Shylock is solely responsible for the tragedy that unfolds To what extent, do you agree or disagree with this.

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Critical Essay

Shylock is solely responsible for the tragedy that unfolds

To what extent, do you agree or disagree with this.

“In Merchant of Venice, no individual character exclusively causes the occurrence of tragedy” states Harold Bloom when presenting his perspective on the character and personality of Shylock. Merchant of Venice is a Shakespearean tragedy play, written in the Elizabethan Era, between 1596 and 1598. The statement, “Shylock is solely responsible for the tragedy in Merchant of Venice”, is proven to be completely false by the actions of Bassanio, who failed to repay the debt, therefore making him responsible for the tragedy in the play. Although Shylock is not solely responsible for the tragedy, he is presented as the key antagonist due to his constant desire for revenge against Antonio, which causes the introduction of tragic and dramatic context. Shylock does not single-handedly cause the tragedy in the play, but, the conventions of society villainies the Jewish community, therefore, producing a misinterpretation of Shylock’s action. No individual character is to solely blame for the occurrence of tragic events in Shakespeare’s tragedy genre plays, such as Merchant of Venice, where numerous characters and conventions of society contribute to the occurrence of a chain of events that leads to tragedy

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While Bassano is responsible for a portion of the tragedy, Shylock is the key antagonist primarily responsible for the tragedy that unfolds throughout the play and generates an occurrence of chain of tragic events due to his stubbornly wish for retribution, on the basis of the actions of Antonio’s friend. Symbolisms, accompanied by alliterations, are used to add depth in the characters perception and rhythm to the structure to the play, for the primary function of entertainment. In Act 4.1.315, Portia uses an example of these literary devices, thorough her dialogue “The words expressly are, a pound of flesh: Take ...

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