Discuss the importance of the trial scene as part of Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice
Discuss the importance of the trial scene as part of Shakespeares play The Merhant of Venice The trial scene is a very important scene in The Merchant of Venice. The secen is the most dramatic and tense scene in the play. The audience are unable to anticipate the outcome as ther are so many dramatic twists and developments. The trial scene is very important to the play as it develops many of the most important themes in the play, justice, mercy and revenge. The story of the trial could also have been describing the Christian society at the time. Shylock believes that he is in the right from the start of the scene. He is waiting for the law to confirm that he is in the right. "I stand here for law." The Christians wan to deny him the "pound of fair flesh." However "no lawful means" can carry Antonio out of the situation. He has givern up as he feels that there is no law that can save him, he is left "to suffer quietness of spirit." When Portia enters the scene she appears to recognise law and shylock compliments her for this "o wise young judge, how do I honour thee." Shylock is ready to commit the deed and it appears as though the bond is going to go through when Portia asks Antonio to "lay bare his breast." However Portia suddenly "Tary a little there is something else." Portia stands to change the direction of the law. "One drop of Christian blood" and the "laws of Venice
Is Shylock More sinned than sinning?
Is Shylock a man more sinned against than sinning? I believe that Shylock is more sinned against than sinning. He suffers a great number of injustices because he was a Jew, and also because of his occupation as a userer who lends money out with interest. Shylock is treated unfairly and is ostracised because of the fact that he is a Jew. For example, Shylock is called a "dog Jew" by the other characters and spat upon by Autonio. When his daughter and money goes missing and he walks down the street, lamenting, the children on the streets follow him around, mimicking him. This tells us that the people of Venice learn to discrimination against Jews at a very young age. In Act 2, we can see the degree of discrimination against Shylock, that even his daughter runs away from him, betraying her father and religion. Even the law of Venice discriminates against Jews. The law states that if a non-christian spills even a drop of Christian blood, the non-christian will be sentenced to death. This shows that the law favors and protects the Christians more than Jews, displaying obvious bias. Shylock is also discriminated against due to his occupation as a usurer, lending out money with interest. The Christians did not believe in lending money with interest, and thus they shunned him, feeling that he did not make an honest living. Due to the inhuman treatment that Shylock receives, it is
Villain or Victim
Villain or Victim? What impressions of Shylock are you left with at the end of Act 1 scene 3? In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is an important character in the play who is well known for money lending. The one thing that caused controversy in the play was the fact that he was Jew which left many people with different views on him. Whether he's a Villain or a Victim. Bassanio is the character in the play which wants to borrow money from Shylock. Shylock is made out to be a villain here for many reasons. He makes a meal of lending the money, deliberately keeping Bassanio wait for a decision to prolong the agony. He also sees it as an opportunity to get his own back on Antonio as he uses the forfeit of a pound of flesh not as a joke but as a clever way of putting his enemy at a disadvantage. Shylock takes great pleasure in discomforting Antonio and Bassanio. He hides his real intentions behind his friendliness and reconciliation. On the other hand, he has been an object of racial and religious intolerance at the hands of Antonio, a Christian, and subjected to physical and verbal abuse by him simply being a Jew. He has also had his profession as a money-lender trashed by Antonio, who, because he doesn't use lending money to make a profit, views those who do as unscrupulous and sinful. Even though Shylock has behaved badly in the situation, the Christian's own behaviour
history ILP week 3
Poem. How could you do this to another human being? the same flesh, blood skin and bones. put them through all that pain and suffering. then getting rid of all the bodys with no care at all? this is because they were a Jew. museum. museums are good to help students wanting to learn about a certain time period or person they are good to interest people in life in the holocaust and to give facts to the public.