In this essay I will be considering the meeting between Antonio and Shylock, and show how the language and delivery is combined to indicate the relationship between these two characters.

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By Sajeel Liaqat                13/07/07

In  this essay I will be considering the meeting between Antonio and Shylock, and show how the language and delivery is combined to indicate the relationship between these two characters.

The Merchant of Venice was written in 1596-97 by William Shakespeare. It is a play about a young person named Bassanio. He wishes to marry Portia, a very wealthy Heiness but hasn’t got enough money to woo her. Bassanio asks his best friend Antonio for 3000 Ducats. He already owes him enough money but Antonio is ready to lend him the money. All of Antonio’s ships are busy, therefore he hasn’t got the money. So he goes to another Jewish money lender/unsurer Shylock for a loan. Shylock, who hates Antonio because he is a Christian who publicly insulted Shylock, he spat on him for being a Jew. Shylock agrees to pay Antonio the money but if Antonio doesn’t return the money in three months to Shylock, he will be allowed to take 1 pound of Antonio’s flesh from any part of his body. Antonio agrees to it even though Bassanio says he shouldn’t. Bassanio and two other guys are asked to choose from 3 boxes, lead, gold and silver. Bassanio chooses the lead box, so he is able to marry Portia. But Antonio isn’t able to pay Shylock back in three months, so Shylock takes him to the court and he wants to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh. He is stopped by Portia dressed up as a lawyer. She says that Shylock can take a pound of flesh but is not allowed to spill any blood of Antonio’s body. This is the summary of Act 1 Scene of Merchant of Venice.

In the Elizabethan times, William Shakespeare made the characters stereotype of Jews and Christians. Therefore the audience expects hatred between Jews and Christians, they may be expecting a death. Since Jesus was betrayed by the Jews, Christians and Jews have been hating each other. That is why Jews were not allowed to own properties. They had to wear red hats and red clothes. They were spat on them, publicly insulted and they were also thrown in the river while being alive. The Jews was seen as the agents of Devil. They had to live in houses away from Christians because they didn’t like each other.

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Shylock is introduced very differently to us by William Shakespeare. He always uses the word “well” at the end of the sentences he used. William Shakespeare wrote “Antonio shall become bound, well” “Three thousand ducats, well” “For three months, well.” The repetition of the word “well” tells us slightly that he is planning to do something. Shylock does not want to make any mistake about lending the money. Shakespeare has made Shylock a extreme stereotype of a Jew meaning that the most bad stereotype of Jews and Christians. Shakespeare wrote “If I can catch him once upon the ...

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