Injustice In Merchant Of Venice And The Crucible By Arthur Miller
Injustice has always occurred in this world, it is still talked about in our society and has impacted many people throughout history. Injustice is of the main themes shown in the plays Merchant Of Venice by William Shakespeare and The Crucible by Arthur Miller. Injustice is illustrated in both plays and issues of discrimination, character conflicts, and stereotypes are demonstrated.
Discrimination proves that injustice is shown in both plays. In The Merchant Of Venice, Jews are often mistreated by Christians and this results in Shylock’s mistreatment throughout the play. Shylock is treated like an animal by Antonio. He calls Shylock a throat dog and people never call him by his real name, instead they refer to him as the Jew. Shylock also …show more content…
Men are often looked as strong, fearless, and independent. Shakespeare uses this stereotypical image in this play. For instance, Portia has to obey her father’s will and marry whoever chooses the casket with her picture in it. Portia is upset that she does not get to choose who she marries. Portia says, “I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father”.(Shakespeare 1.2.22) This shows that her father has the power to do this. Portia has no choice over her future and whatever she has planned for the future may be crushed because she is expected to follow what her father says. Another example is when Portia and Nerissa disguised themselves as men and Portia won the court battle. The fact that they need to dress up as men to be respected and listened to by the court, proves that men have more power. Stereotypes are also proven in Miller’s play with the help of many characters. Abigail and the girls are accused of witchcraft but when they become witnesses in the court, they are trusted and listened to by the court and is seen as unguilty. Due to the stereotypes of young girls, the court believes that younger girls will only speak the truth because they are too scared to lie due to later punishments. Stereotypes also affects John Proctor. He is viewed as a respectful and trusted man but when it was revealed that he has an affair with Abigail, he lost his reputation. He lost his good character as well and was refused to be heard in court later on. Stereotypes are effectively shown in both tragic plays to demonstrate
Discrimination proves that injustice is shown in both plays. In The Merchant Of Venice, Jews are often mistreated by Christians and this results in Shylock’s mistreatment throughout the play. Shylock is treated like an animal by Antonio. He calls Shylock a throat dog and people never call him by his real name, instead they refer to him as the Jew. Shylock also …show more content…
Men are often looked as strong, fearless, and independent. Shakespeare uses this stereotypical image in this play. For instance, Portia has to obey her father’s will and marry whoever chooses the casket with her picture in it. Portia is upset that she does not get to choose who she marries. Portia says, “I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father”.(Shakespeare 1.2.22) This shows that her father has the power to do this. Portia has no choice over her future and whatever she has planned for the future may be crushed because she is expected to follow what her father says. Another example is when Portia and Nerissa disguised themselves as men and Portia won the court battle. The fact that they need to dress up as men to be respected and listened to by the court, proves that men have more power. Stereotypes are also proven in Miller’s play with the help of many characters. Abigail and the girls are accused of witchcraft but when they become witnesses in the court, they are trusted and listened to by the court and is seen as unguilty. Due to the stereotypes of young girls, the court believes that younger girls will only speak the truth because they are too scared to lie due to later punishments. Stereotypes also affects John Proctor. He is viewed as a respectful and trusted man but when it was revealed that he has an affair with Abigail, he lost his reputation. He lost his good character as well and was refused to be heard in court later on. Stereotypes are effectively shown in both tragic plays to demonstrate