Merchant of Venice Essay

passed, but even today, women are being treated unfairly in certain situations. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effective feminist play, which is demonstrated through the assertive and clever

lands and goods Are by the laws of Venice confiscate Unto the state of Venice”” (Act IV Scene I, 298-303). Portia is describing the contract and explains that if Antonio’s Christian blood is spilled, then Shylock will lose his land and property. During the trial, Portia’s disguise as Balthasar is very convincing, even to her husband. Portia was able to relieve Antonio of his debt, but only by cross-dressing as a man. The time setting in The Merchant of Venice greatly differs from the equality we

Portia in The Merchant Of Venice, has been considered as one of the most perfectly developed female protagonist. The heiress of Belmont represents the nexus of the play, as the quest for her hand creates a motive for Bassanio to borrow money which initiated the bond plot and the ring plot. Furthermore she manipulates the trial and resolves the bond episode and the ring episode. Portia is introduced in the play as being a wealthy heiress whom many suitors try to court. Her significance and characteristic

In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, there is a motif of women being equated with gold, money, and jewelry. Portia resides in a trapped patriarchal society where her life revolves around the men who play her like a puppet. Ironically, men from both the living and the dead control her. From the beginning, Portia is bounded by the lottery set forth in her dead father’s will which gives potential suitors a chance to choose between three caskets: gold, silver, and lead. This act by her father

In The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, Antonio, the merchant, is willing to help his friend Bassanio make a loan, but finds himself caught in trouble when he is unable to provide it. Instead, Antonio enlists the help from Shylock, a Jew, to help Bassanio. The gesture Antonio makes to help Bassanio with his loan illustrates himself as a ‘good’ man, but he estabishes himself as a victim. Antonio takes the role as a victim to gain sympathy and illustrate his actions by acknowledging that

Throughout the course of the Merchant of Venice Shylock receives abuse directed specifically at his Jewishness as well as his role as a moneylender. Centuries later after the Holocaust indicates that a play that normalizes anti-Semitism even through the dialogue of some clearly flawed unpleasant characters is deeply problematic. If it wasn’t for Shakespeare’s reputation one can speculate that a play that pits Jews and Christians in direct opposition with each other would simply not be performed.

The Merchant of Venice Essay Outline Introduction: Hook: The theme is the main subject or message of a story. It is used to give depth and enhance the plot. The themes of The Merchant of Venice are used throughout the story of the play to make the plot move along and to encourage the characters into action. Bridge: When you read The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare there are many themes throughout the play and many lessons to be learned. Main Ideas: The most important themes are hatred

This paper examines The Merchant of Venice from a social viewpoint. It explores the types of social control on the two daughters, Portia and Jessica, and studies the ways of their resistance. In the play,the male-dominated society controls the two daughters through the rules and traditions of theVenetiansociety, and the daughters resist theserules and traditions through writing, cross-dressing, sexuality, and elopement. Therefore, through analyzing the two female characters in this play, this paper

know, and we hate those who don’t share the same belief. Ultimately our hatred destroys the beauty and only leaves us with more hatred. In Shakespeare’s, The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a devout jew who lives in Italy during a time of jewish persecution. Shylock is a successful money lender who is constantly harassed by the citizens of Venice because of his faith. Over the years of constant abuse the hatred and abuse causes shylock to develop a hatred for his christian tormentors and after a series

progressed as time has passed, but even today, women are treated unfairly. However, in The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare challenges the concept of women being unequal to men. He conveys this message through the actions of Jessica, Portia, and Nerissa. The female characters empower themselves, accomplishing various tasks in order to gain control over the men in their lives. The Merchant of Venice is a highly effective feminist play, which is demonstrated through the assertive and clever