Do you consider Shylock is being portrayed as the victim or the villain in The Merchant of Venice?
Do you consider Shylock is being portrayed as the victim or the villain in The Merchant of Venice? The Merchant of Venice, deals with issues that have as much of a relevance, if not more, in today's society than they did in the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century: money, discrimination and love between people that aren't supposed to fall in love. Attitudes in the sixteenth century towards Jews meant that any Jewish character would have been expected to conform to a stereotype, like Marlowe's Barabas in The Jew of Malta, a conventional comic play. Somebody in today's audience, would see Shylock's character flicker between being seen as a villain and being seen as a victim throughout the play, whereas people in the Elizabethan era and for at least 200 years after, would have seen Christianity as the superior religion and therefore Shylock would almost always be portrayed as a villain. Structurally speaking, The Merchant of Venice is technically a comedy, but the way in which the initially typical, evil character, in this case Shylock, can be seen to be victimised on several occasions throughout the play makes it something of a problem play. If Shakespeare had stuck more rigidly to the conventions of a typical comedy's plot, then it would follow a storyline less like to be interpreted as having tragic elements. The other characters in the play also have more ambiguous
The Merchant of Venice - WilliamShakespeare - Discuss the presentation of Shylock's character.
The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare Discuss the Presentation of Shylock's character. The play "the Merchant of Venice" discusses many different aspects of life, such as Venice being an envied country, the development of banking in the 16th century and, of course, the life of a Jew in Shakespearian times. The Jew, Shylock, is displayed as both a villain and a victim, although the audience feel little sympathy for him. Shakespeare uses the word "dog" to show us that Shylock was thought of as lowly and had little or no respect. In Shakespeare's time, Venice was seen as a trading capital, and was greatly rivalled by England. However, Venice was really in decline as a powerful state, but because it was still in itself a very beautiful and wealthy looking city it attracted many tourists and foreigners of many races. Venice was Europe's most important trade link with the West Indies and the surrounding land. They would receive cargos of silk and spices and then pass them on to other European countries. When Shakespeare wrote about Venice, there would have been a lot of interest in the play simply because of the fact that the title includes the name Venice. Venice was also known as the pleasure capital of Europe, especially in sexual tolerance. The Venetian courtesans had a terrible reputation and were infamous all over Europe. They were very austere and spent most of
Feelings and opinions concerning different characters from the play 'The Merchant of Venice'.
Feelings and opinions concerning different characters from the play 'The Merchant of Venice' As we read Shakespeare's comedy play 'The Merchant of Venice' we experience different emotions towards different characters at different times. This is deliberate on Shakespeare's part throughout the play. One of the characters we feel most strongly about is Jessica, Shylock's daughter. When she enters the play in Act II Scene III, she immediately makes the audience feel sympathy towards her because of her situation. Although she herself wants to leave home, her father is forcing her into going. In this short scene there is much talk of 'Jewishness' from which we conclude that Jessica is ashamed of her ancestry. As the audience has already met Shylock and know his character, it's first impressions of Jessica may be that she has had an unhappy childhood. In line 17, Jessica says, "To be ashamed to be my father's child". Shylock is portrayed as a lone figure in the play, underlined by the fact that even his own daughter is ashamed of him. We feel sympathy for Jessica in this speech. At the end of Act II Scene V, Jessica exclaims to herself "Farewell, and if my fortune not be crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost" - a rhyming couplet is used to add more emphasis to the statement, basically saying that Shylock has lost his daughter. It is at this point that Jessica,
Analysis of Act IV scene 1, in three different versions of The Merchant Of Venice
ENGLISH COURSEWORK SHAKESPEARE'S THE MERCHANT OF VENICE David Burns Year 12 INTRODUCTION The three versions of the Merchant of Venice which I have watched are: . Channel 4 television version for their Schools Broadcasting Programmes 2. Trevor Nunn's version 3. National Theatre Company version directed by Jonathan Miller and starring Laurence Olivier as Shylock Act IV scene 1 is an intense scene in the play where we see many of the play's main themes such as justice and mercy, money and status, revenge, loyalty, love and prejudice and tolerance. Shakespeare presents a harsh character in Shylock the Jew, but the fact that he also gives him the chance to speak more than any other European playwright preceding him would suggest that his portrayal is not conventional but much more complex for example in his words in Act III scene 1, lines 57-58: "I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions?" Much of Shakespeare's enduring appeal has been in his amazing portrayal of the complexities of the human condition for example Hamlet or Macbeth. Traditionally Jews were the evil villains of Elizabethan drama, frequently Machiavellian or greedy but unlike his contemporaries Shakespeare's characters were never simply 'good' or 'evil' but embody the complex mix within each of us that makes us human. The main dilemma in staging this play today is in
Direct Act 4 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's - 'The Merchant of Venice'
Direct Act 4 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' "I hate him for he is a Christian" (Act 1 Scene 3, line 34). This quote tells me a lot about Shylock's true character, which would help me to direct Act 4 Scene 1 of Shakespeare's play - A Merchant of Venice. This is the aim of my essay. Act 4 Scene 1 is very important, both within Act 4, and within the play as a whole. Act 4 is the act in which Antonio and Shylock's trial takes place and Antonio's life is saved. Scene 1 shows the trial and is the main and longest scene in the act. The Merchant of Venice is a play with many themes. It shows religious conflict - between Judaism (represented by Shylock) and Christianity (the general population of the play), money and friendship in the form of Bassanio's loan, and the thin line between justice and revenge. The Play starts in Venice, with Bassanio trying to borrow money from Antonio, so that he can marry Portia of Belmont. Portia meanwhile, is putting her potential suitors to the test that her father set for them shortly before his death. She does not want to marry any of them, and is just starting to tell of her feelings for Bassanio when interrupted. Antonio agrees to take a 3000 ducat loan from Shylock (the Jewish money lender), as he has his boats for security, whereas Bassanio has nothing. However the condition on the loan, due to Shylock's hate for Antonio
Belmont is a place of youth, happiness and concord, Venice a place of age, melancholy and strife.
"Belmont is a place of youth, happiness and concord, Venice a place of age, melancholy and strife." To what extent do you agree with this statement with particular reference to Act 1 Scenes i and ii, Act 3 Scene ii and Act 4 Scene i. Shakespeare sets "The Merchant of Venice", in two very contrasting settings of Venice and Belmont. Venice is the city of the merchants; it symbolizes money, business, men and hate. Belmont is a magical town which Shakespeare created to symbolise women, happiness, poetry and love. Shakespeare uses this juxtaposition to give a dramatic effect on the audience and he uses the places to introduce various contrasting themes and emotions. In Shakespeare's time, to set the play in two very different settings was particularly radical and innovative because of the traditions of theatre set by Greek unities. It was simply not possible to show too much on the stage and so the audience would have come to 'hear the play', rather than to see it. By focusing closely upon language differences to show character or setting Shakespeare broke the rules of unity, which had been revived in the Renaissance period. The characteristics of Venice are shown as that of strife, age and melancholy and those of Belmont as a place of happiness and concord. Initially, these places seem to fit the title's descriptions and Shakespeare shows how the places oppose each other.
In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock can be seen as a gentle Jew and/or an inexecrable dog. Analyse and explore Shakespeare's presentation of his character.
In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock can be seen as a gentle Jew and/or an inexecrable dog. Analyse and explore Shakespeare's presentation of his character. It is a sad fact that people are scared of anything that seems 'abnormal', anything that they can't or refuse to comprehend. A majority of people mistrusted different skin colour, language or religions in Elizabethan times. The Jews in Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' are no exception. They are also hated, despised and persecuted. For this reason, you have to ask the question, is Shakespeare anti-Semitic? Or does he simply pity Shylock? Why, if he is anti-Semitic, did he make Shylock such a strong character? Why did he allow us to see the human side of Shylock? I intend to examine whether it was Shakespeare's intention to use this stereotype in 'The Merchant of Venice' or if he was trying to show the softer side of Shylock, and allow him to be seen as a human being. Shakespeare, when 'The Merchant of Venice' was written, was competing with another playwright, Christopher Marlowe, and his play, 'The Jew of Malta'. In this play the Jew, Barabas, is treated as totally evil, a thoroughly villainous ogre. In comparison, Shylock has a few redeeming qualities and is allowed to be seen as humane. The dramatic origins of the stereotype Jew would have been influenced by Marlowe's play and also from the historical and social
Shakespeare - Is Shylock villain or victim In
Course Work - Unit 3 Shakespeare Is Shylock villain or victim? In "The Merchant of Venice" Shakespeare confronts a considerable issue of his time, known as Anti Semitism. "Shylock", his stereotypical Jew lends money to a Christian in an agreement that flesh would be cut from the Christian's body, should it not be paid. Looking at the history of Jews in England, it is evident that Jews were persecuted and murdered up until 1290, when Jews were expelled from the country. Jews were treated with strong disrespect because of their alternative religious beliefs, their financial status and because of their ways of living. One can safely assume that Shakespeare never actually met a Jew, as Jews had been expelled three and a half centuries before he lived. Therefore the stereotypically evil character of the Jew was merely a myth, passed down through the generations. Shakespeare obviously intended on demonising the Jew of his play, making Shylock an outcast to the community of Venice. In England in the 16th Century, with the absence of Jews, a popular negative image was created for them. Just as, today, we may imagine aliens to be estranged to us, enemy to us, and possibly even dangerous; the Jews were as good as aliens to England four hundred years ago. There were no Jews around to defend such a bad name, and so their awarded reputation worsened to stereotype the Jew as a
Is the treatment of shylock justified in
Is the treatment of shylock justified? Introduction. The play I have been studying is called "The Merchant Of Venice". This play was written in the early 1590's, and was first performed in 1596. William Shakespeare wrote "The Merchant Of Venice". There are many possible influences that inspired William Shakespeare to write "The Merchant of Venice". There are four strands to the story, which are; The caskets; the winning of Portia hand in marriage. The elopement; Jessica and Lorenzo The rings; a love test The bond; Shylock and the pound of flesh The four strands in the play are not any of Shakespeare's own inventions or ideas. The bond between shylock and Antonio was based on an Italian story "Il Pecorone" (the idiot). The Italian story could have influenced Shakespeare in the writing of his play. What also influenced Shakespeare in his writing is the hugely successful play called "Jew of Malta" which was written by Christopher Marlow, in which a stereotypical wicked Jew performed all kinds of outrage. I also think that DR Lopez (Jewish doctor) who had been executed for theoretically trying to poison Queen Elizabeth. There has always been hatred of Jews since the Romans took over their country, which was Israel. At first the Romans allowed then their religious freedom but later tried to crush the Jewish faith and culture. This persecution led many Jews to seek new
Discuss the view that 'The Merchant of Venice' is a comedy with tragic possibilities.
Discuss the view that 'The Merchant of Venice' is a comedy with tragic possibilities. I consider The Merchant of Venice as a comedy with tragic possibilities mostly due to the melancholy ending which leaves the reader thinking whether what happened during the play could be considered morally good or not. Aristotle produced the first ideas about what a tragic and comic play were. Shakespeare altered this slightly but the Shakespearean model is still pretty much identical. I would define a comedy as everything a tragedy is not. In a tragedy all of the main action happens in one day and in that day there must be a revolution. Most of the time, the main character, or the tragic hero, is of noble birth or of high status so that when they die, which they most likely will, they fall far. This makes us feel sympathetic to the character. This happens as we let ourselves go through a, "willing suspension of belief" during the play, which makes us basically get emotionally involved in the play even though we know that the play is not real. A tragic play, because of this willing suspension of belief, excites the emotions of pity and fear. Pity is a synonym of sympathy and fear is felt due to the fact that we wonder what it would be like for us to be in that position and we are fearful of it. Catharsis, an idea of Aristotle which the audience feel they are watching the play. It is like