The Merchant of Venice

misfortune like a tragedy. By this definition, The Merchant of Venice is a comedy; yet, many skeptics question this claim due to their analysis of the trial. They consider Shylock’s loss in the trial to be the downfall of a poor protagonist, suggesting that Merchant is a tragedy. However, these skeptics blame it on the Christian defendants in court. Shakespeare portrays Shylock as a self-destructive character, affirming that The Merchant of Venice is a comedic play, and reinforces its…

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…

Ryan Helgason Daniel Cote ENGL 170 03/05/2018 Religion and Prejudice in The Merchant of Venice In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare argues the ethics of justice and mercy, with religion as the focus. Throughout this piece, we are frequently reiterated of the discrepancies amongst Shylock and the rest of the characters. Possibly the most observable distinction, ensured by the conversation, is in each characters’ religions. Shylock, a Jew, is ridiculed throughout the comedy, and is…

humanity. He undoubtedly thought Shylock was being cruel after his many recent losses, and that he would eventually forgive Antonio. Out of love, Shylock should forgive Antonio for some of the things that he had done. He had even sent the greatest merchant out of business, which is something to be proud of. I agree with the Duke, and I feel like Antonio should have been forgiven. It was ridiculous to cut a pound…

In the period where The Merchant of Venice is set, anti-Semitism was ubiquitous. Shakespeare was probably influenced by this and — although he probably never met a ‘Jew’ — made Shylock a magnet for of anti-Semitism. However, the complex character of Shylock occasionally shows signs of humanity, which suggests that Shylock is a victim but – particularly from the perspective of the other main characters, such as Portia or Antonio - also a villain. We see two controversial sides of Shylock; one is…

Shakespeare is noble for even including Shylock’s perspective into his play. Though Shakespeare does not definitively promote equality, I personally believe that he is critiquing the people of his time period for their blatant racism with his work The Merchant of Venice. Therefore, Shakespeare makes an effort to challenge the typical racial biases of his time period. While Shakespeare rejects prejudices, Milton actively enforces gender stereotypes. Eve, the only female character in Paradise…

to others and destroy the happiness and peacefulness in all the characters of the story. The true definition of a villain according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is “a character in a story, movie, etc., who does bad things.” In the play, Merchant of Venice, several characters do a few things that are bad, but none can compare to wanting to take a mans life as Shylock tried to do. What kind of man does it show who Shylock is, for wanting to take a mans life because he is late paying a debt?…

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…

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…

It is common to pontificate about matters of love and money, and how one comes to effect the other. At best, the true connection of love and money is undefined, and at worst, it is unknowable. In Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, love and money are core themes which dictate not only the relationships of characters but the motivations of characters as well. Love and money become so interlaced in this play, that the independent existence of one without the other becomes an impossibility. Through…