...except, as we know, all of Antonio's money is at sea. The two friends part ways, agreeing that they'll try to raise the funds on Antonio's credit around town. Meanwhile, Portia is plagued by suitors from the four corners of the earth but isn't allowed to choose the one she wants. Instead, her father, before his death, devised an unusual test. Three caskets – one gold, one silver, and one lead – are laid out before each suitor, and whoever picks the right one gets the girl. Portia complains about all of the important men who come to see her, as there's something wrong with each of them. As Portia is trying to figure out how to avoid marrying, Bassanio is trying to figure out how to marry her. He negotiates with the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, asking for 3,000 gold coins (ducats). Bassanio borrows the money on his friend Antonio's credit. Trouble is, Antonio is...
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...two words could be defined differently to our own favor. Essentially, the problem to be resolved is how mercy and justice can be applied simultaneously. If one were to show mercy, then they would let go of the perpetrator freely, but would this be what the victim deserves? Through the conflict between Antonio and Shylock, “The Merchant of Venice” demonstrates how personal definitions of mercy and justice skew the way a problem between two parties is resolved. The contrasting positions between the Antonio and Shylock reaches its breaking point in the court trial where the once oppressed Shylock decides to refuse Antonio mercy. In public, Antonio, as with the rest of the Christian population, openly mistreat the Jewish people such as Shylock, calling them “dogs” and even spit on them. Moreover, through the bond made between him and Antonio, Shylock loses his daughter, Jessica, to the Christians with Lorenzo stealing her away. Blinded by anger, Shylock seeks revenge and insists on “justice” against the Christians through Antonio by fulfilling the condition of the inhumane bond; by parting with a pound of Antonio’s flesh although this, in reality is unjust. Shylock considers himself right in his position by claiming that he was only demanding legally what is written in the bond that was agreed upon between the two parties. Christians, under the dominant Venetian social beliefs, are characterized as compassionate and are expected to exercise mercy towards the Jewish people...
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...Summary of the Book The Merchant of Venice is an interesting novel focusing on the Merchant, Shylock, who lends money to the poor in Venice and expects high interest that is over the amount borrowed. The story starts with a former generous Merchant, Antonio, talking to his friend Salarino and Solanio. He is sad, but he claims it is not about his wealth. He says, “In sooth, I know not…” He has shipped a number of goods that are still stuck in the ocean. When Bassanio approaches him for money he does not have any, he refers him to Shylock, but he tells him to secure it with his own (Antonio’s) credit. We are then taken to Belmont, where we meet Portia, the woman who make Antonio borrow money because of his intention to woe her. Portia has a lot of suitors who are after her father’s wealth. 3 caskets are made, one made of Lead, Gold and Silver. Any suitor who chooses a casket that has Portia’s portrait will have the opportunity to marry her and take all her late father’s wealth. The two Princes come and choose the wrong caskets. When Basanio goes, he chooses the right casket and this makes Portia happy. Shylock, who is a Jew, is also continuing with his business. He notes that the contract period has expired. He insists on taking Antonio to the court and that he has to get a pound of flesh as agreed in their contract. Antonio pleads for mercy, he says would pay double the price, but Shylock insists that all he needs is the pound of flesh. Meanwhile, Portia hears then when she notices...
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...William Shakespeare written from 1596 to 1598 is most remembered for its dramatic scenes inspired by its main character Shylock. However, merchant Antonio, instead of the Jewish moneylender Shylock, is the play’s most famous character. Although frequently staged today, the play presents a great deal of controversy due to its central anti-Semitic themes. In actual fact, the play holds a strong stance on anti-Semitism. Over the Elizabethan era English society had been regarded as anti-Semitic until the rule of Oliver Cromwell. Jews, often depicted as avaricious usurers, were hideously caricaturized with bright red wigs and hooked noses, and so were mainly associated with evil, greed and deception. In the 1600s in Venice Jews were required to put on red hats as a symbol of their identity. Failure to adhere to this requirement resulted in the death penalty. The then Jews lived in a ghetto which was protected by Christians for their own safety. For such protection Jews should have paid their guards, and Shakespeare’s is regarded as a vivid example of such anti-Semitic tradition. More than that, critics argue that Shakespeare intended to contrast the vengefulness of a Jew lacking religious grace to comprehend mercy with the mercy of the main Christian characters. At that Shakespeare showed Shylock’s forced conversion to Christianity as it redeemed Shylock both from his unbelief and his willingness to kill Antonio. Therefore, the anti-Semitic trends domineering in Elizabethan...
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...them comical. The majority of London's population at the time was anti-Semitic because there were very few Jews living there. Shakespeare's “The Merchant of Venice” supports anti-Semitism actions and thoughts and therefore proves that Shakespeare was an anti-Semite. Antonio and Shylock, two similar businessmen of Venice, are viewed differently and are treated oppositely because Shylock is not a Christian but a Jew. One example of this is the way Launcelot treats Shylock in Act 2. In act 2, Launcelot is debating with himself whether or not he should seek a new master. Launcelot's problem is that he works for Shylock, who is Jewish. Launcelot persuades himself that, "Certainly the Jew [Shylock] is the very devil incarnation." Eventually, Launcelot convinces himself that he would much rather run away than be ruled by a Jew. Launcelot presents this argument to his father: "I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer." Before Launcelot accepts a new job with Bassanio as his master, he is reminded that Bassanio is much poorer than Shylock. His reply to Bassanio was, "You have the grace of God, sir, and he [Shylock] hath enough." Lorenzo also insults Shylock behind his back when he tells Jessica that if Shylock ever makes it to heaven, it is only because Jessica converted to Christianity. Jessica represents...
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...Mrs. Mondesir ENG 2D1 05 Monday, October 31, 2011 Everybody makes agreements even if it is a promise of love, or helping someone out. Agreements usually are made with a contract, a hand shake or by trusting the words spoken. In the play Merchant of Venice written by William Shakespeare, the characters Bassanio, Antonio and Shylock make many agreements throughout the play which help the reader learn about the personalities and thoughts of the characters. Bassanio makes the most risky pacts that cause a change in the thoughts and views of the other characters. Bassanio asks Antonio if he may borrow money from Shylock for him, creating a problem between Antonio and Shylock. Antonio needs to pay Shylock the money that Bassanio owes him within the next three months. Since Antonio is not able to meet that deadline, Shylock uses this opportunity to seek revenge on Antonio due to their difference in religion. Although all three men were involved, the agreement only included Shylock and Antonio. “Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound.”(I, iii, 8-9). What Shylock means by “Antonio bound” is that if Antonio cannot or does not pay Shylock, Antonio will have a pound of flesh removed from him. This shows the recklessness of Bassanio as he borrows money and does not think about the consequences Antonio will face. Another agreement Bassanio makes is a promise to his love Portia that he will never take the ring she gave him off even though his love for her originated...
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...Marginalization in William Shakespeare’s - The Merchant of Venice The normal human experiences we acknowledge everyday are built of a multitude of emotions, feelings, attitudes, values and characteristics that differentiate us from other beings like animals. The fabric of our human nature is a reflection of the human experience, our beliefs, attitudes, and events that we go through compacting different ideologies into our mindsets. William Shakespeare, through his plays presents these ideologies, attitudes and values, both relevant and present in the Elizabethan context as well as in a modern context. Through a reading and analysis of Shakespearean plays we can see the ideology of how through the marginalization of society, there is a cultivation of the cycle of hatred, leading to revenge, preventable if we are able to open up and be merciful and forgive instead of succumbing to hatred and revenge. These feelings of mercy, hate, forgiveness, and revenge are built into the core of our human nature, and hence it has been present in the people of society during Shakespearean times as well as being easily relatable and understandable to our modern day society, due to it being in the fabric of our human experience and nature since the start of the human civilization. Modern day society struggles with the woes of marginalization on a daily basis, as well as in past important events that has changed the course of history and society. From daily issues such as the people who detests...
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...money is at sea. The two friends part ways, agreeing that they'll try to raise the funds on Antonio's credit around town. Meanwhile, even rich heiresses have their troubles. Portia is plagued by suitors from the four corners of the earth but isn't allowed to choose the one she wants. Instead, her father, before his death, devised an unusual test. Three caskets – one gold, one silver, and one lead – are laid out before each suitor, and whoever picks the right one gets the girl. Portia complains about all of the important men who come to see her, as there's something wrong with each of them. As Portia is trying to figure out how to avoid marrying, Bassanio is trying to figure out how to marry her. He negotiates with the Jewish moneylender, Shylock, asking for 3,000 gold coins (ducats). Bassanio borrows the money on his...
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...owes to Shylock to keep Antonio alive. Description The play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ opens up on a street in Venice. Antonio, a merchant, has some troubles he can’t explain. Bassanio, a friend of Antonio, enters the scene. He just came back from a trip, which was paid by Antonio. On the trip, he saw an heiress called Portia in Belmont. Portia is beautiful, clever and not to mention very rich. Bassanio wants to merry Portia, but he doesn’t have the money to go to Belmont. Antonio is paying for everything that Bassanio does, and again he will pay for the trip. The only problem is that all Antonio’s money is being held at sea. Antonio and Bassanio decides to go around town and raise the money. Meanwhile, Portia has to get married, but she can’t decide who she wants herself. Her father, before his death, made a test. Tre boxes, one gold, one silver and one bronze. Then suitors from the four corners of the world is coming and has to pick one of the boxes. The box with a picture of Portia, gets to marry her. Portia is complaining about all the men that comes to see her because she says there is something wrong with each and one of them. Antonio and Bassanio goes to a man named Shylock to borrow 3.000 ducats. Bassanio borrows them on Antonio’s credit. The only problem there is, is that Antonio hates Jews and is disdainful against Shylock whenever he has the chance. Shylock will loan the money to Antonio if Antonio signs a bond, saying that if the money goes unpaid, shylock will...
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...Shylock was a victim of vengeance throughout the whole book of “The Merchant of Venice”. Shylock was treated badly every single day by Christians and was even referred to as “the Jew” for most of the book. The racism towards Shylock, although very common back then, was very derogatory. Then again, it is possible that the reason Shylock was treated so terribly was because of his all-out bitterness towards everyday life. One could say that Shylock was hated only because of his Jewishness, but he was also not the nicest man. Jewish people were treated very unfairly back in those times, and because Shylock was jewish, he was treated unfairly. In the book, Shylock said, "I hate him for he is a Christian," and “him” being Antonio. Shylock hated Antonio because Antonio lended money without charging any interest, while Shylock charged very high rates of interest. Consequently, this cut into Shylock's profit margins and additionally earned him a bad reputation. The hatred for Antonio was absolutely understandable. Antonio ruined Shylock’s business and basically spit on everything that he represented. One night, Shylock went to a party, and when he came home he found that his daughter and his ducats were gone. Shylock lost all that he had loved. Shylock was an outcast to society, and one could even say that he was an underdog. When Antonio and Bassanio confronted Shylock for the loan of ducats, Shylock saw that he had an opportunity. He finally got the opportunity to end the...
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...Shylock, a Villain? Merchant of Venice is tragic comedy which probably takes time in 15th century due to when Shakespeare, the author - was alive. The play is about Bassanio who needs to loan money from his friend Antonio to propose to Portia. Unfortunately Antonia has all his wealth invested in ships at sea and most therefore borrow money from a moneylender called Shylock. At the time Christians could not take interest in lending, whereas Shylock is a Jew and therefore has the opportunity to lend. Instead of taking interest Shylock agrees upon taking a pound of flesh instead - if not the sum it not paid back within three months. It is central to mention that at the time the Jews were treated poorly by the Christians, and thus Shylock is lending the money to Antonio and keeping his promise he ends up being the “bad guy” in the play. But is Shylock really a villain? Shylock is treated very badly by the Christians throughout the play because he is a Jew. Antonio despises Shylock for being a Jew, instead of referring to his name - Shylock is called a dog, the devil or the villain Jew. The Christians kick Shylock, spits on him and mock him for no other reason than that he is a Jew. Shylock hates Antonio for this, including that Antonio lend money for free which is bad for Shylock’s business. When Antonio ask for a loan Shylock ask answer this:“ Fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last; You spurned me such a day; another time You called me dog; and for these courtesies I’ll lend...
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... “My essay, I hope, will furnish a Christian (who in any case has no desire to become a Jew) with enough material not only to defend himself against the blind, venomous Jews, but also to become the foe of the Jews' malice, lying, and cursing, and to understand not only that their belief is false but that they are surely possessed by all devils.” Martin Luther wrote these words in his book “On The Jews and Their Lies” As a prominent Christian figure one might believe that Martin Luther lived by Jesus’s words of compassion in the New Testament. However, Martin Luther’s hatred of the Jews, which I will expand upon more later in my paper, shows otherwise. Luther’s attitude more closely resembles anti-semitism. The Cambridge Dictionary defines anti-semitism as “the strong dislike or cruel and unfair treatment of Jewish people.” The Cambridge dictionary also defines Christianity as "a religion based on the belief in one God and on the teachings of Jesus Christ, as set forth in the Bible.” There are many forms of Christianity, but for my purposes, I am including all types of Christianity, including Catholicism, Orthodox, Protestant, and all other sects the reader can imagine. In my paper, I plan to show how, oftentimes, Christianity can cause anti-semitism. My first example of Christianity causing anti-semitism is the Protestant leader Martin Luther, who historically hated Jews. He is described as first trying to convert the Jews to Christianity, but later turning hostile towards...
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...William Shakespeare the author of Julius Caesar story has portrayed Portia the wife to Brutus, as a domestic homemaker. However, based on the tone of the story Portia has built a partnership of trust with Brutus, as a married couple they have kept no secrets. Brutus past actions of sharing information and having a loving relationship with Portia appear to have taken a turn to secretiveness. As we move into Act, 2.1 Brutus has arose urgently and left the bed. The night prior at supper, he did not finish his meal, arose, and paced about. Portia begins to beg her husband to confide in her, tell her what is on his mind. Portia has a tone of serious concern, why is Brutus so secretive? She feels Brutus has left her in the dark with no information and as his wife, she is not used to seeing him or his mind so angrily distributed, yet quiet, and secretive. As in line 242, “when Portia says, I asked you what the matter was, you stared upon me with ungentle looks.” It is apparent that Brutus behavior is vastly different from his past actions. Portia describes the angry look, Brutus had on his face, as well as, his terseness the not typical behavior of him impatiently stamping his foot. It appears Brutus actions are out of frustration as Portia continues to press him for answers yet, he does not answer her. It appears to be a battle of equal wills. The only answer Portia would receive as described in lines 246- 249, would be an “angry wafture of Brutus hand, giving her the sign...
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...all over the world. Antonio's best friend is Bassanio. Antonio's situation is that he would do almost anything for Bassanio, but in the beginning of the play, when Bassanio asks for a loan, Antonio is short of cash. Bassanio, who has been frivolous with his money in the past, promises that he has a plan that will allow him to pay back Antonio everything he owes him. Because of his love of his friend, Antonio seems unable to refuse him. Since Antonio has no cash, he does the next best thing, he offers his credit to Bassanio. Whether Bassanio knows it or not, he ends up borrowing money from a man Antonio detests, Shylock. Antonio, who is a proud and confident man when it comes to money, signs a bond authorizing Bassanio to borrow 3,000 ducats (gold coins) from Shylock. The bond with Shylock states that Antonio will owe no interest; but in its place, Antonio must give Shylock a pound of his flesh if he cannot pay the debt back in the stipulated time period. Antonio barely squirms, so sure is he of having triple that amount in three months. He signs the agreement without a shrug. Antonio's emotions lie elsewhere--not in business dealings. In the first lines of the play, Antonio admits to sadness. It appears that he does not know the reason for this sadness. It is possible, he says, that it is his fate to be melancholy. People around him find no reason for Antonio to be depressed. He is one of the most successful businessmen in the city. If it is not money, then it must be a lack of...
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...between England and France has yet to be denied. They lament that Antonio’s fortunes are poor, but they’re interrupted by Shylock, or, as they say, the devil in “likeness of a Jew.” Salanio asks Shylock for gossip. That is in which old news to those two: Jessica has run off. Salanio and Salerino joke that it was about time she left the nest. As Shylock laments that his own flesh and blood has deserted him, the other two men are but only less than sensitive. They say Jessica was no more like Shylock than white wine to red. Talk turns to the fate of Antonio’s ships, and Shylock whines about that as well – though it’s unclear whether he’s gleeful or upset. Either way, he keeps reiterating that Antonio needs to “look to his bond.” suggesting that he has no plans to be merciful if Antonio forfeits. Salerio scoffs that he’s sure, in the case of loss, that Shylock wouldn’t actually want a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Right? Shylock gives an illuminating speech on the nature of prejudice, though it’s laced with vicious hatred and his desire for a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Shylock suggests he can use Antonio’s flesh as fish bait, but the most important thing the human meat will feed is Shylock’s hunger for revenge. Shylock lists off the little and big cruelties to which Antonio has subjected him and points out that Antonio’s reason for all this hatred is simply that Shylock is a Jew. He asks in earnest, whether a Jew doesn’t feel everything a Christian does, summed up by the masterful and...
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