Ashley Simpson English 5306 Dr. King 1 March 2012 A Game of Caskets‚ Morals‚ and Men Lessons Learned in The Merchant of Venice Although the play’s title leads readers to believe its contents to surround Antonio‚ rather the play surrounds a hated and despised Shylock the Jew. However‚ as Shakespeare so often does‚ several scenes are placed almost haphazardly within the conflict and turmoil building amongst the main characters. Often readers question the scenes appropriateness and necessity
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The Merchant of Venice: A Tragic Play In my opinion the play The Merchant of Venice is a tragic one which is discised as being comic. Many factors of this play are derived from the current voice of situation. The Merchant of Venice could be looked at as more tragic because of the negative intents from some of the characters in the play. Greed and deception are just a couple of the main features from where many of the decisions are derived. For example‚ revenge was an intent that Sylock had
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A Discussion Guide for Educators A Publication of the Anti-Defamation League Anti- Semitism and The Merchant of Venice: A Discussion Guide for Educators Barbara Balser‚ National Chair Abraham H. Foxman‚ National Director Kenneth Jacobson‚ Deputy National Director Caryl M. Stern‚ Senior Associate National Director/ Chief Operating Officer Marshall S. Levin‚ Senior Associate National Director/ Director‚ National Development Michael Salberg‚ Associate National Director/ Director‚ International Affairs
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Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice‚ the idea of the “normality” of everyday prejudices comes across in interactions and the portrayal of Shylock‚ a Jewish moneylender in Venice. Through Shylock’s character‚ Shakespeare provides a commentary on how his society has viewed Judaism in a dehumanizing way for many generations‚ but also expresses how difficult and not in a playwright’s place to change these societal prejudices. Shakespeare utilizes Shylock’s character as an antagonist to Antonio to demonstrate
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In one of his plays‚ titled "The Merchant of Venice"‚ Shakespeare presents to us several views on a form of racism‚ namely anti-Semitism. The main "victim" is the character Shylock‚ a Jewish moneylender‚ who is mistreated by Antonio. Antonio openly hates Jews‚ and makes like hard for Shylock for no other reason than religion. It should be noted though that Shylock himself has also become a racist. This is proven when he makes a comment about Antonio saying "I hate him for he is a Christian." Both
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he is writing in a predominantly patriarchal time period; how does he manipulate Renaissance gender constructions in order to convey his message; how is the patriarchal attitude explored through the women in the text; and many more. Using The Merchant of Venice as an example‚ this essay will attempt to explore Shakespeare’s representations of the characters of Portia‚ Nerissa and Jessica. It will seek to examine their role in the text‚ as well as explore representations of gender and cross-dressing
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that how his friend lend him three thousand ducats and his ships have shipwrecked now he is not able to payback so Portia without thinking she gave six thousand ducats to Bassanio to give Antonio to payback. When everyone failed to save Antonio she came at that place disguised as a lawyer Balthazar and saved Antonio from Shylock‚ and after that disguised as a lawyer she played a funny role that she asked for the ring that she gave
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Trial Scene Merchant of Venice At the court of law in Venice‚ the Duke‚ Antonio‚ Bassanio‚ Salerio‚ Graziano‚ and various notable personages are gathered for Antonio’s trial. The Duke begins the trial by showing how impartial he is: he immediately says he’s sorry for Antonio and that Shylock is an "inhuman wretch‚ uncapable [sic] of pity‚ void and empty from any dram of mercy." Wow‚ so much for a fair trial. Antonio shrugs this off as no big deal – he knows everyone has done what they can‚ and he’s
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Historical Context The historical context of The Merchant of Venice turns‚ for the most part‚ on one question: the status of Jews in Shakespeare’s England. Jews had lived in England throughout the Middle Ages; they were treated then as property of the King‚ and were permitted to stay in England‚ over the protests of the Church‚ only by his "good graces." In fact‚ English kings allowed the Jews to remain in England largely for financial reasons: practicing trades‚ particularly money-lending‚ that
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Shakespeare’s Purpose of The Merchant of Venice There are different intents to illustrate in each of Shakespeare’s plays. In one of his plays‚ The Merchant of Venice‚ his intent was to illustrate that whatever you do to a person or to a group at the start‚ will always come back to you at the end. (karma) However‚ if we take an honest look at those thing that we have done‚ it doesn’t always come back as the same. Just as judging a person by the cover isn’t always right‚ you need to dig deeper into
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