Merchant of Venice free essay sample

Shakespeare in the High School Classroom The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, does not fit the conventional definitions of a tragedy or a comedy. It is categorized as a comedy, although one of the two distinct plotlines is a tragedy. This play is multi-faceted and is really a combination of two plays in one; therefore it lends itself well as a source for teaching different lessons in the high school classroom. This curriculum unit can be used in conjunction with social studies, math and the arts, so it is not restricted to drama or literature in the English classroom. This unit is important because Shakespeare is an integral part of the English curriculum. Shakespeare’s tragedies are the major focus, so it would add an extra dimension if students were exposed to the comedies. The Merchant of Venice is particularly a good choice because it bridges the gap between comedy and tragedy. We will write a custom essay sample on Merchant of Venice or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Shakespeare blends serious issues and values with light comedic elements in this rather complex play. The two main plots are the comedy about Portia and her marriage to Bassanio and the tragedy about Antonio, the merchant and Shylock, the Jew. BACKGROUND A brief synopsis of the play will help to clarify the ensuing details for those who are unfamiliar with The Merchant of Venice. The comedy revolves around one of Shakespeare’s strongest female characters, Portia. This plot deals with the choice of a husband for Portia. The setting is Venice and Belmont, Italy at the height of the merchant trade during the Middle Ages. Antonio is the protagonist and the merchant of Venice from whence the title is derived. He is admired for his good deeds and honor. He is melancholy because he fears the impending marriage of his best friend, Bassanio, will take up much of his friend’s time. Bassanio has the highest rank of anyone in the play with the exception of the Duke. He is a suitor for Portia’s hand in marriage and he needs to borrow money (3,000 ducats) from Antonio in order to pursue his goal. Portia is a wealthy noblewoman who has agreed to abide by the wishes of her deceased father and allow an elaborate game that he set up to find the perfect husband for his daughter. A very humorous scene ensues in which Portia and her maidservant and friend, Nerissa discuss the suitors who have attempted and failed to win Portia’s hand. Shakespeare adds foreshadowing by having Portia recall meeting Bassanio and wishing that someone like him would win the contest. The game, or contest, that Portia’s father has formulated involves three caskets (treasure chests). One is gold, one is silver, and one is lead. The 62 suitor who gets to choose does not know the choice of previous contestants. Each casket comes with a riddle that must be solved before it can be opened. Inside, if the counterfeit (picture) of Portia is enclosed, then that man will become her husband. The first man to try in Act 2 is Morocco who chooses gold and loses. Then Aragon, the Spaniard, tries after professing that if he loses then he will never marry. He chooses the silver and loses. To Portia’s surprise and delight, Bassanio is next. He chooses the lead casket and wins Portia’s hand in marriage. Since this is a comedy, the main characters live happily ever after. Bassanio’s manservant, Gratiano becomes enamored with Nerissa and the feelings are mutual, so both couples marry. Merchant of venice free essay sample The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare†¦The title character is the merchant Antonio, not the Jewish moneylender Shylock, who is the plays most prominent and most famous character. Antonio has already made an enemy of Shylock through his outspoken antisemitism, and also because Antonios habit of lending money without interest forces Shylock to charge lower rates. Shylock is at first reluctant to grant the loan, citing abuse he has suffered at Antonios hand, but finally agrees to lend the sum to Antonio without interest upon one condition: if Antonio is unable to repay it at the specified date, Shylock may take a pound of Antonios flesh. Bassanio does not want Antonio to accept such a risky condition; Antonio is surprised by what he sees as the moneylenders generosity (no usance – interest – is asked for), and he signs the contract. With money at hand, Bassanio leaves for Belmont with his friend Gratiano, who has asked to accompany him. We will write a custom essay sample on Merchant of venice or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Gratiano is a likeable young man, but is often flippant, overly talkative, and tactless. Bassanio warns his companion to exercise self-control, and the two leave for Belmont and Portia. Shylock A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Although seen by the rest of the play’s characters as an inhuman monster, Shylock at times diverges from stereotype and reveals himself to be quite human. These contradictions, and his eloquent expressions of hatred, have earned Shylock a place as one of Shakespeare’s most memorable characters. Although critics tend to agree that Shylock is The Merchant of Venice’s most noteworthy figure, no consensus has been reached on whether to read him as a bloodthirsty bogeyman, a clownish Jewish stereotype, or a tragic figure whose sense of decency has been fractured by the persecution he endures. Certainly, Shylock is the play’s antagonist, and he is menacing enough to seriously imperil the happiness of Venice’s businessmen and young lovers alike. Shylock is also, however, a creation of circumstance; even in his single-minded pursuit of a pound of flesh, his frequent mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard for us to label him a natural born monster. In one of Shakespeare’s most famous monologues, for example, Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for vengeance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venetian citizens. On the other hand, Shylock’s coldly calculated attempt to revenge the wrongs done to him by murdering his persecutor, Antonio, prevents us from viewing him in a primarily positive light. Shakespeare gives us unmistakably human moments, but he often steers us against Shylock as well, painting him as a miserly, cruel, and prosaic figure. Shylock is a focal point of the play. A traditional stereotype of the Jew in Elizabethan times, he is comically caricatured as a greedy miser. He wears a traditional Jewish gabardine. He is a middle- aged man between fifty and fifty-five, who has a keenness of observation, a memory for details, and a strong amount of energy. He is well versed in the Bible and is able to draw analogies from various Biblical sources and stories, which are relevant to the situations in which he finds himself. His manner of speaking reveals an authoritative tone with frequent references to the great and ancient names from Scriptures, which he uses to justify his own practices. His speech reveals a cold and calculating mind, reflective of his narrow thinking. He is also literal-minded and pragmatic and has quick and agile thought processes, which help him in his business dealings. Shylock suffers from religious persecution, which plays an important part in the play. Antonio has reviled and despised this Jew, even humiliating him publicly because of his money lending and usury. Shylock believes that his profiteering is not a sin. This is contrary to the Christian belief, held by Antonio, that money should be lent for charity and not for profit. By his profession and his religion, Shylock is marked as the alien in a happy and fun- loving Venetian society. His alienation causes his bitterness and his humiliation makes him seek revenge. Antonio becomes the target of that revenge, and Shylock uses the letter of the law to try and exact a pound of flesh from his enemy. His strict interpretation of the law backfires on him, and he winds up losing his wealth and barely saving his life. Although he appears in only five scenes, Shylock is a very powerful personality, whose love of money has destroyed any natural human feelings Antonio Although the play’s title refers to him, Antonio is a rather lackluster character. He emerges in Act I, scene i as a hopeless depressive, someone who cannot name the source of his melancholy and who, throughout the course of the play, devolves into a self-pitying lump, unable to muster the energy required to defend himself against execution. Antonio never names the cause of his melancholy, but the evidence seems to point to his being in love, despite his denial of this idea in Act I, scene i. The most likely object of his affection is Bassanio, who takes full advantage of the merchant’s boundless feelings for him. Antonio has risked the entirety of his fortune on overseas trading ventures, yet he agrees to guarantee the potentially lethal loan Bassanio secures from Shylock. In the context of his unrequited and presumably unconsummated relationship with Bassanio, Antonio’s willingness to offer up a pound of his own flesh seems particularly important, signifying a union that grotesquely alludes to the rites of marriage, where two partners become â€Å"one flesh. † Further evidence of the nature of Antonio’s feelings for Bassanio appears later in the play, when Antonio’s proclamations resonate with the hyperbole and self-satisfaction of a doomed lover’s declaration: â€Å"Pray God Bassanio come / To see me pay his debt, and then I care not† (III. iii. 35–36). Antonio ends the play as happily as he can, restored to wealth even if not delivered into love. Without a mate, he is indeed the â€Å"tainted wether†Ã¢â‚¬â€or castrated ram—of the flock, and he will likely return to his favorite pastime of moping about the streets of Venice (IV. i. 113). After all, he has effectively disabled himself from pursuing his other hobby—abusing Shylock—by insisting that the Jew convert to Christianity. Although a sixteenth-century audience might have seen this demand as merciful, as Shylock is saving himself from eternal damnation by converting, we are less likely to be convinced. Not only does Antonio’s reputation as an anti-Semite precede him, but the only instance in the play when he breaks out of his doldrums is his â€Å"storm† against Shylock (I. iii. 132). In this context, Antonio proves that the dominant threads of his character are melancholy and cruelty. Antonio is the merchant of Venice, the titular protagonist of the play. He is about forty years of age and has lived his life to the fullest. He is a successful businessman, owning a fleet of trade ships. Surprisingly, Antonio appears in relatively few scenes of the play, but he is the driving force behind much of the action. Antonio is the model Christian, as defined by Elizabethan society. He represents, among other things, the ideal of nobility in friendship. He is also kind and generous, both to his friends and to the poor of Venice. Although he is now more philosophical, gentle, and quiet, he can still appreciate the frivolous nature of youth, as portrayed by his beloved friend, Bassanio. Aside from his love for Bassanio, he is unattached. Perhaps his lack of love is the reason for his melancholy. Antonios principles are against the borrowing or lending of money for profit. He reflects the medieval attitude that money should be lent for Christian charity. His noble generosity for his friend, however, leads him to cast aside these principles and to take a loan from the merchant, Shylock. He borrows money and pledges his flesh as the bond. When his ships are lost at sea, he cannot repay the loan and accepts the fact that he must pay Shylock with a pound of his flesh. Antonios warmth and generosity, however, save him. Portia, who has marrried Bassanio, comes to Antonios aid. Even though she has never met Antonio, she loves him for his generosity to her husband. She appears in court as a young, intelligent lawyer and turns the law against Shylock, saving Bassanios dear friend in the process. Antonio, with characteristic generosity and mercy, spares the life of Shylock and gives the Jews wealth to Lorenzo and Jessica, the rightful heirs. Antonios good fortune continues when he learns that his ships are not lost at sea, but have returned laden with goods. As the symbol of Christian warmth, kindness, generosity, and love, Antonio truly receives his just reward during the play when all turns out well for him. Why Shylock wants revenge upon Antonio is because Antonio has repeatedly spit upon him and called him a dog. And now Antonio and Bassanio come asking him for money. The revenge itself is described in the penalty of not repaying the loan to Shylock, where if Antonio fails to repay the loan within the specified time, Shylock will have the right to cut a pound of flesh from any part of Antonios body. Shylock is ridiculed and mistreated because he is Jewish and a moneylender. Money lending and being Jewish were both frowned upon during the time that this play takes place. When talking to Antonio, Shylock recalls all of the slanders and cruel things that Antonio has done to him. â€Å"You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, /And spet . . . Shylock receives no mercy from Antonio and is forced to give up everything, accept what he detests, and give up his religion. Shylock adamantly describes the ways in which Antonio finds any means possible to mock and hurt Shylock. Shylock is the victim of an unjust trial. Shylock is also victimized by his own daughter Jessica. Shylock refuses to accept anything but Antonio’s flesh because he wants to humor himself: â€Å"You’ll ask me why I rather choose to have/ A weight of carrion flesh than to receive/ Three thousand ducats. After Shylock finds that Antonio’s ships have not returned, he is happy and wants revenge on Antonio. Shylock’s mean demeanor and unreasonableness shows. When in trial to retrieve his bond from Antonio, Shylock is also unfairly treated by the law. Although Shylock has some villainous qualities, he is mainly portrayed as a victim because of the disrespect and the undeserved, malicious conduct shown towards him The main reason was the loss Antonio was causing to him by lending money without interest which hurt the money lending business of Shylock. Shylock being a Jew was always looked down upon by othersand Antonio . In short Shylock was not respected by Antonio. Shylock is a Jew and as such has always been forced to live on the fringes of society. In effect he has an understandable chip on his shoulder. He is not looking for revenge he is just trying to outsmart him. Because the process of getting it will have the effect of killing Antonio, which Shylock wants to gain revenge for the mistreatment he has suffered from Antonio and all the other anti-SemiticVenetians. The flesh itself is of no use to Shylockwhen he is asked what good it would be, Shylock replies tersely To bait fish withal†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. To bait fish withal. Shylock is not interested in Antonios flesh; he is interested in killing Antonio. The flesh itself is worthless FROM NEW SITE 0 Antonio, the Christian and Shylock, the Jew, were the two main characters in The Merchant of Venice. They had different beliefs and personalities which caused them to get what they deserved. Antonio was a loveable and generous merchant who cared a lot for his friends, and helped them when they were in trouble. He was a devoted Christian who followed the commandments from the Bible. In contrast, Shylock, the Jew, was a self-centered, greedy man who craved for money and did not have a lot of friends to accompany him. He was not concerned when his daughter betrayed him but only wanted to take back what he owned. Although the two characters were both merchants from Venice, they had very different views, values and qualities. First of all, the biggest difference between the two characters was the ways they treated other people. When Antonio’s friend, Bassanio, needed three thousand ducats to meet up with a suitor, Porsia, and he did not hesitate and lent him the money immediately. He, himself had to borrow the money from Shylock by means of slaying a pound of flesh off Antonio’s body if he couldn’t return the rent. Antonio would risk his life on the chopping block for his friend without even knowing whether he could get the money back from Bassanio to return his debt or not. Shylock, on the other hand, was not merciful at all. All he cared about was his possessions and money. Although the play had never mentioned anything about Shylock having to risk his life to save his friends, it was obvious from his actions and personality that he would never be willing to do it and to sacrifice himself for his friends. Also, when Shylock’s daughter decided to run off with Lorenzo, the man she was in love with, Shylock was furious, not because his daughter choose to betray him, but because he would lose the possession of a daughter. Secondly, having different beliefs was another major factor that shaped the actions of their behavior. In the time of Shakespeare, it was the norm to think Jews were immoral. Everyone, in every aspect, took Jews as an insult and made fun of them all the time. Shakespeare created the character of Shylock as a Jew as a negative connotation. On the contrary, Antonio was a dedicated believer of Christ. In John 15:12-13 from the Bible, it says â€Å"My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. † Antonio did exactly what was written in the Bible, because he put his life in jeopardy in order to fulfill his friend’s dreams. Shylock did not get what he expected to have; instead he had to beg for mercy in order to stay alive. Finally, destiny also played a huge part in these two character’s lives. Antonio lived a tragic life right from the very beginning of the play. His ships were wrecked and his friend was depressed for he did not have the money to meet his suitor. Then he borrowed the money and couldn’t pay the debt. His flesh was so close to being cut off but his fate took his side and everything changed from then. Shylock, the rich merchant, who had power to kill Antonio for not paying him back, had to beg on his knees for mercy and not to kill him. All his money, possessions, family and even his belief were no longer his and was shattered into pieces. The two merchants in the Merchant and Venice, Antonio and Shylock were unlike in many ways. Their personalities were no doubt the biggest difference between them. Antonio was a loving and caring friend while Shylock was a selfish, lonely and despicable man. Antonio believed and obeyed the Bible whereas Shylock was teased and insulted because of his belief. Fate was what brought change to the surprising outcomes to the character’s lives. What goes around comes around. Karma was served! These were some of the similarities and differences between the two alike yet very dissimilar characters in The Merchant of Venice. †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. Since antiquity, Christians and Jews were seen as the antitheses of each other. The differences between the two religions were extensive and the people of the time were keen to exploit them. However, beneath the varying practices, Christians and Jews had many subtle similarities. This concept is portrayed in Shakespeare’s play â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† where the conflict between the characters Antonio, a Christian and Shylock, a Jew reveals a likeness never seen before in a play of that time. Shakespeare first introduces Antonio with the line â€Å"In sooth I know not why I am so sad. † (Act 1, Scene 1). Antonio’s melancholy is profound as his most beloved friend, a younger man named Bassanio, is preparing to leave him. The love Antonio holds for Bassanio is so deep such that he provides Bassanio, then in debt and in need of three thousand ducats, with all the credit he can offer to set him on his way without any hesitation. He goes so far to even sign a contract that could lead to the potential loss of his flesh order to help his friend. The love Antonio felt for Bassanio was so intense that not even the possibility of mutilation and death could stop him. As a result of such a generous and selfless nature, Antonio is well respected in the community at the time and loved by all his friends. But his life is far from perfect. His first line which begins the play is a line that evidently reveals the pain he suffers in his loneliness. Antonio’s generous and selfless nature is a sharp contrast to the vindictive and greedy mindset of the play’s antagonist, Shylock. His attitude towards people is so detestable that even his own daughter eventually leaves him. Whether Shylock is the villain or victim can be shown in both ways; the humiliation he suffers at the hands of Christians who mock his Jewish ancestry makes him the victim of the Christians’ ridicules. Shylock suffers the brute of this abuse through Antonio, who, despite his generosity and selflessness is capable of †¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. ****************************************** The contrasts between Shylock and Antonio arent nearly as interesting as the similarities. Both of them are bound to their beliefs, both love someone who ultimately abandons them for someone else, and both are miserable. Shylock derives his joy entirely from his money and his daughter- while Antonio has nothing in the world to live for but Bassaino. Antonio is willing to die, as long as Bassanio is present, because he has nothing else to live for. Shylock- when confronted with the possiblity of losing all of his money begs the court to take his life if they are taking all of his money. Ironically they both end the play in a worse positon than they began it. Shylock with half of his money, loss of religion, and bound to a renegade daughter. Antonio alone in Venice with his money, which doesnt seem to mean much to him, while the only person he ever cared about has been lost to a young lady who has used a ring to mark her territory very well (with Antonio as his surety). The only thing that either of them has left to sustain them is their hatred of each other. It isnt even clear whether Shylock will be able to continue as a userer, now that he is Christian.