How would a modern audience respond to Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'

How would a modern audience respond to Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'? A modern audience would respond to Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice' differently to the early 1600s audience because the play is meant to be comedy. The first audience would laugh and a modern audience wouldn't because the language is difficult to understand as many words have changed. Main differences would be would be the vocabulary and terms used in the 17th century. 'Launcelot says ' turn up your right hand at the next turning, but at the next turning of all on your left, marry at the very next turning turn of no hand, but turn down indirectly to the Jews house.' There is just a slight difficulty in understanding the play for the modern audience, but this would not pose a problem in understanding a delightful play such as 'The Merchant of Venice'. The main themes of 'The Merchant of Venice' are racism, revenge and love. Racism is towards Jews i.e. Shylock mainly because he has money and is of a different religion. As many people of different religions in that period were called unbelievers. Signs of racism are seen when Antonio spits on Shylock's gabardine and calls him 'cut throat dog.' Shylock couldn't do anything because Christians had different rights to Jews at that time. When Bassanio wanted to borrow 3000 ducats from Antonio to woo Portia, but Antonio's money is overseas, so

  • Word count: 1685
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does the Extract from Act II Scene I, reveal Iago's aggressive, bitter and devious nature.

How does the Extract from Act II Scene I, reveal Iago's aggressive, bitter and devious nature. Iago's devious wishes, aggressive manner and bitter nature demonstrate his devilish character. His behaviour in this extract shows us his negative traits, which we have seen in previous scenes. The extract begins with Iago silencing Roderigo to be silent, like a child. Showing us his aggressive and domineering manner: "Let thy soul be instructed" This reminds Roderigo that he is in control of the conversation. It is as if he is implying that he shouldn't speak unless spoken to. His aggressive manner continues as he begins to attack Othello. He claims Othello won Desdemona's heart by "prating" and saying "Fantastical lies". The aggressive tone he has when speaking about Othello suggests his bitterness. He is quite jealous and surprised that Desdemona would marry "the Moor". He then goes on to call Othello the "devil", which he has done in the past. This is very ironic as it is he who is processes devilish characteristics. He goes further by saying that once Desdemona has had enough of sleeping with Othello she will want something fresh, young and beautiful all the qualities that Othello seems to lack according to him. Not only does he critics Othello here but also Desdemona. Here he implies that she is fickle and unable to stay faithful. This can show us his bitterness

  • Word count: 1073
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Explore the ways in which act 3 scene 4 prepare the audience for the tragic ending of the play. (Romeo and Juliet)

Explore the ways in which act 3 scenes 4 and 5 prepare the audience for the tragic ending of the play. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. The play is about a Young Couple who disastrously die in the end. The couple's families are in an everlasting feud which leads up to the two lover's deaths. In the prologue of Romeo and Juliet William Shakespeare describes the couple as a "Pair of star cross'd lovers" which implies that the couple where fooling themselves and that there was no way they could have been together because of their families differences. Throughout the set scenes .Shakespeare has made sure to add in many images of death leading to the end, which again helps prepare the audience for the tragedy that lies to come. Also, to prepare the audience for the tragic ending of the play there are several premonitions of the future in the characters speeches through out the set scenes. Romeo and Juliet is a play split up into two parts, each part with opposite moods. Romantic and drastic. The beginning of the play, where the characters are happy, everything is going accordingly, Romeo and Juliet meet, grasp their love of each other, Friar Laurence marries the lovers. The mood is happy and romantic. As for the second part which is leading up to the ending, Romeo leaves Verona, Juliet is told she is to marry Paris, she then drinks a potion which

  • Word count: 2519
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What characteristics, other than ambition led to the downfall of Macbeth?

G.C.S.E Shakespeare assignment on Macbeth What characteristics, other than ambition led to the downfall of Macbeth? During this essay I will be assessing the characteristics of Macbeth which brought about his downfall and eventually led to his death. It could be argued that because of his ambition it would inevitably lead to his fall downfall and ultimately his death but there are other factors that contributed to it. Within this essay I will address these points and make clear how they affected him. These characteristics collectively had helped Macbeth to become the man he was hence steered him to the direction of his death. Macbeth has a long list of respectable qualities which had helped him to become the good man he was before the factor of greed had clouded his thoughts and consequently made him become the opposite of what he was. The qualities that Macbeth possessed were many and these were characteristics including bravery, loyalty, honesty and morality. However a majority of these virtues had dissolved as soon as he had been enlightened by the witch who had foretold the future. It could be argued that what would have been Macbeth's fate if he had or hadn't listened to the witches, but never the less he captivated himself with the possible outcome. Therefore he had taken matters into his own hands and adapted himself to the information from the witches and reacted

  • Word count: 1970
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What do you find most dramatically effective and interesting about the supernatural in 'Macbeth' as a play todayand in the time it was performed?

What do you find most dramatically effective and interesting about the supernatural in 'Macbeth' as a play today and in the time it was performed? During the reign of James I witchcraft was strongly believed in by many people, and an Act was drafted by the Parliament in 1563, saying that murdering by witchcraft was punishable by death, therefore the public believed strongly that witches had magical powers and accepting that they existed. In 1604 another Act, similar to the first, was drafted declaring that anybody found guilty of practising witchcraft was to be executed, so the laws against witchcraft became stronger and the belief also grew stronger. There are many interesting sections in Macbeth which could be concentrated on, due to the suspense and the involvement of the supernatural. The use of the supernatural in the witches, the visions, the ghost, and the apparitions is a key element in making the concept of the play work and in making the play interesting In the first scene of 'Macbeth', the three witches or the weird sisters are waiting on a heath for Macbeth. It opens with thunder and lightning in the background instantly creating an atmosphere of evil, and that something interesting or scary is about to happen. The first characters that the audience encounter are the three witches, this is a very strange opening scene as it is probably not what the audience

  • Word count: 4214
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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In this commentary, I will be writing about the different linguistic features of the first two chapters of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon.

Joseph Coyle 6E4 Commentary on Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time In this commentary, I will be writing about the different linguistic features of the first two chapters of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time" by Mark Haddon. The use of pictures, in the first two chapters tells us a lot about the narrator of the book, an 11 year old boy with Asperger's syndrome. For example, at the start of chapter 3, there are four sets of pictures. According to the narrator, these pictures help him to identify which mood people who talk to him are in and also, which emotions they are displaying. He says they were given to him by Siobhan, his carer as a way to help him understand. The pictures may represent how he actually sees other people, merely as blank faces, with either a clear happy or sad expression or just confusion. The faces do not have personalities or characters - the factors that would normally make us feel emotion towards other people - they are simply featureless symbols of humanity. The encircled page numbers could represent to Christopher a structure, something that is easily understood, and not liable to confusion. Grammatically, this is a child's book, with a very intriguing story, perhaps more suited to older readers. For example, he uses very short and simple sentences, which seem suited to him because according to him further on in the

  • Word count: 1157
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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A detailed commentary on both passages, with a discussion of different possible interpretations

A detailed commentary on both passages, with a discussion of different possible interpretations Word Count: 1194 words. This was submitted to us as a A-Level (Age 17-18) essay. Subject areas: Music, English : Literature In Act 1 Scene 3 of Othello, we have soliloquies from both Othello and Iago showing their inner feelings, and goes deeper into Iago's character. Firstly, we have Othello's soliloquy towards the Duke. This is prompted by Brabantio's accusation that Othello has stolen his daughter, Desdemona, by use of spells and potions bought from charlatans. The duke is initially eager to take Brabantio's side, but he becomes more sceptical when he learns that Othello is the man accused. The duke gives Othello the chance to speak for himself. Othello admits that he married Desdemona, but he denies having used magic to woo her and claims that Desdemona will support his story. He says that "her father loved me; oft invited me", explaining that Brabantio frequently invited him to his house. Othello then continues that Brabantio "still question'd me the story of my life from year to year", saying that Brabantio oft questioned him about his remarkable life story, full of harrowing battles, travels outside the civilized world, and dramatic reversals of fortune. Othello vividly describes these events to the Duke and tells tales of "hair-breadth scapes i' the imminent deadly

  • Word count: 1238
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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An Exploration of how Shakespeare shows the Development of Juliet, with specific reference to Act 1,

An Exploration of how Shakespeare shows the Development of Juliet, with specific reference to Act 1, Scene 1, Act 2, Scene 2 and Act 4, scene 3. One of the most interesting things about this character is the way Shakespeare shows her development from a young, rather childlike girl to a mature and independent woman who takes full control of her life. Romeo and Juliet is a love story and it is the power of love that propels this change in Juliet. The first time you see Juliet is when her mother, Lady Capulet, wants to talk to her. This is the first time you see the relationship between mother and daughter is different to a normal mother and daughter relationship today. "Nurse, where is my daughter? Call her forth to me". This shows Lady Capulet doesn't want to get Juliet herself. This could be because Lady Capulet and Juliet rarely talk resulting in them feeling uncomfortable around each other. "Madam, I am here, what is your will". This is the response Juliet uses when talking to her mother. Using the word madam instead of mother shows the relationship is formal between mother and daughter. Also using the phrase "what is your will" shows Juliet is expecting her mother to give her a command as she is used to getting told what to do. This shows the relationship between Lady Capulet and her daughter Juliet treat each other like they have just met and as Juliet is the younger

  • Word count: 1416
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Using Act 3 Sc 5 as a focus examine the role of Lord Capulet in 'Romeo and Juliet'.

Using Act 3 Sc 5 as a focus examine the role of Lord Capulet in 'Romeo and Juliet' Capulet's severe attitude in the play 'Romeo and Juliet' keeps the story line intense, sharp and snappy. His actions in the play add to the dramatic themes of disorder, love and fate. Juliet's innocence with Capulet's experience mix to make a curious tension filled relationship between them. Also you see how the actions of a patriarchal society have upon Juliet and Lady Capulet. Lady Capulet's mistreatment in the play is linked to the high status of Capulet and shows he's superior, mainly because in a patriarchal society he is in change, what he says goes and women are inferior. Their marriage is based purely on status and wealth rather then the true reason of marriage that of love. This is in contrast to the genuine love shown between Romeo and Juliet. Lord Capulet is a wealthy man, head of the Capulet house. He is a man of considerable status other respect him and mostly obey him. He is a man of power, second only to the Prince. People are wary of Lord Capulet as they know he is power and can carry out evil tasks as shown by the many brawls caused by the 'ancient grudge' with the Montague's. His own marriage to lady Capulet seems solid, but obviously not based on love. They married young and had children young at the age of thirteen as Lady Capulet informs Juliet whist discussing the

  • Word count: 1553
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Comparing the Portrayals of the Villains from "Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Speckled Band"

Comparing the Portrayals of the Villains from "Tell-Tale Heart" and "The Speckled Band" The two villains in "Tell-Tail Heart" and "The Speckled Band" both have similarities and differences in their portrayals of murder, conveyed in the stories. They have disparities between motives and methods of murder, although there is a resemblance in the masterminds of murder. The villain in "The Speckled Band", Dr. Grimsby Roylott was married to Mrs. Stoner in India who is prosperous with her wealth, but she had died in a train crash and bequeathed the sum of £1000 to Dr. Roylott. This money was enough to fulfil the family's needs as they moved into an old ancestral house in Stoke Moran. Roylott unfortunately in dismay fears that the family will deteriorate into financial decline as his step- daughters will be leading their lives through marriage. It was an unmanageable situation for Dr. Roylott to elucidate this matter. He was inconceivable to murder his step daughter, Julia Stoner with his knowledge of deadly snakes in an ambitious attempt to stop her, despite the fact that his motive was reason enough to keep him focused. Dr. Roylott had planned to target his next victim, Helen Stoner. It was only then that Sherlock Holmes intervened and impeded his plan. Edgar Allan Poe delineates a murderer's mind thoroughly as it is the murderer who relates the story to us. He commits a murder

  • Word count: 1436
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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