The Merchant of Venice

The settings of each of Shakespeare’s plays play a huge role in the plot and the play as a whole. For example, in Othello, the play starts off in Venice but takes place in Cyprus for a majority of the play. The people of Venice were mostly white, so Othello was definitely an outcast. If it weren’t for his position in the military and his service in the war, he more than likely would have been criticized by the Venetian people. When the setting shifts to Cyprus, known for its love, the love…

How and to what extent does Shakespeare create sympathy for the character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice? In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare depicts Shylock as a complicated character whom is easy detest due to his headstrong, money-hungry and vengeful nature. However, there are many instances in which sympathy for Shylock is generated, especially when he is pushed around and abused by the Christians and when he deals with losing his daughter. Shakespeare gives an insight into all…

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…

historians believe that she has been an innocent woman, wrongfully reprimanded for her family, who killed nobles with the poison la cantarella. The idea of who is victimized by society, is evident, especially in William Shakespeare’s “comedy,” The Merchant of Venice. Through the play, he characters pertain to their predicaments as if everything in the world revolves around them. However, there is only one true victim, Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, while characters such as Antonio, and Portia…

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…

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…

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…

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.…

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 Merchant of Venice…

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…