How Does William Shakespeare Create and Sustain Tension in the Trial Scene of "The Merchant of Venice"? What would be the Response of an Audience to the Portrayal of Shylock's Character in this Scene?
Anthony Blakemore How Does William Shakespeare Create and Sustain Tension in the Trial Scene of "The Merchant of Venice"? What would be the Response of an Audience to the Portrayal of Shylock's Character in this Scene? Written sometime between 1596 and 1598, The Merchant of Venice is classified as both an early Shakespearean comedy (more specifically, as a "Christian comedy") and as a problem play; it is a work in which good triumphs over evil, but serious themes are examined and some issues remain unresolved. Before Shakespeare¹s time and during his boyhood, troupes of actors performed wherever they could in halls, courts, courtyards, and any other open spaces available. However, in 1574, when Shakespeare was ten years old, the Common Council passed a law requiring plays and theatres in London to be licensed. In 1576, actor and future Lord Chamberlain's Man, James Burbage, built the first permanent theatre called "The Theatre", outside London city walls. After this many more theatres were established, including the Globe Theatre, which was where most of Shakespeare's plays premiered. "The Merchant of Venice" is about 2 Friends who are merchants - Antonio and Bassanio, Bassanio has fell in love with a rich maiden - Portia, and she has also fell in love with him. However, when Portia's Father died, he left a pact that Portia could only marry a person if they choose the
Discuss Shakespeare's portrayal of the Trial scene in "The Merchant of Venice".
Discuss Shakespeare's portrayal of the Trial scene in "The Merchant of Venice" "The Merchant of Venice" is a play based around the conflicts of religion and of justice and morality. It relates fundamentally to specifically Jews in a Christian society. Jews have been segregated from society and massacred throughout the centuries, but in Shakespeare's day as long as they outwardly conformed to Christianity no particular hostility was shown to them. Many were in fact forced to convert to Christianity as the Christians saw this as merciful. The Merchant of Venice shows how hard it was for a Jew to make a good life for himself and be respected. Even the title shows how much prejudice there was at the time. The play is based around Shylock (a Jew) and yet it is named after Antonio (a Christian), who doesn't play as big a part as Shylock. This is most likely because people wouldn't want to see a play about a Jew; they weren't seen as important enough. However, plays about Jews were becoming popular, as Marlowe had written a play called "The Jew of Malta" which dealt with stereotypical views of Jews - hooked nose etc. It shows a Jew (Barabas) as being thoroughly evil, but Shakespeare doesn't really treat on that idea. He shows us how Shylock is a human being who had himself been wronged. In Shakespeare's time what Shylock was doing (lending money) was frowned upon. Trade
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
"Shylock is a two dimensional villain who does not deserve our sympathy" To what degree do you agree with the statement?
"Shylock is a two dimensional villain who does not deserve our sympathy" To what degree do you agree with the statement? The above statement makes two main assumptions about Shylock. One is that Shylock is a two-dimensional villain, a man who is a stereotypical, one-sided man with no true motive for his actions. This assumption also implies that Shylock is extremely superficial, an supposition that we strongly disagree. The second assumption is that Shylock does not deserve our sympathy as although he is not superficial, what he has done has outweighed all senses of morality. In this, we agree to a certain extent only. Pertaining to the first assumption, Shylock is not a one-sided, superficial villain but has actually two sides: one of a comic villain that invokes our dislike, and the other as the helpless victim of the Christians. Most of the time, Shakespeare portrays Shylock as cruel and mean, the most striking example being Shylock's reaction after his discovery of Jessica's eloping with an enemy and the theft of his belongings. His seemingly pure hatred of his daughter can be seen from `"I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear!" Act 3, Scene 1. This portrayal of a Jew for Christians and readers to rightfully ridicule and hate is further emphasized when Shylock laments about his money along with his daughter, as can be seen from `My daughter!
Merchant of Venice - my plot synopsis. Antonios friend, Bassanio, tells Antonio that he needed money so that he can seek the wealthy Portia's hand in marriage. Antonio then, offers Bassanio 3,000 ducats to help him out.
Merchant of Venice In the beginning of the novel of Merchant of Venice, the story starts out with the main character Antonio, who is a merchant. He feels very sad but does not know why. He complains to his friends Solanio and Solario about his depression, but does not know how to explain it. Solanio and Salerio try to cheer him up, but it was no use. Antonio's friend, Bassanio, tells Antonio that he needed money so that he can seek the wealthy Portia's hand in marriage. Antonio then, offers Bassanio 3,000 ducats to help him out. Currently, Portia is at Belmont, and tells her servant Nerissa that she fears a suitor she dislikes will pursue her hand in marriage. Because of her father's will, the suitor must go through a test, which is to choose the correct chest of three chests (gold, silver, and lead), and then, if correct, he may marry Portia. She doesn't like any of the six suitors that she has been offered, but wishes that Bassanio would come and choose the correct chest. Bassanio convinces the merchant Shylock the Jew to lend him 3000 ducats, with Antonio putting up his property as the bond, which is a pound of flesh. Although Shylock hates Antonio, he lends the money anyway, hoping Antonio bail out and redeem himself. Antonio, though, has confidence that one of his boats will come to port one month before the three month deadline. The Moroccan prince arrives at
"Analyse the presentation and dramatic contribution of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice"
Shakespeare coursework The essay question is "Analyse the presentation and dramatic contribution of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice" What basically happens in the play is that Bassanio needs to borrow some money from Antonio, but Antonio will have to borrow it from Shylock lends him the money with a bond which means if Antonio doesn't pay him back in 3 months from that day hence, Shylock can take a pound of Antonio's flesh from wherever pleases him most. Jessica Shylock's daughter elopes and Bassanio gets married to Portia because he chose the right casket. 3 months later Antonio's ships have apparently sunk and he can't pay back Shylock, Shylock intend to kill Antonio as revenge for how he has been treated by Antonio and friends. Shylock seems to get his bond but at the last second he can't because he will have to draw blood, and he cannot have blood just the flesh, so Shylock takes the money, but is punished for some reason by having to convert to Christianity whilst all his wealth going to Lorenzo upon his death. Something about rings and the end. The main argument and points concerning how Shylock is presented and what his dramatic contributions are is he is what a stereotypical Jew in Elizabethan times were said to be like. In Elizabethan times Jews were widely hated by most if not all non-Jewish people. They were the scapegoat for many of the problems in the world.
The Merchant of Venice- William Shakespeare.
The Merchant of Venice - William Shakespeare This play incorporates themes of racial hatred and prejudice. Examine the attitudes of Portia, Antonio and Shylock. Explain in detail how Shakespeare used these attitudes to create different dramatic effects. Attitudes and social conventions have changed since Shakespeare's time. In what ways has this altered our perception of these three characters and our reactions to them? Throughout the play various themes of racial hatred and prejudice are incorporated. The attitudes of Portia, Antonio, Shylock and others amplify this. These attitudes are used by Shakespeare to create different dramatic effects. Our perception of these three characters has changed since Shakespeare's time, this due to the change in attitudes and social conventions. Throughout the play Portia shows a range of examples of racial discrimination and hatred. She does this while she also being prejudiced against, she is prejudiced against because of her female gender. Portia showed racial discrimination and hatred toward her potential international marriage partners. Portia passes comments on a Moroccan Prince, where she states that she would simple refuse to marry the man because of skin colour and race. "If he have the condition of a saint, and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me." I believe this disregard and racial
Coursework Essays on The Merchant of Venice
Year 9 Coursework Essays on The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare has a great ability to portrait a character in many different ways. He can make people have two characters. In the merchant of Venice, Shylock can be seen as an inhuman monster, a Jewish stereotype or a tragic figure whose senses decency has been fractured by the persecution he endures. It can be argued that Shylocks character undergoes a metamorphosis from villain to victim. However, in this essay I hope to discuss whether in fact Shylock can be defined as either villain or victim and to form an opinion of what Shakespeare intended. First we shall look at the aspects of the text that portray Shylock as a villain. We are first introduced to Shylock in Act I Scene iii where we learn of his usury. It is in this scene that Bassanio seeks Shylock out and asks to borrow money from him in Antonio's name. Also in this scene do we learn of Shylock's hatred for Antonio and the Christians: ' how like a fawning publican he looks! / I hate him for he is a Christian; ' (Act I Scene iii). Antonio and Bassanio have a feeling of hatred towards Shylock because it was fabricated that the Jews killed Christ and are therefore in league with the Devil. Shylock goes ahead with the bond because he wants Antonio to become indebted to him, not just with money but also with his life. Antonio is very naïve regarding the terms of the bond
Is Shylock a villain or victim of hissociety?
Is Shylock a villain or victim of his society? 'I am a Jew' a famous saying from Shylock in 'Merchant of Venice' that clarifies the merchant brotherhood of a wealthy city. 'Merchant of Venice' contains rascals and heroes. The audiences will soon realise that Shylock, the Jewish money lender, is shown as a villain within the wealthy city. Is this really what Shakespeare had intended? This testimony given proposes that Shylock is more of a deceitful character than what the Christian colony wants us to comprehend. In my essay I intend to explore if Shylock is really a villain or a victim of his society. Shylock is a Jew, which is why the Christians of Venice dislike him. This is shown by 'If it be proved against an alien' (Act 4 Scene 1 line 345) because in Shakespeare's time Jews were seen as outsiders within the city. This quotation shows that the Christians think the Jewish people are 'Cut-throat' and operate in a way the audience would not expect. Shakespeare's audience relate to him as an 'alien' because the Christians believe Jewish people were shown as evil people. The next point to why Shylock could be seen as a villain in the society is because he is shown as a Jewish money lender. This means Shylock makes money by adding interest to the money he loans to Christians. I know this because Shylock says 'He lends out money gratis, and brings down the rate of usance here
'Shylock deserves our sympathy, not our hostility.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?
Literature Essay 'Shylock deserves our sympathy, not our hostility.' To what extent do you agree with this statement? Use evidence from the text in support of your answer. Shylock is indeed a complex character and has the dimension of pain-he has suffered, still suffers and is one of a people who have suffered over centuries. However, to what extent should Shylock suffer and does he deserve our sympathy or hostility. Although anti-Semitism is totally unacceptable today, it was quite normal in Shakespeare's time. However, as he has done with other villains, Shakespeare actually plays around with his audience's preconceptions and makes Shylock an interesting, complex and sometimes likable character. Being a Jew in Christian dominated Venice, Shylock is persecuted by society. He is the victim of popular Christian prejudice, which scorns his religion and restricts his means of employment. He is left with no choice but to be a moneylender and earn his money from collecting interest. To the Christians, collecting interest was against their teaching. This is one of the reasons for the Christians hatred. In Act III scene I Salanio and Salarino confront Shylock, mocking him about his daughter's deception and insulting him. Shylock explains why he will take Antonio's flesh, making his famous speech, 'I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions,