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Symbolism And Symbolism In The Merchant Of Venice

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The Merchant of Venice uses symbolism to construct society’s view of heaven and hell on earth in the 16th century. The symbolism starts with the title. Venice begins a period of decline in the 16th century due to the Italian turmoil. This decline is much like the fall of Lucifer; he was a great angel of light who falls into a decline due to pride and arrogance. Eventually falling from heaven and becoming the Prince of Darkness and ruler of hell. Reading the play, I did not think about the importance of the title. I knew Antonio being the merchant was from Venice, but I missed the indication that the play was set in Venice. The director of the film did a good job using this fact about the play to create an amazing setting. The architecture, the river roads as means of transportation, and the costuming including the red hats worn by those who were Jewish provided a deeper understanding of Venice in the 16th century. The film also showed numerous scenes where we see the gates used to close off the ghettos of the Jews in the film which made the tension between Christians and Jews of the time more prominent. The gates to me were a symbolic metaphor of the gates between heaven and hell.
In 16th century Venice Jews were considered little Satan’s or demons. They were forced to live in gated off ghettos and had a set curfew at which the ghetto gates would be locked and guarded. Much like the gates of hell being shut to keep in the evil that lives there from invading the innocence of

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