The Merchant of Venice (1596) is one of Shakespeare’s most outstanding comedies. For the past more than 400 years‚ it has been paid close attention to and also highly praised. Many people‚ such as literature critics‚ historians‚ and the scholars who study religion‚ have keen interest in it not just because that this work has special literary power but also because that it reflects several deep conflicts-ethnic conflict and religious conflict. The major plot of this play is related with Antonio and
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highest form of social relationship‚ even surpassing that between a man and a woman in matrimony. This is portrayed through “The Merchant of Venice”‚ written by William Shakespeare which was written between 1556 and 1558. This platonic natured friendship is still portrayed in modern literature‚ but due to changed opinions because of the society in which it was written it is more subtle in expressions as portrayed in “The Running Man” by Michael Gerard Bauer‚ which was written in 2003. Both texts were
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Shylock – Money-minded/materialistic To a large extent‚ Shylock is a villain because he is money-minded/materialistic. “I would my daughter were dead at my foot‚ and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot‚ and the ducats in her coffin! “(Act 3‚ Sc 1) According to the stated evidence‚ Shylock would rather have his own daughter dead than she run away with his ducats. He shows no concern whatsoever for his daughter who had run away‚ but instead was more concerned about the jewels
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outcome of The Merchant of Venice‚ this conflict is even more important because it provides a setting for the contrast between the rigid law and rules of the Old Testament and the concepts of mercy and forgiveness as taught by Christ in the New Testament. It is in the climactic trial scene that The Duke‚ hoping Shylock will excuse Antonio’s penalty‚ asks him‚ "How shall thou hope for mercy rend’ring none?" He is referring to expectations of judgment in the afterlife. However‚ so is Shylock‚ when he counters
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question: The Merchant of Venice The outcome of the trial of Shylock versus Antonio doesn’t reach an apt conclusion at the end of the play. In the preceding essay I plan to demonstrate the factors that influenced my decision to object to the verdict that concludes this play. I believe Shylock’s punishment is too harsh in this unjust court of law. It is of most relevance to highlight the fact that Antonio was entirely aware of the penalty that would arise from the bond forfeiting. Shylock is presented
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enjoy spending time with. In The Merchant of Venice‚ Shakespeare shows the reader; through the characters of Bassanio and Antonio‚ what the true definition of a friendship really is. The definition of friendship from the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary is ‘the state of being friends’. Antonio and Bassanio have a friendship throughout the play that is similar to this definition and the perceived definition most people have. At the beginning of The Merchant of Venice‚ Bassanio comes to Antonio wanting
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In The Merchant of Venice‚ by William Shakespeare‚ Shakespeare reveals the idea of mercy through the different scenes in a exciting and interesting way for the readers to keep reading on. Mercy depends on the person and how their characteristic is and also how they are viewed by society that can change their characteristics‚ therefore changing how they would give their mercy. The close friendship between Antonio and Bassanio is viewed the opposite of how all Christians view Shylock as a Jew
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The Merchant of Venice Movie Production Matt Bomer as Antonio Matthew Bomer has an impressive and aristocratic bearing. No matter how tall he is‚ Matthew appears noble and upright. He is very much in control of the image he sends out to others. Bomer is elegant‚ graceful‚ and charismatic. He can take the role as a rather lackluster character. He can act as a hopeless depressive man‚ someone who cannot name the source of his melancholy such
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How does Shakespeare use language differently for Portia and Shylock in the judgement scene and elsewhere? In this essay I will be discussing how characters language changes throughout the play‚ centering on the judgment scene. The Characters I will be focusing on are Shylock and Portia. The first difference in the language is how Portia and Shylocks language portrays them as characters. Shylock is seen as the villain in the play he is manipulative‚ blood thirsty ‘’Nearest his heart’: those are
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often killed because of their beliefs. Such is the kind of racial discrimination toward Shylock‚ the Jewish character in "The Merchant of Venice." Some believe that the character as a greedy‚ coldhearted villain‚ which is not the case. In Shakespeare’s play‚ "The Merchant of Venice‚" Shylock was a victim of years’ struggle against discrimination toward his religion. One of the most persistent charges against Shylock was that he was cruel and bloodthirsty. Antonio says in act 4 scene 1 that it is impossible
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