loan, he will owe the moneylender a pound of his own flesh. Unfortunately, circumstances arise that prohibit Antonio from repaying the loan. It seems that the characters in both these plays could use some mercy. Lillian Hellman uses the quotes from The…

sacrificing one 's self for his or her loved ones. When one truly cares and loves a person, they take risky actions and decisions for them blindly. This idea of taking great risks for one 's precious ones is often explored through literature. In the play, Merchant Of Venice, the playwright William Shakespeare, utilizes powerful characterization to suggest that taking risks for the people one loves, blinds one of the consequences that may arise. Portia is a kind woman…