Merchant Of Venice Character Analysis

Shakespeare initially introduces Portia in a way that her wealth and socioeconomic status are immediately evident. Not only is Portia rich and stunningly beautiful, but she rounds out the image of a

William Shakespeare 's comedy The Merchant of Venice uses contrasting religions to draw out major themes through the ethnic divides that are exemplified. The play expresses the extreme cultural divide between the Jews and Christians through a legal contract between two men. The rivalry between the two men, Shylock and Antonio is clear from the beginning of the play and only intensifies as it continues on. Modern day readers most likely take away a slightly different message from the play than what was originally intended. However, his intended message is also further strengthened with the post World War II influences on the reader 's thinking. Shakespeare’s play uses these ethnic rivalries to express thematic elements such as sacrifice and loss which are further impactful with the post holocaust lens that twentieth century readers use.

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a comedy filled with unrealistic humour and intentions which still shows different values seen in today’s society. In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare uses characterization within Shylock, Antonio, and Portia to reveal and further develop their real value of prejudice which is seen in a different viewpoint in today’s society than how it was seen in Shakespeare’s time. Firstly, Shakespeare explores the value of prejudice within Shylock; in the play, Shylock is subjected to prejudice due to the fact that he is a Jew. Furthermore, Portia also possesses the value of prejudice, this is especially shown when her suitors arrive. Lastly, Antonio displays prejudice, specifically towards Shylock, as he believes that only Christians are good.

In the play The Merchant of Venice, there are many female characters who face injustice alone in society. Portia as many seemingly paradoxical identities. This makes her a memorable character in the play The Merchant of Venice. She has represented being dutiful towards her father, being an innocent young woman, a ‘mortal-breathing saint’ who posses ‘god-like amity’, a hard headed and calculating lawyer who is fully conversant with the tricks of the legal trade, and is advocate of mercy who ruthlessly destroys Shylock.

The Merchant of Venice was created between 1596 and 1598, it was published as a comic, romantic, tragic in 1600. The play has many struggles in it but the main ones are Bassanio's quest to marry Portia and his attempt to free Antonio from Shylock's deal. The idea that Shakespeare's representation of Shylock is unquestionably Anti-Semitic will be impacted in this essay because thought this book Shakespeare portrayed Shylock as Anti-Semitic.

Shakespeare 's view of women was different and radical for his time. He believed they were the equals of men, often demonstrating it through his works. He held the rather unpopular opinion that women had the right to choose their own husbands or have the chance of pursuing a career. The Merchant of Venice’s Jessica and Portia are some of his best portraying

become his wife - "but though I am a daughter to his blood I am not to

Throughout a patriarchal history, some bright women have been able to push through and make groundbreaking changes for the future. Although many people believe that Venice is a male dominated society in William Shakespeare’s play, The Merchant of Venice, if one reads closely he/she will discover that most of the major decisions, that affected the route of the play, were originally made by women. In her essay, Christine Hoff Kraemer writes, with a feminist approach, about women in this play and their role in power. Two main female characters, Portia: a wealthy and witty daughter bound to her deceased father’s demand of marriage, and Jessica: the Jewish daughter of the main character/ antagonist Shylock, although are originally controlled by

The Merchant of Venice was a play about a Jewish moneylender who plots to cut off a pound of flesh from a Merchant whom he has a history with. Revenge was the central theme of Shakespeare’s play “The Merchant of Venice”. However, there are other themes throughout the text, namely friendship and prejudice, that help to emphasise revenge as the central theme of the play.

The Merchant of Venice, also known as “The Jew of Venice” is a drama play originally written by William Shakespeare in 1598. The major conflict occurs when a man named Antonio (Venetian merchant) fails to pay off a loan to a greedy Jewish money loaner known as Shylock who demands a pound of flesh from Antonio in return. Antonio and his friends take a journey through friendship, love, and hatred in an attempt to free him of his pound of flesh fate induced by Shylock. Imagine yourself sitting in the master minds of directors Michael Radford and John Sichel while they are directing their adaptations of the play. Imagine experiencing their unique ideas first hand looking through their

Women in the 16th century, the Shakespearen Era, didn’t have too many expectations placed upon them. Because they were considered the weaker sex, housewives and mothers was the extent of what was expected of them. The only education they had access to were private tutors inside their homes. They also were not allowed to become lawyers, doctors, or the like. Only maids, cooks or other “around the house” jobs. This is a summary of the average Patriarchal society. In the play, Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare, the women defy these stereotypes of a Patriachal society in multiple scenerios.

Everyone has been in that difficult position when your parents want you to make one choice and you want to make another. In William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, Portia is bound by a game of luck her father has put in place for her, which gives potential suitors the chance to choose a casket resulting in her marriage. Portia is conflicted, she does not want to marry any of the chosen suitors, yet she feels ashamed to go against her late father’s will. Portia has a rocky relationship with her father and the game he has put in place for her . . . until her loved is won over by Bassiano. In the Merchant of Venice, author William Shakespeare uses Portia’s happy marriage to Bassiano to demonstrate the positive outcomes of justice; however, when Portia has to risk her happiness by abiding by her late father’s will, Shakespeare suggests that justice can only be granted if something is given in return. Justice according to Shakespeare is considered to be what you deserve.

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.

In The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is one of Shakespeare’s most complicated characters. Throughout the play he seemingly hates everyone save Tubal, a Jewish friend. He even refuses to acknowledge his daughter because she runs away to marry Lorenzo. Nevertheless, Shylock is a fascinating character because initially it is difficult to know whether to embrace him or reject him. To support Shylock is to condone murder, but to reject Shylock is to ignore the plight of someone who seems to be hated possibly because of his religion and race. However, as Shylock’s character is gradually revealed through his famous defensive speech, Shakespeare leads us to dislike Shylock and recognize his character as one of pitiful selfishness.

build up, to what is going to happen later on in the play, by Shylock