How Is Dramatic Tension Created in the Trial Scene of 'the Merchant of Venice'?

In William Shakespeare 's revenge tragedy play Hamlet, the prevailing themes of revenge, madness, and morality were recognized by the Elizabethan audience and appealed to them. The play 's central focus is on a young prince, Hamlet, who has gone through many challenges to avenge his father 's death. Prince Hamlet got his revenge on his deceitful uncle, Claudius, the same man who murdered his father and married Hamlet 's mother. From the original text of the play, a major scene in Act 4 shows where Hamlet decides that it 's time for vengeance, expressing it in a soliloquy. This scene would have appealed to the Elizabethan audience because they would observe Hamlet 's thoughts. In addition, the soliloquy would have expanded on the theme of revenge, and how it would affect the final scene. Finally, by emphasizing the theme of morality in his speech, it would have the audience to make connections towards their own consciousness. Shakespeare 's Hamlet successfully targets the Elizabethan audience in Hamlet 's speech from Act IV.

Shakespeare uses numerous literary devices such as dramatic irony throughout the play. Even though all of these examples are different, they all share the same central idea. The central idea of these examples of dramatic irony is the love that Romeo and Juliet express towards each other. An example of dramatic irony from the play occurs towards the end of Act three. This is when Lady Capulet and Juliet discuss the conflict of Romeo and Tybalt. Lady Capulet thinks that Juliet is crying because Romeo killed Tybalt. Romeo killed Juliet’s cousin, after Tybalt had killed Romeo’s good friend Mercutio, right in front of him. However, it is evident to the audience that Juliet is crying over Romeo because he has been banished from Verona, for

In Act 4 Scene 1, Shakespeare employs numerous dramatic techniques to create a remarkable and memorable moment in the play. The techniques include: the positioning of the scene in the context of the play as a whole; the successful characterization of the key players, including Leonato, Claudio and Hero in particular; and the use of poetic and descriptive language.

As an audience member I became wrapped up in the process of the performance, how the actors delved into their characters, how this process was even allowed to happen behind the closed walls of a prison. These the interviewees had funny sides to them and were passionate about their performances, this was just a constant reminder of their humanity. So audiences grow attached to the people and the performance. Towards the end when we get a reminder of who these people are and the terrible things they have done we get thrown back into reality, Jack Hitt described it perfectly when he described it as a feeling of betrayal. Of course, the audience does not feel it as intensely as Hitt because as we knew them for an hour, Hitt had known the inmates for six months. As an audience we understand that there is a separation between the character and the actor but, “Act 5” shows us that the separation is not as extreme as previously thought. As an audience we get the chance to learn the how the inmates view themselves and their actions. The audience also sees the artistic process and gets to envelop themselves into the story of Hamlet and of the prisoners.

The play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ Shakespeare effectively engages the modern audience through the means of comedic conventions within themes and characters. Comedy conventions such as racial and cultural slurs don’t engage the audience as successfully as they did during the 16th century. Since then, our perceptions have changed because of the impacts of historic events. However, the use of double entendre and gender roles continue to amuse modern day audiences. The Merchant of Venice is classified as a problem play/comedy because it deals with contentious social issues between the characters on stage, who typically represent conflicting points of view within a realistic social context along with comedic conventions. Written by the illustrious William Shakespeare about a merchant of Venice who must default in a large loan provided by an abused Jewish moneylender. Shakespeare uses some of the fundamental aspects of society in conjunction with subtle comedic conventions in order to appeal to a modern audience.

For any play to be a successful the audience must be able to feel a connection with it, they must feel like they are not just an audience, but perhaps characters in the play itself. One way of making connections between the audience and the play is through speeches that target the audience. In the Play Hamlet by William Shakespeare, there are many examples of this technique of targeting the audience. One example that is very effect in doing this if found in a speech given by Hamlet in act IV, Scene 4. This speech makes many connections with the audience of the Elizabethan era, relating to their social, cultural, and economic values and perspectives. By touching on these topics the speech given by

The feminist critical perspective examines the roles that women play in literary works and their true significance to the text. Their roles are usually decided on by the society or time period in which the story is set. In "The Merchant of Venice," females were suppressed by the societal ideals of Shakespeare's Elizabethan era, which is portrayed through the characters of Portia and Jessica, who could not establish their own powerful identities because they were women. Portia and Jessica are the main female characters in the play. If they had been given a chance to show their skills, they undoubtedly would've been extremely strong women. However, they had to mask their abilities in order to appeal to their male counterparts. Their

Literary devices are frequently used throughout acts four and five of Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice. Some of the most prominent devices used on TMOF are dramatic irony, allusion and symbolism. These devices help further develop theme ingrained in the story such as marriage, deceive, wealth, and religion. The use of literary devices helps ensure the story transitions smoothly and is pleasant to the reader, it might also help in the comprehension of the story´s characters.

This shows how Shylock is shrewd, by playfully suggesting the forfeiture of the bond which is actually a cunning plan to murder Antonio with the law on his side.

This scene is important as it comes midway into the play, marking a turning point, that drives the action towards the tragic end. The scene opens with all three characters relaxed and in a playful mood, but there is an underlying tension that builds throughout the scene with an uneasy sense of insecurity, which is felt by the Duchess as she is aware that her brother has returned to court. The tension continues to increase, with the use of dramatic irony, where the audience is aware of information that the actors on stage do not have. The atmosphere soon shifts from a light hearted one to one of fear. The Duchess, Antonio

William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a perplexing story of dark humor, race, religion, identity, love, and justice. Generally, most people understand The Merchant of Venice as a comedy about a bitter and outcasted Jewish moneylender named Shylock who seeks revenge against a Christian merchant who has failed to pay his loan back. However, there are many different perspectives on whether The Merchant of Venice is a comedy or a tragedy depending on one’s views on the difference between race and religion. If one views the story as a comedy, it is a dark comedy full of many problems, especially the controversial subject matter of anti-Semitic attitudes of its Christian characters. If one views it as a tragedy, it is a tragedy that concludes with majority of its characters in a “happy ending”—that is if one agrees that Jessica’s decision of love over betraying her father and giving up her Jewish identity is indeed a happy ending.

Not only can women pretend to be men, therefore exhibit the commonly associated prestige; they can also exceed men’s capabilities. In the contraband letter, Bellario describes Balthasar (Portia in disguise) as a young man, but urges everyone in the court to "let his lack of years be no impediment" (IV i161) even though wisdom and keen sense are often associated with established adults. At first, Portia seems to support Shylock when she contemplates the case, so he remarks, "How much more elder art though than thy looks!" (IV i250). Portia’s looks are deceptive, but she is actually hiding her sex, not her age. Shylock is unknowingly amazed by a female’s intellect and continues to praise Portia repeatedly when he refers to her as a "noble", "wise and upright", "most rightful", and "most learned" judge (IV i245-303). After Portia shifts her argument to favor Antonio, Gratiano praises her in similar ways. Her intelligence astounds the court. In the final scene, Antonio, Bassanio, and Gratiano "are all amazed" (V i266) when Portia reveals the secret identities she and Nerissa took on. She proves that women can demonstrate more keen intellect than

Shakespeare has a difficult task entertaining the rowdy Elizabethan audience, especially during the exposition of the play, which sets up the entire plot. The audience needs to be engaged and invested in the play, otherwise many of the Elizabethan audience would throw food and furniture on stage or vandalize the theatre in response. Shakespeare employs a variety of techniques throughout the exposition of the play in order to do this, by creating tension between characters, introducing scandalous plots and unresolved issues right at the beginning of the play leaving the audience waiting for an answer. This essay will explore Shakespeare’s techniques and methods of engaging his Elizabethan audience.

Shakespeare characterised Shylock in such way that he highlights the inequalities of him, them being ungrateful, vengeful, and religious intolerance. As each is explored Shylock is directed towards a harmful act to deem his vengeance upon his greatest rival, Antonio. Shakespeare’s idea in the play tells us mercy is preferable to revenge. In Act 1, Scene 3

Since the beginning of time, there have been distinct divisions in the roles of men and women. Even dating back to early civilization, women have been portrayed by society as objects of desire. In the Renaissance period, the ideas about women and gender roles are still quite similar and the plays of Shakespeare can be used as a looking glass upon the acts of Renaissance society. Women were said to be concerned about their status as well as their identity which was said to be based solely upon the husband. In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare proves that not only can a woman be beautiful, but she can also be powerful, capable of overcoming similar obstacles as men, and above all else intelligent. Shakespeare appears to convey the true definition of feminism by creating heroic attributes in Portia, the heiress of Belmont, qualities that surpass other women of her time. A few of these traits would be perseverance, strength, resourcefulness, and the ability to put others before oneself. She defies and breaks the mold of traditional gender roles placed in a Renaissance society and illustrates admirable qualities that for centuries have gone unnoticed.