Shakespeare's Character of Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice.'
Shakespeare's Character of Shylock in 'The Merchant of Venice.' William Shakespeare wrote his play 'The Merchant of Venice,' in approximately the year 1600. Shakespeare would have written this play to be performed at the Globe theatre in London. In order to understand 'The Merchant of Venice' we must identify some of the features that Shakespeare uses. We must also remember that all characters in this play are Shakespeare's creations to make his play both amusing and effective. In the year 1290, all Jews had been banished from England. This meant that not many people would have known a Jewish person, but would have only heard stereotypical views of these people. In the year 1500 Jews began to return to England because they were fleeing from the Inquisition in Europe. English people in the year 1600 would also have a re-enforced hate of Jews, as in 1594, a Jewish Doctor Lopez, was executed for attempting to murder the Queen. Shakespeare chose to set the play in Venice because at the time, it was a great trading nation as it was at a convenient point between East and West. The Venetian Justice system was also seen to be very fair, and this proves to be useful for Shakespeare in the trial scene. In 1516, the ghetto was formed in Venice. This was a place outside the city walls where Jews were forced to go at night, and were locked in this place. Christian soldiers guarded
The Merchant of Venice Coursework Essay - Shylock; Victim or Villain
'The Merchant of Venice' Coursework Essay Shylock; Victim or Villain On the first reading of Shakespeare's play, 'The Merchant of Venice', the character of Shylock the Jew seemed to me to be that of a villain. Because it is a play, an audience in Shakespeare's time may well have thought the same and, indeed, may have been expected to do so. The reason for this is that Elizabethan audiences expected to be shown stereotypes and it is down to the skill of the dramatist to keep them guessing. As the play unfolds, the character of Shylock develops so that he can also be seen, by more discerning audiences, as a victim. Exploring this contrast between the two views is something I find very interesting. Throughout that part of the play in which he features, Shylock gives us many opportunities to see different aspects of the character that Shakespeare portrays, as I intend to show. "Three thousand ducats." From Shylock's first words, Shakespeare shows him to be focussed on his job as a moneylender, which was one of the very few professions that Jewish men could have had in a Christian city. From the very beginning, an Elizabethan audience would have seen Shylock as a business man, driven by the unwavering desire for profit at the expense of the Christians whom he despises. When Bassanio comes to take out a loan in Antonio's name, Shylock shows immediately that he will grant
The Merchant of Venice
Question 5: Write about the theme of prejudice, showing how it is presented through different characters and how they speak and behave. Merchant of Venice is a play with many connected themes and plots. One of the major themes of the play is prejudice. Prejudice takes place in all forms in The Merchant of Venice: against race, gender, religion and foreigners. For Shakespeare to write and identify all these prejudices at a time where it was not fully understood and it was like a part of life, shows that he is a master of writing plays. There were wars being fought and laws being passed for most of the prejudices listed above. Most of the audience and people in that time, 1590s-1600s, would have been racist against at least one of the themes tackled by the play, and yet for Shakespeare to write a play about prejudice and changing the roles of certain characters, at the time would have been thought to be impossible. To fully understand the prejudice and the play one must understand the time in which it was written. The first act that shows prejudice is act 1 scene 2. Here we meet Portia and Nerrisa. Portia is complaining to Nerrisa about the way her suitors get picked. Portia is the mistress of Belmont's immense wealth. But ironically Portia's freedom is limited. She has no control or choice of whom she gets to marry. Her future lies in the hands of the casket system put into
José Martínez Ruiz,"Azorín": La voluntad as a regenerational novel.
José Martínez Ruiz,"Azorín": La voluntad as a regenerational novel. José Martínez Ruiz's La voluntad (1902) was a fundamental novel that made a contribution to the regeneration of the novel in the twentieth century. However, when it was first published it received hardly any acclaim. The novel is part of a trilogy, including itself, Antonio Azorín (1903) and Las confesiones de un pequeño filósofo (1904). La voluntad is very much a novel belonging to the 'Generation of 1898,' and it insists on the existence of the Generation. La voluntad presents the frustration of the failure of a generation; it protests against the association of the era with disillusionment and anger. La voluntad even protests against the annihilation of La voluntad, of the will of a character, Antonio Azorín. The character of Antonio Azorín represents the author José Martínez Ruiz, and all the 'Generation of 1898.' La voluntad is almost a symbol; it can represent a generation without will, indecisive and without energy; a generation which, unlike the realist Generation, did not have strength of will. Yecla emerges as a synonym for post- desastre Spain. The character of Antonio Azorín is placed as a representation of the 'Generation' and the alter ego of José Martínez Ruiz. It is a novel of the end of a century, discussing the incapacity of reason. Furthermore, discussing the global crisis,
How does Shakespeare create tension in the trial scene of The Merchant of Venice?
How does Shakespeare create tension in the trial scene of the Merchant of Venice? The Merchant of Venice is a play by Shakespeare set in Venice in 1592; at this time the English looked up to Venetian's and they were seen as very fashionable people. Venice was also the trading capital of the world as there was an increase in overseas trade and merchants became very well respected. At the time the attitude towards Jews was hostile and they were treated very badly, there was a lot of prejudice against Jews. They were seen as criminals as some Jews committed usury and they were looked down on by Christians. The play has been set in Venice as it is about a Jewish usurer called Shylock; he is seeking revenge on a wealthy Christian Merchant called Antonio and by setting it in Venice the audience are more likely to sympathise with Antonio and see Shylock as the evil one as he is a Jewish usurer. Within my essay I will be exploring and analysing the techniques Shakespeare uses in the trial scene of his play, The Merchant of Venice, to create and build up dramatic tension for the audience. The main plot of The Merchant of Venice is that Antonio agrees to an extreme bond; if the loan of 3000 ducats is not paid back to Shylock within the deadline Shylock can claim a pound of Antonio's flesh. Shylock describes the bond: '...an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in
The Merchant of Venice: Is Shylock a villain or a victim who deserves our sympathy
Is Shylock a villain or a victim who deserves out sympathy? By Daniel Griffin Introduction: The Holocaust was a period of time from the late 1930's to the middle 1940's where Germany, who had just lost the war, decided to try to make Germany pure, and in doing so, exterminated 6 million Jews. Their idea of a perfect person was one who had blonde hair and blue eyes. However, the hatred and anti-semitism towards the Jews didn't start here. It started a long time back, around the time of the 11th century. Near the end of the 11th century, the Christian church taught its followers that usury was morally wrong, and that Christians were forbidden from doing so. Jews, not included in that rule, but barred from most other professions, turned towards usury as a way of earning money. The Christian church, a lot different to what it is today, taught that Jews should be despised for their rejection of Jesus, to do with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on the cross. The persecution of the Jews was at an early stage when Christians, after being influenced by the Church, spread lies about Jews, saying that they killed Christian children during Passover, and used the blood to make unleavened bread, which in its own way was morally wrong, and something Jesus did not teach to his followers. The term "blood libel" led to such travesties as the mass-suicide of Jews in York in 1190, and
It is suggested that Shakespeare wrote 'The Merchant of Venice' sometime between 1596 and 1598.
It is suggested that Shakespeare wrote 'The Merchant of Venice' sometime between 1596 and 1598. It is classified as an early Shakespearean comedy, a work in which good triumphs over evil, but serious themes are examined and some issues remain unresolved. The play is about a Christian Merchant who borrows money from a wealthy Jew in return for interest in order to try for the hand in marriage of a beautiful rich heiress. It spins around the polarity between the surface attractiveness of gold and the Christian qualities of mercy and compassion that lie beneath the flesh. To discuss this play successfully it is important to refer to its historical background, such as the persecution of Jewish people, expulsion and forced conversation. The Spanish Inquisition is known for the terror that it caused the inhabitants of the Iberian Peninsula. Spain is a nation-state that was born out of religious struggle between numerous different beliefs, including Catholicism, Islam, Protestantism and Judaism. Following the Crusades and the Reconquest of Spain by the Christian Spaniards the leaders of Spain needed a way to unify the country into a strong nation so they began by driving out Jews, Protestants and other non-believers. Jewish people are often associated with wealth and with being a plague to the society to which they belong. Fourteenth-century Spain was no different. In the city
Shylock - Villain or Victim.
Shylock - Villain or Victim Mark Butcher 10JDB In the day of Shakespeare's plays going to the theatre to see a play was often a very popular source of entertainment. People would squash into the globe to see the performance, and feel part of the action; cheering and clapping away. Also when they felt anger, it was seen as ok, to throw mouldy fruit or vegetables at the stage in disgust at the action taking place. The Merchant of Venice was 1st performed at the globe all those years ago and is still being performed today. The Merchant of Venice is set in Venice/Belmont, Italy. It would have been set there as not to offend the audience because I don't think any of the spectators at the time would be from Venice. There for it isn't possible for some of the actions in the play to upset or offend the culture of Italy at the time. Also being in Venice it cannot offend the legal system close to home. There are many themes and issues to the play such as friendship, marriage and relations (especially ones between father and daughter. I.e.-Jessica and Shylock). Also religion, law, discrimination and prejudice, control and power and the position of women are key themes in the play. While the play was 1st being performed the women were not allowed to act, so men had to wear women's clothes, and pretend to be women. This sort of shows how women
In the Elizabethan period it was a literary traditionthat Jews were portrayed in a derogatory way. Write about Shakespeare’s presentation of Shylock throughout the play “Merchant if Venice”.
In the Elizabethan period it was a literary tradition that Jews were portrayed in a derogatory way. Write about Shakespeare's presentation of Shylock throughout the play "Merchant if Venice". In 1599 England was a Christian country and many disliked, often despised, people of other races or religions, especially Jews. But is this shown through the literature of the time? In Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' a Jewish moneylender, (this being a typical stereotype of the age due to some Jews being obsessed with money and several being moneylenders) Shylock, is involved in several Christians lives. Shylock, after lending one of the main characters, the Merchant of Venice, Antonio, three thousand ducats asked for a strange bond, which defines his character, but is his character shown in a derogatory way? At the time Shakespeare wrote 'The Merchant of Venice' Jews were outlawed in Britain and in many Christian European Counties, unless they where willing to convert to Christianity. In fact practising Jews had been officially excluded from Britain for three hundred years at this time. King Phillip IV of France was one of the first to excluded Jews and did so in the fourteenth century. Throughout history there are many examples of anti-Semitic behaviour by Christians. For example during the People's Crusade, flocks of Christians, on their way to the Holy Lands, changed
What Does Shakespeare Want His Audience To Think About the Character of Shylock?
Shakespeare Assignment - "The Merchant of Venice" Essay Title:- What Does Shakespeare Want His Audience To Think About the Character of Shylock? The play "The Merchant of Venice" was written by William Shakespeare some time between the late summer of 1596 and 1598. The play possesses several themes, firstly that of 'love versus greed'. The play is a demonstration of the triumph of love and friendship over greed. Secondly, 'mercy versus justice and the law'. This refers to the courtroom scene where Shylock is pleaded with to alter his adverse decision regarding Antonio and the pound of flesh even though law states he is fully entitled to justice. The third theme is of 'race and racial prejudice'. Even today, four centuries after the play was written, arguments still rage over the controversial anti-Semitic text that many fell should not be taught in schools. There are also accusations that the play is an attack on prejudice. To fully understand the play and the controversy surrounding it, we must research into anti-Semitism in it's historical context:- Anti-Semitic views have existed for centuries. An early act of anti-Semitism occurred in England in the 13th century when Jews were accused on many trumped up charges of killing children. Massacres of Jews occurred and eventually, in 1290, the entire Jewish community was expelled from England and were not allowed to return