The Jew Of Venice

The Jew of Venice
The comedy 'The Merchant of Venice' was written by William Shakespeare and it is situated in
Venice and Belmont (Italy) in the sixteenth century. It was written in London in 1998. The full name
of the ...... is The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called Jew of Venice.
Venice is a place where there is lots of commerce and where there are lots of business men who loan
and ask for interest. The people who live here are not very kind, they are hard hearted and they
would rather have lots of money not love. Whereas on the other hand Belmont is very different, it is
a city where people are rich and sophisticated. The atmosphere in Belmont is happy and people are
kind to one another. If the had to chose love or money, they ... Show more content on
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Justice! Find the girl! She has the stones upon her and the money!' This quote shows that Shylock
values his daughter as much, maybe less, than he values his ducats. This shows that money is has a
great significance/importance in his life. 'Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons,
subject to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means, warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and
summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you
poison us, do we not die?
And if you wrong us, do we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that.
If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christina wrong a Jew, what should
his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute,
and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.' Bassanio recieves a letter from Antonio which
informs Bassanio that he has lost his money and and as a result he has no money to repay Shylock.
Therefore he has to forfeit a pound of flesh to Shylock. Bassanio tells Portia what has happenedand
she orders him to take six thousand ducats and go Venice and pay Shylock. After Bassanio left,
Portia and Nerissa leave for Venice. Portia decides to dress up as a male lawyer, because women at
this time did not have the power or authority to be present in court.
... Get more on HelpWriting.net ...

The Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare Essay
Symbolism is used extensively in the play The Merchant of Venice. It is used to represent aspects of
the people's culture and to signify feelings within people in love. The caskets signify the choices that
people have in the community as well as depict the character of Portia's suitors. The three caskets
are the key to the marriage between Bassanio and Portia, and the rings signify the love and affection
among the two of them as well. The caskets and the rings are used to enhance the two major themes
of the play, which are love and friendship. They also bring out the characters of the various
individuals.
Portia had a lot of suitors who came to seek her hand in marriage, as she was very beautiful. Once a
man came to woo her and failed to choose the right casket, he forfeited any chance of getting
married to any other person in the future. There are three caskets of gold, silver, and lead, which
represent various aspects of the culture in Venice (Barnet 46). The contest of the caskets represents
the ideal that everyone in the society is given the same opportunities and given the freedom to
choose the path that they take. People of different nationalities, ethnicities and religion are given the
same opportunities. However, there is some bias towards Christianity just like the city of Venice.
The story of Bassanio and the casket choice also appears to incorporate both a moral and an
allegorical meaning. At the moral level, the incident explores the implications of Christian

The Merchant of Venice and Shylock Offering
Many different people can be good or bad or might seem good but actually bad or the other way
around. In The merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, shylock, the money lending Jew, is
seen more like a villain then a victim. Shylock is a villain because he cares more about his money
then he cares about his daughter, he is not merciful towards shylock and hewants a pound of flesh
from Antonio for hi revenge.
First of all shylock is a villain because he cares more about his ducats then his daughter, Jessica.
Shylock cares more about his money then his daughter because when Jessica left home with
Lorenzo, that she planned to elope with, shylock was really mad because his daughter left but
mostly he was mad because she left with a lot of ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This quote is Shylock offering to Antonio the money interest free but under the condition of one
pound flesh if he does not repay in time "Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit/be nominated for
an equal pound/Of your fair flesh to be cut off and taken"(I.iii.151–153). Shylock wanted revenge
towards Antonio for what he had done so he made this bond this proves that shylock is a villain
In conclusion, Shylock is a villain since he does not care about his daughter more then his money
and he wants revenge on Antonio by getting a pound of flesh. Like you can see in the merchant of
Venice by William Shakespeare, Shylock is seen as a horrible man. People are good or bad those
this mean they were born that way or you get bad or good later on in life.
Works cited
Shakespeare, William. The merchant of Venice. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. Lamar New
York: Simon and Schuster Inc, 1957.

Discrimination in The Merchant of Venice Essay
Discrimination in The Merchant of Venice Discrimination is a resounding theme in The Merchant of
Venice (Meyers). All of the characters are affected by inequality. This inequity is evidenced clearly
in Shylock, the Jewish usurer. He is treated with scorn and derision by all the characters. Shylock's
misfortunes stem not from poor attributes or even a poor background; it stems from the fact he is
Jewish, and what is more, he is impenitent of that distinction. If he had been more daunted by
Christian influence, he might have been forgiven, as Jessica is subjectively exonerated. He is not
contrite and it is believed that his appalling birth cannot be absolved (Bonnell).
All of the characters are defined through Shylock. Launcelot Gobbo, ... Show more content on
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If she refuses to follow all of the instructions of the lottery, she loses her inheritance. Portia is no
fool; she comprehends the importance of financial security, a quality that is woefully wanting in her
male counterparts.
The cycle of hatred and animosity are evident in The Merchant of Venice most clearly through
Jessica's deplorable treachery of Shylock (Blanchard). The theft of his money and jewels was
considered by the Christians a credit to her integrity rather than the consummate maliciousness it
truly is. She is absolved from any culpability for her betrayal of Shylock; she is praised for her
ability to deceive and defraud her father in a culture that sanctioned paternal piety (Picker). She
marries the Christian Lorenzo in hopes of improved egalitarianism; she soon discovers that this will
not be the case. Her profound guilt and strict upbringing as a Jewish female are revealed in the
conversation between herself and Lorenzo: Jessica: I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
Lorenzo: The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is moved with concord to sweet sounds, Is fit
for treasons, stratagems, and spoils The motions of his spirit are as dull as night, And his affections
are as dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted. Mark the music (Shakespeare Act V, Scene 1).
Lorenzo does not comprehend Jessica's meaning and therefore fails to recognize her compunction as
he emphasizes music as a verifiable

Essay on Discrimination in The Merchant of Venice
Discrimination is a resounding theme in The Merchant of Venice (Meyers). All of the characters are
affected by inequality. This inequity is evidenced clearly in Shylock, the Jewish usurer. He is treated
with scorn and derision by all the characters. Shylock's misfortunes stem not from poor attributes or
even a poor background; it stems from the fact he is Jewish, and what is more, he is impenitent of
that distinction. If he had been more daunted by Christian influence, he might have been forgiven, as
Jessica is subjectively exonerated. He is not contrite and it is believed that his appalling birth cannot
be absolved (Bonnell).
All of the characters are defined through Shylock. Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock's servant, treats his
father ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
As it is, all she can do to maintain her father's estate is to follow the decrees of the lottery to the
letter. If she refuses to follow all of the instructions of the lottery, she loses her inheritance. Portia is
no fool; she comprehends the importance of financial security, a quality that is woefully wanting in
her male counterparts.
The cycle of hatred and animosity are evident in The Merchant of Venice most clearly through
Jessica's deplorable treachery of Shylock (Blanchard). The theft of his money and jewels was
considered by the Christians a credit to her integrity rather than the consummate maliciousness it
truly is. She is absolved from any culpability for her betrayal of Shylock; she is praised for her
ability to deceive and defraud her father in a culture that sanctioned paternal piety (Picker). She
marries the Christian Lorenzo in hopes of improved egalitarianism; she soon discovers that this will
not be the case. Her profound guilt and strict upbringing as a Jewish female are revealed in the
conversation between herself and Lorenzo: Jessica: I am never merry when I hear sweet music.
Lorenzo: The man that hath no music in himself, Nor is moved with concord to sweet sounds, Is fit
for treasons, stratagems, and spoils The motions of his spirit are as dull as night, And his affections
are as dark as Erebus. Let no such man be trusted.

Mozart Vs Saliy
Wolfgang Mozart and Antonio Salieri are arguably two sides of the same coin and certainly foils.
While Mozart embraces humanity and its flaws, Salieri shuns it, believing God's grace and musical
talent is all he needs. Amadeus is tired of "gods and heroes," common to Italian operas, and doesn't
want a conventional job, believing "all serious operas written in [the 18th] century are boring"
(Shaffer 2001, 69). Instead, he would rather compose operas about life and love and in harems, and
insults Italians and their art multiple times. Additionally, the personalities of Salieri and Mozart
vastly contrast. Mozart is generally unlikeable–loud, immature, intolerable, and self–centered–while
Salieri appears to be quite the opposite–likeable, composed, ... Show more content on
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Integrating themes of jealousy, fate, bargaining with God, mediocrity, and genius, Peter Shaffer
depicted fictional accounts of Mozart and Salieri in an extraordinary tale, humanizing Mozart's god–
like image. Furthermore, he calls attention to the role ordinary citizens and society plays in carrying
on this image throughout time, as true recognition of Amadeus's talent came only after his tragic
death, despite its criticism of him in life. While the play is certainly not fictional, its value lies in its
uncovering of the complexities behind genius and Mozart, allowing the audience to peak into his life
and understand him for the man he

Much Ado About Nothing Structuralism Essay
Like Father, Like Daughter: Structuralism Amongst the Women in Shakespeare
During the Renaissance, it was common for women to behave in a certain manner in a patriarchal
society. Women were subordinate to any man in their life, whether it was a husband or a father.
However, Shakespeare creates female roles in his plays that often steer away from the common
script. These women challenge, deceive, and steal from these men, including one's closest to them in
their lives. In Merchant of Venice, young Portia and Jessica are two examples of these strayed
female characters. They feel trapped in the hands of their father's and do their best to break free of
that hold. In Much Ado About Nothing, Hero is a young woman who feels her relationship with ...
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This shows the extreme version of a rebellious teenager in order to escape her father. Once Shylock
finds out his daughter has disappeared with his money and jewels, he is outwardly upset with the
fact that his possessions are gone. He even states that he wished his daughter "were dead at [his]
foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at [his] foot, and the ducats in her coffin!"
(Act III, Scene i, 76–79). Surely, one can't believe there are any similarities in this relationship,
however, structuralism shows the underlying pattern between Shylock and Jessica. Diane Dreher
author of Domination and Defiance: Fathers and Daughters in Shakespeare, points out that the two
hold a common trait: Greed. Shylock's greed is expressed through his constant talk on commerce
and his precious ducats, and Jessica has inherited that ideology. Before running away with Lorenzo,
she drops down a basket filled with money and jewels belonging to her father. One would assume it
was an act of reprisal, however, Dreher argues it is greed much like her father's. She describes her as
"bad and disloyal, unfilial, a thief; frivolous, greedy, without any more conscience than a cat," (pg.
102). These two characters know that money holds a powerful position in their lives. Along with this
greed, both are very determined characters in terms of fighting for what they want. With Shylock, he
is constantly trying to receive justice through the deal he made with Antonio. Despite the strange
request, he demands that he receives his 'pound of flesh' from Antonio and stops at nothing to see it
through. This passion can be seen in Jessica as well when she is determined to marry Lorenzo
despite her father's wishes. She gets to the point of disguising herself as a man in order to be with
him. She goes great lengths to be with Lorenzo by eloping, but

Merchant of Venice: Portia Essay
The Merchant of Venice is a play set in a very male and Christian dominated society where other
religions and women rights weren't very well accepted by the community. However Portia, a rich
woman who had previously been controlled by men, triumphs as she manipulates tricks and saves
the lives of the men.
We see how she is manipulated by men through her father, who though dead, still manages to
control who she marries from his will. He states in his will that from three different caskets the
suitors will have to chose, in each of which will contain either a letter to the suitor or a picture of
Portia. In one of the three caskets, either the lead, silver or gold casket, there will be a picture of
Portia the suitor picking the casket ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
He also says that 'his furnished with my opinion, which, bettered with his own learning' so Bellario
is saying that Balthazar has a great knowledge but with the opinions and thoughts of Bellario's
experience he has a greater knowledge than Bellario himself. By writing 'the greatness whereof I
cannot enough commend' this is saying that he is speechless when it comes to the amount of
knowledge that Balthazar seems to have, this could almost in it self make the Duke want to see
Balthazar because to say, for example, that someone was so beautiful that you couldn't put it into
words, you would want to see for yourself just how beautiful this person is. He then repeats flattery
at the end of the speech 'I leave him to your gracious acceptance' this suggests that he doesn't want
to over–do the whole letter because if he had ended it, for example, with 'please, please take him I
promise you that he will be the best and that if you don't there'll be consequences' which possible
makes him think that he's not that good and that Bellario made it up to get out of the court hearing,
but he leaves it in the Dukes hands and lets him make the decision. She adds persuasion at the end
by saying that the trial would be better with Balthazar's presence. Another example of Portia
fighting back is when Portia uses trickery to make Shylock stick exactly to the bond causing him to
be condemned to Christianity and to give half of his belongings to Antonio and the other half to

Portia Symbolism Quotes
7. Symbolism: Using a person or object to represent an idea
Textual Evidence
Interpretation/Explanation
"If you had known the virtue of the ring,
Or half her worthiness that gave the ring,
Or your own honor to contain the ring,
You would not then have parted with the ring.
What man is there so much unreasonable,
If you had pleased to have defended it
With any terms of zeal, wanted the modesty
To urge the thing held as a ceremony?" (MV 5.1.199–206).
Throughout her monologue, Portia explains why Bassanio should not have given away her ring.
Refuting her own previous logic, Portia rebukes Bassanio for giving away her ring. One reason why
Portia is angry is because the ring was a symbol of Bassanio's love for her. Furthermore, one reason
why ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Previously arranged by Antonio, Jessica and Lorenzo now will receive money when Shylock dies.
Adding on to all of the previous "loose ends" being tied up, this quote is an example of denouement
because the quote is the last instance of resolution in the play. Beforehand, all previous relationships
were restored and all of the characters "lived happily ever after". For example, Antonio and
Bassanio were reunited safely, Portia and Bassanio (and Gratiano and Nerissa) reconciled after the
husbands' broken vows, and finally Jessica and Lorenzo receive financial aid as the new couple
begins their future

Merchant Of Venice Plot Synopsis
Plot Synopsis
Antonio, a Venetian merchant, complains to his friends of a sadness, perhaps because Bassanio is
away. Meanwhile Bassanio is desperately in need of money to court Portia, a wealthy lady who lives
in the city of Belmont. Bassanio requests Antonio for a loan in order to travel in style to Portia's
estate. Antonio is unable to give the loan himself because his money is all invested in the trade ships
that are still at sea. Antonio suggests that Bassanio secure the loan from the moneylender Shylock,
with him as guarantor. Once his ships are back he would be able to repay it.
They approach Shylock, who nurses a long–standing grudge against Antonio, for Antonio has
always insulted and accused him and the Jews for their the practice ... Show more content on
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When Bassanio and Gratiano arrive the next day, their wives accuse them of faithlessly giving their
rings to other women. Before the deception goes too far, however, Portia reveals that she was, in
fact, the law clerk, and both she and Nerissa reconcile with their husbands. Lorenzo and Jessica are
pleased to learn of their inheritance from Shylock, and the joyful news arrives that Antonio's ships
have in fact made it back safely. The group celebrates its good fortune.
Plot Structure and Themes
There are four interwoven plots are:
Main Plot: The deal or contract between Antonio, a merchant of Venice whose sailing ships trade,
and Shylock a Jewish moneylender who dislikes him. Antonio needs money, his ships haven't yet
returned. Antonio's ships perish at sea and he fears bankruptcy and death. Shylock is determined to
earn the pound of Antonio's flesh that was promised him instead of interest when the loan was made.
Sub plot 1:The love stories – Portia and Bassanio; Jessica and Lorenzo (including Jessica's
elopement); Nerissa and Gratiano
Sub plot 3: The casket plot which Portia's suitors have to undergo to marry her
Sub plot 3: the ring plot which Portia and Nerrisa lay to test their would–be

Shylock's Characteristics Of Merchantlock In The Merchant...
Antonio was a typical narrow minded christian when it came to religion; however, he was so true
and passionate about his friends he was willing to risk his life to help his friend in need. Antonio, a
christian, strongly abhors and is very abrasive towards Shylock, a jew: "You call me misbeliever,
cutthroat dog, And set upon my Jewish gaberdine,... You, that did void your rheum upon my beard,
And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur" (1.3.121–128). Within this quote Shylock is talking to
Antonio and telling him after he has called him a dirty dog, spit on his beard and Jewish clothes, and
kicked him he wants to ask to loan money from him. This shows that Antonio is very narrow
minded because the main reason he mistreats Shylock is because he is a Jew. In addition, this shows
that he is very abrasive when it comes to Shylock because he has done so many terrible things to
him over a period of time and hasn't felt sorry or bad once for what he has done and how he as
treated him. In addition, although, Antonio is very narrow minded when it comes to religion he is
willing to risk his life to help a friend in need. Bassanio, one of Antonio's friends had asked Shylock
to put a loan under his name to wow his dream girl, and Antonio ends up sealing a bond risking his
life for Bassanio: "Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit Be nominated for an equal pound Of
your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken In what part of your body pleaseth me...." (1.3.160–163).
Within this quote Shylock

Clinton Portis Baby Mama Research Paper
Clinton Portis' Baby Mamma Doesn't Care if He's Evicted; She Wants Her Money Clinton Portis is
in the midst of a bankruptcy. He earned just shy of $50 million as an NFL star, but his lifestyle
quickly ate that nest egg away. In December, Portis told the court that he owed $5 million but only
had $3 million. Granted, he was hoping to get another $10 million if he won lawsuits against two
companies that he is suing. He said there was only $150 in his checking account. Portis owes money
to an eclectic group of people. He owes his mother half a million dollars, another half million to a
reporter, more than a million to a mortgage company, nearly half a million to the IRS, a quarter
million to a casino, and almost half a million in past due child

How Is Antonio An Inhumane Persuasive Letter
I apologise for interrupting, wise Duke, and honourable members of the Venetian Court. I am
Gratiano, a close friend of Antonio's. My relationship with Antonio has allowed me to observe
Shylock over the years and never have I seen even a streak of kindness and forgiveness emerge from
his blackened heart. He is the most sinister man that I have ever encountered in my life. His
thoughts are full of greed for money and plans for revenge against his never ending hatred for
Christians. Thus, I believe you are mistaken in thinking that Shylock should receive the penalty for
the breach of a contract. I am indeed well aware of the contract between Antonio and Shylock and
believe the terms of this bond were nowhere near fair; they are inhumane, and even Jessica,
Shylock's runaway daughter, agrees that this is so; in fact, she betrayed him due to his brutishness!
And in any case, what kind of a person would want a pound of flesh from an innocent Christian? To
add to my point, who in their right mind would want a pound of Antonio's flesh? He is the purest,
most loyal friend ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Our dear Antonio, he has not committed any sinful acts to receive this punishment. The money that
was lost in the shipwreck that was unavoidable, it was an accident! The loan wasn't even for himself
but for his dear friend Bassanio. Don't you realise that his overflowing kindness has led to his
sacrificing his life for a friend? The loyalty he has shown in front of us all is undeniable, "good
Bassanio, wise Duke, fellow Christians", we've all heard these words from him. Even in his
language, we see his respect towards us. I understand that the contract has been broken but consider
all the acts of kindness Antonio has shown, he is a respected man by all means who undeserving of
the Jews

Ambiguity Of The Character In Shakespeare's The Merchant...
On page twenty–five of Shakespeare's comedic play Merchant of Venice, Portia demonstrates her
dislike of the suitors through dialogue and the ambiguity of her diction in order to demonstrate her
feelings of unhappiness. In Act one Scene two, Portia discusses her true feelings about the suitors in
prose to Nerissa. She begins by telling Nerissa her true thoughts about the German suitor: "When he
[the German suitor] is best he is a little worse than a man, and/ when he is worse he is little better
than a beast" (I ii 88–89). Through her dialogue to Nerissa, Portia uses diction to demonstrate her
strong hatred towards the German suitors. By comparing him to a beast, Portia uses a vulgar
metaphor to describe her suitor. The metaphor in her dialogue ... Show more content on
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Also, through dialogue, Portia again demonstrates her dislike towards the German suitor by saying
to Nerissa: "I will do/ anything, Nerissa, ere I will be married to a sponge [before I marry the
German suitor]" (I ii 98–99). In this way, through her dialogue, Portia uses a hyperbole in her
dialogue to Nerissa to demonstrate that she strongly dislikes the German suitor. Portia's
exaggeration that she would rather be "married to a sponge" indirectly shows that she is unhappy
with her restricted love life. Portia wants to marry practically anything before she marries the
German suitor, demonstrating she is unhappy with her suitors and the "game" for her love. The
dialogue is in prose, suggesting that Portia's remarks about the suitors such as the German one are
too dirty and inelegant to be in verse. This is supported by her use of phrases such as she would
"rather be married to a sponge" which seems like a rude things to say to a suitor, but also the
rudeness of her words demonstrate her unhappiness with the fact that she has suitors and cannot
choose for

Essay on Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
The Rivals Love triangles are complicated and messy scenarios that are caused by the indecision of
the person in the middle or the inability of the others to move on. The same is seen in The Merchant
of Venice, in which Antonio and Portia fight for Bassanio. Throughout the play we see many bonds
or connections between both Antonio and Bassanio as well as Portia and Bassanio. To many, the
main plot may seem to be the conflict between Antonio and Shylock, when in reality it's the love
that Antonio and Portia have for Bassanio that leads to everything. The main plot is moved forward
by the bonds the two have with Bassanio and the rivalry they have with each other. Nearly
everything that happens in the play has to do with their fight for ... Show more content on
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Antonio's first quote in the play brings attention to his sadness: "In sooth I know not why I am so
sad. It wearies me, you say it wearies you; But how I caught it, found it, or came by it, What stuff
'tis made of, whereof it is born, I am to learn and such a want–wit sadness makes of me That I have
much ado to know myself" (1.1.1–7). Portia mentions her fatigue of everything around her, at which
point Bassanio is not around her: "By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great
world" (1.2.1–2). This shows that Bassanio means just as much to both, they are both sad because of
Bassanio. Antonio is sad that he will lose Bassanio, while Portia is sad that she may not even get
him if another man chooses the right casket before him. As Hyman says in "The Rival Lovers in the
Merchant of Venice", it may not necessarily be homoerotic love that is driving Antonio to fight for
Bassanio, it may just be that he feels rejected by his friend who he did so much for. Antonio may be
speaking the truth that he does not know why he is sad. Although he knows that he should be happy
that his friend is getting a wife, he is not ready for someone else to take his place as the most
important person in Bassanio's life (Hyman 3). The two try to one best one another in their attempt
to get Bassanio. Antonio tries to win Bassanio first by offering him his money and then by bonding

Amadeus By Peter Shaffer
Amadeus Influential Values
Peter Shaffer's Amadeus presents to the reader many human values. The most prominent being envy,
deceit and self–sacrifice. During the course of the play these features are displayed through Salieri's
actions, emotions and dialogue.
The relationship between Salieri and Mozart is like a painting, commencing with splattered envy
after Mozart's extordinary musical talents disrupt Salieri's clean, white, sanity. Splatters become
blotches when Mozart uses Salieri's "prize pupil" (33), Katherina Cavalieri, to fulfill his professional
and sexual aspirations. Covered in thick, black envy, Salieri seeks lust to better himself than his
opponent: "As I watched her walk away on the arm of the creature, I ... Show more content on
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Salieri trying to interfere with Mozart's opera, The Marriage of Figaro displays his second step of
deceit. Upon hearing that Mozart's new opera contained ballet, which is verboten in the Emperor's
operas, he wickedly conveys this information to his colleagues and attempts to destroy his opera.
Although Mozart is distressed when approached by this fact, he still manages to work through his
deceit and is able to achieve the emperor's consent of the dance after being harassed and mentally
walloped on from Salieri and his colleagues. Mozart accuses Salieri at the beginning of this uproar
but is then altered after hearing this following quote from Salieri displaying his feign concern for the
stressed fellow: "Mozart, permit me. If you wish, I will speak to the Emperor myself. Ask him to
attend a rehearsal" (70).
Salieri's third step of deceit is illustrated by having the Baron attend a small opera hosted by Mozart
that mocks modern day opera themes. This of course enrages the Baron and causes Mozart to be
shunned by all men of influence and leads him deeper into depression. Salieri "had of course
suggested it" (92), for the Baron to come but keeps his amity with Mozart by expressing that "all is
not lost" (93).
The final step of deceit is exhibited by way of Salieri appearing "to the demented creature as – the
Messenger of God!" (94) And scaring him to death by forcing him to write his own requiem. With
Mozart at his weakest state,

Merchant of Venice Essay
Defeating the enemy, light–heartedness, and a happy ending for the lovers are all elements in a
comedic play. William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice shows that love conquers all and that
you can always defeat the enemy. Even if a pound of flesh is the difference between life and death,
or if one wrong person chooses the casket that decides your fate. For example, The Merchant of
Venice, Antonio, not only survives the fate of having a pound of his flesh taken from his body on
account of his friend that could not repay the bond to a man who is seen as the devil, but gets thrice
his money back and the villain is taken down. Not to mention that Antonio's best friend, Bassanio,
not only repays the bond and gets out of his debt to ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
142–147) Antonio agrees to the deal, since he feels that helping his Bassanio is the right thing to do
for a best friend. As time progresses Bassanio and Portia found their way to each other, though
Bassanio still has not the money to pay Shylock, so he tells Portia. She has no problem paying the
bond and says, "Pay him six thousand, and deface the bond;/ Double six thousand, and then treble
that," (3.2.298–299). With that, Bassanio has a chance to save his friend's life, and pay back the Jew.
At the time of the trial Antonio feels ready to except his fate, to give in to the villain. Antonio says
his last words to Bassanio, but when Shylock starts to prepare to cut into Antonio the judge (who is
really Portia in disguise) presents a reason why Shylock may not take Antonio's flesh. Portia states,
"Are, by the laws of Venice, confiscate / Unto the state of Venice" (3.1.309–310). Shylock is denied
of the money which was offered at the beginning because he refused it

Merchant Of Venice Research Paper
Abstract
This paper attempts to enlighten the Gratitude and courtesy of Antonio in the Merchant of Venice.
Bassanio borrowed money from Antonio and he hasn't paid it back, again he asks money from him.
Even though Antonio's money is tied up in the ships, he helped Bassanio by borrowing money from
Shylock. Shylock lends the money to Antonio and insists him to pay at the specified date otherwise
he may take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Antonio accepts the condition. With money at hand
Bassanio went to Belmont and married Portia. After a while he received a letter that Antonia was
unable to pay the loan. So Shylock has brought Antonia before the court. Antonio a man with
Gratitude and Courtesy saved him from the evil bond. Portia disguise herself as a lawyer and argued
and saved the life of Antonio
Keywords: Courtesy, Gratitude,
A pound of flesh, Evil bond, injustice
Introduction ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
In this play Antonio is a wealthy Venetian merchant. Antonia's friend Bassanio already borrowed
money from him; he didn't return the money. Again Bassanio need money to court Portia, a wealthy
heiress who lives in the city of Belmont. Antonia agrees but now he is unable to make money
himself because his own money was invested in a number of trade ships that were still at sea.
Antonia suggests Bassanio to secure the loan from the moneylender Shylock and he himself as the
loan's guarantor. Shylock offers Basssanio three thousand ducats with no interest upon one
condition, if Bassanio is unable to repay the money at the specific time, he may take a pound of
Antonia's flesh. Bassanio refuses Antonia not to accept the deal but Antonio accept the condition
and signed the

Friendship By William Shakespeare 's The Merchant Of Venice
Friendship is an idea which spans all cultures, but is expressed differently across cultural
boundaries. In William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, the idea of friendship is critical, not
only to the plot, but also for character development. A friend is, "A person with whom one has
developed a close and informal relationship of mutual trust and intimacy; (more generally) a close
acquaintance. Often with adjective indicating the closeness of the relationship, asbest, good, close,
etc."(Oxford ) Friendship is the display of trust and intimacy as well as caring for one another.
Antonio and Bassanio are the best of friends. Although both Antonio and Bassanio's characters
possess different motivations for their actions, it is their strong ... Show more content on
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However, it can be seen that Bassanio does feel guilt over his actions. "To you, Antonio, I owe the
most, in money and in love" (I, I, 177–178). Bassanio is expressing his remorse over having lived a
lifestyle far beyond that which with his wealth permits, but is grateful for the support that Antonio
has provided him. Although Bassanio may use Antonio for his coffers, he also owes Antonio in love.
This in turn displays that camaraderie is important to Bassanio and although he may be careless with
his money, he is a loyal and caring individual. However, it is clear that at the beginning of the play,
Antonio is far more invested in Bassanio than Bassanio is Antonio. At the beginning of the play it
appears that although they may be genuine friends, Bassanio may be using Antonio for his
generosity rather than brotherhood. Their friendships and characters are further expanded upon
when Antonio goes to meet Shylock and settle the terms of Bassanio's loan.
Act I, Scene 3 is arguably the most important scene in The Merchant of Venice. As it not only sets
up the development of the plot but also furthers the development of Antonio and Bassanio's
friendship. In this scene, Antonio and Bassanio meet with Shylock to discuss terms of a loan that
Bassanio may use to attempt to pursue Portia. Instead of having to pay usury, Shylock opts to take a
pound of Antonio's flesh if the debt is paid late. Upon hearing this, Antonio is confident that he

Merchant Of Venice Character Analysis
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 the play can be seen in her genuine love, her graciousness and her witty yet
playful traits. She further represents the comparison between Belmont and Venice, herself and
shylock and most importantly, love and self interest, one of the key themes in the play. Critics liked
to compare Portia with Shylock and the comparison brings out the salient traits of her character. One
of them stated that while Portia stand for everything 'bright, generous, and noble' while Shylock
represents 'wickedness and evil'.
The language used in the play suggests that money is a source of power and desire. The penniless
Bassanio feels inferior to Portia who is intelligent, noble and refined. Portia's speech, unlike a
woman in the Elizabethan era, seems to be heavily loaded with financial expressions. Her language
reveals how comfortable she is in the masculine, world and her unwillingness to leave it. Her speech
also demonstrates her intelligence and eloquence and seems to mock the existing social norms.
Indeed Portia has shown to be far from obedient to patriarchy. Portia's father had left a clause in his
will that the suitor will pick the correct casket to in order to marry her. Although she couldn't break
the clause, her intelligence serves her well in her pursuits of Bassanio as she manipulates the test for
her own purpose. It reveals the casket choosing event itself was a gimmick and rather Portia was
controlling the entire situation according to her will and treating her suitors as mere puppets. On the
other hand, while men around the world are vying for her attention, she is apparently considers
herself as superior and better position to judge men's masculinity. However her intolerance and
hypocrisy is suggestive

The Rings of Power: Symbolic Exchange in the Merchant of...
The Rings of Power:
Symbolic Exchange in The Merchant of Venice
Rings are significant to the narrative of The Merchant of Venice for several reasons. Firstly, as
symbols of love, wealth and power. Secondly, as a means through which Portia gives and then
regains control of herself, her weath and power and finally, the theft and sale of Leah's turquoise
ring acts as a source of sympathy towards Shylock and allows him to parallel the Christian
husbands, Bassanio and Graziano.
A ring is, in and of itself, a frivolous object; it serves no practical purpose and its only functions are
symbolic and aesthetic. They are thus also a symbol of the wealth and power of the owner; a
demonstration that they have so much money they can afford to ... Show more content on
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This is particularly notable in the case of Portia, due to her assumption of traditionally masculine
traits over the course of the text, and the exchange of rings ultimately allows her to reclaim her own
autonomy.
In giving Bassanio her ring, Portia assumes the traditionally masculine role, both in giving the ring
and in giving herself, a role usually belonging to the father of the bride:
...But now, I was the lord
Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,
Queen o'er myself;... (3.2.167–9)
By referring to herself as the 'lord' and 'master' of the house rather than the 'lady' and 'mistress',
Portia makes it clear that she has been in charge of and running the estate since her father's death,
rather than the more traditional female role of managing only the household. Interestingly, she then
uses the feminine "queen" rather than king, which on the surface might seem to undermine this,
however, a female Monarch maintains their power upon marriage, rather than having to surrender it
to her husband, and holds power in her own right. Further, like Portia, some queens gave, rather than
received rings: Mary, Queen of Scots, sent Thomas Howard, the Duke of Norfolk, a ring to indicate
her willingness to marry him, and Queen Elizabeth gave the Earl of Essex a ring as a token of
affection.
Unlike a queen, Portia yields her power to Bassanio along with her hand:

This house, these servants and this same myself,

Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of...
Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice
In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is continually involved in the bond plot. This plot is probably
the most intense story–line in this Shakespeare play. Bassanio borrows money from Shylock in
Antonio's name in order to impress Portia, however after a tragic incident involving all of Antonio's
ships crashing; the money has failed to be returned. According to their bargain Antonio must now
give Shylock a pound of his flesh. Shakespeare uses Shylock is this play in order to provoke feelings
of sympathy but also of hatred towards the villain in this play– the Jew.
However you can't help but feel compassion for his situation as he is ... Show more content on
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When Shylock accuses Antonio of spurning him, Antonio replies with 'call thee so again' and 'spit
on thee again'. This, is my opinion, justifies the revengeful side of Shylock. Shylock talks down the
forfeit of a pound of flesh but Shylock really wants to profit from Antonio's death, as he will be able
to charge higher interest rates when Antonio can no longer undercut him. By the end of this scene
we find Shylock bitter, greedy and also intelligent, however his eloquent description of Antonio's
abusive language and behaviour redresses the balance a little in his favour.
His daughter's elopement with a Christian and the theft of his money and jewels also give us pause
for thought about our attitude towards him (Act 2 Scene 5). Shylock leaves the house he gives
Jessica the responsibility of being in charge of the house. He strictly instructs her to keep the house
and goods secure. This is quite ironic as whilst he is gone, she takes his wealth and disguises herself
in order to elope with Lorenzo. This isn't surprising as in Act 2 Scene 3, Jessica talk about how
unhappy she is living with her father. Jessica is ashamed of Shylock, which congregates feelings of
compassion for him because of the fact that she is ashamed of him. However, the comic way in
which he is displayed as reacting to this event and his cry of

Essay on Prejudice in William Shakespeare's The Merchant...
Prejudice in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
The main theme of the Merchant of Venice is of Shylock, a Jew, and Antonio, a Christian taking part
in a deal involving the Jew lending the Christian a sum of money. The bond they make is that if
Antonio cannot pay Shylock back, Shylock can take legally a pound of Antonio's flesh as payment.
The other plots in the play consist of Jessica, Shylock's daughter eloping with Lorenzo, another
Christian and Antonio's friend Bassanio, who is courting a rich lady, Portia of Beaumont who are
both of course Christian. Shylock and Tubal, his Jewish associate, both receive verbal abuse from
the Christian groups e.g.
Solanio: 'The villain Jew with ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
This would mean that a suitor if he chooses the wrong box, would have to leave and live forever as a
bachelor.
One suitor, a prince of Morocco, arrives only to choose the wrong casket and as he is leaving Portia
jokes with her servant Nerissa:
Portia: 'A gentle riddance. Draw the curtains, go.
Let all of his complexion choose me so' =======================================
This comes across as Portia mocking the prince's black skin and blotches the kind and considerate
image of Portia that has been projected to the reader in earlier scenes.
Throughout the play, Shylock is continually mocked and projected as an evil man.
His daughter, Jessica eloping with Christian Lorenzo, and taking money and jewels with her, seems
to be a the subject of a sub plot written with the purpose to ridicule and mock Shylock even more
than would normally be acceptable. Even when Shylock attempts to stand up for himself and his
beliefs, the way in which he does this seems to give the other characters in the play even more
reason to mock him.
Shylock: 'Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last,
You spurned me such a day, another time –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

You called me a dog, and for these courtesies,
I'll lend you thus much moneys?'
The Christians' reactions to these statements are continually of ridicule and contempt towards the
Jew

Theme Of Justice In The Merchant Of Venice
The theme of justice in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" is both controversial and
complicated towards the content of whether justice is served. Justice of law and justice of morality
are illustrated in the play, but in a closer examination hypocrisy and lawlessness are present as well.
I will be trying to analyze the theme of justice taking under consideration the themes of religion,
racism and Anti–Semitism of that era. To be more specific, Shylock is a Jewish merchant whose
legal rights have been violated, as Antonio was incapable of paying his debt to him. Seeking justice,
Shylock goes to court demanding his "pound of flesh" from Antonio, in order for his bond to be
satisfied. Obviously, Shylock seeks vengeance against Antonio ... Show more content on
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One would expect merciful actions to match noble words. One would be sorely disappointed.
Portia's inconsistency between word and deed is vast. The gulf between her preaching about mercy
dropping 'as the gentle rain from heaven' and her vengeful punishment of Shylock is unbridgeably
wide." (45) Portia's hypocrisy is also obvious in Act 1 Scene 2 when the Prince of Morocco comes
in order to choose the right casket and marry her. Though she argues to be a Christian and an
obedient daughter, she reveals her racist beliefs saying to her maid: "If he have the condition of a
saint and the complexion of a devil, I had rather he should shrive me than wive me." (The Merchant
of Venice act 1 scene 2, 33.) A true Christian is not supposed to criticize another person because of
his skin color. Therefore, her obedience to her father's law is hypocritical as well, because she
admits that she'd rather die than marry the Prince of Morocco, a suitor that according to her father's
will could be her future

Critical Analysis Of Amadeus
Perplexing, intriguing, and haunting, Amadeus leaves the viewer with an impression of tragedy and
mastery. While the film highlights the finest musical qualities of its main character, Mozart, it
primarily casts a dark and solemn tone upon most of the story and eventually leads to his
unfortunate fate. Because the film features the point of view from the antagonist, Salieri, it attempts
to cause the viewer to sympathize with a flawed and broken character. Furthermore, the film
frustrates the viewer with the foolish decisions of Mozart, despite the best efforts of his wife
Costanza, and the lack of any moral conclusion or remorse from Salieri. In doing this, it emphasizes
realism and a brutal reality over an idealistic or hopeful ending. In fact, those characteristics provide
most of the primary merits that make this film memorable to this day, even though the film differs
vastly from actual history. While Amadeus features a marvelous soundtrack taken from the writings
of Mozart himself and emphasizes the finest qualities of true talent, the melodies themselves cannot
dispel the final thoughts surrounding the tragic fates of both Mozart and Salieri. While the movie
contains complex twists and storyline, the plot contains all the hallmarks of a powerful tragedy. Told
from the perspective of Salieri, the film gives his perspective on the life and death of Mozart. It
shows how Mozart rises from a child prodigy to one of the top composers in Vienna, despite his
childishness and

Justice And Justice In Shakespeare's The Merchant Of Venice
In Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, there is a conflict between two understandings of justice –
justice as 'the letter of the law' and justice as mercy. Because this play is typically classified as a
comedy, it is natural to view the trial's ruling against Shylock as just, since this best fits in with the
genre of Comedy. My aim is to show that this interpretation is not without its problems, and is in
fact called into question by the text. I will accomplish this analyzing the legal aspects of the court's
ruling and the tribal behavior of the Venetian Christians, as well as taking a close look at the
supposed mercy shown by Antonio to Shylock. After dissecting these ideas, I will relate them to
several modern questions of justice and their accompanying tradeoffs.
Without further ado, et us meet our plaintiff turned defendant, Shylock. While his motives are
questionable (to say the least), Shylock does remain logical in his own defense, at one point saying:
Till thou canst rail the seal from off my bond,
Thou but offend'st thy lungs to speak so loud.
Repair thy wit, good youth, or it will fall
To cureless ruin. I stand here for law.
(4.1.141–4) Here, Shylock stands firm in his argument, essentially asserting that his right to contract
is unassailable, regardless of the emotional attacks his Christian opponents throw at him. This is
quite representative of the trial as a whole: Shylock remains dispassionate and uses sound argument,
while his adversaries are emotional and

William Shakespeare 's ' Portia '
A protagonist is also often the character around whom the action of the play revolves. By this test,
Portia is also the protagonist, as without her, very little in the play would have remained the same.
Had Bassanio not been in love with Portia, he never would have asked Antonio for the money to
woo her and Antonio would not have entered into the bond with Shylock. Similarly, had the laws in
the Court of Justice been interpreted by any other lawyer, it I likely that Antonio would have lost his
life.
At 588 lines, Portia also has more lines than any other character; 233 more than Shylock 's 355 lines
and 400 more than Antonio 's 188. Because of this, the scenes surrounding the caskets in Portia 's
home should be viewed as trials for the protagonist, and not a sub–plot, as they are often described.
By any definition, Portia is the protagonist of the play–– she exhibits the greatest change, the action
of the play revolves around her, and she has the largest number of spoken lines. Given her
importance to the play, how can the title, The Merchant of Venice, be reconciled? After all, Portia
appears to be neither Venetian nor a merchant.
While the play treats Belmont as a distant locale from Venice, a close reading indicates that the two
are in quite close proximity. When Portia is telling Nerissa of her plan to save Antonio, she tells
Nerissa that they must "measure twenty miles to–day" (3.4.84). Because Portia must be back at
Belmont before Bassanio arrives there on

The Social and Personal Impediments Against Which Genius...
As a composer, and a performer, there can be no question of Mozart's genius, however, what is
genius defined as? The main definition is that genius is a very great and rare innate ability or skill– it
is a creative power. It is therefore clear that Mozart was in fact a genius in his music; it does no state
anywhere, however, that a genius also has to have a divine personality and behaviour and this is
clear as Mozart is shown in Amadeus as a silly, scatological, childish and "infantile" man. To be a
genius in one aspect of the mind, such as music, could mean that other parts of the mind are
inhibited, such as social skills. An evident and major theme in Amadeus is exploring how a genius
functions in a society and how society hinders and ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Historically, there is evidence from Mozart's own written letters that there was some sort of
antagonism between Salieri and Mozart, "If he is allied with Salieri, I won't ever get a thing out of
him." Be it jealousy or a difference in personality, one cannot say, however, the conflict between
Salieri's mediocrity and Mozart's genius is evident throughout the play. Salieri himself is musically
competent, he has been educated and has learnt the skills of music and so is able to recognise
Mozart's greatness, however, he seems to be the only one in Mozart's age to have recognised it,
."..my only reward...is to be the sole man alive in this time who shall clearly recognize your
Incarnation!" He shows his obvious awareness of Mozart's posterity and his own "mediocrity." We
can see Salieri and Mozart in the light of Nietzsche's opposing struggle of the Apollian and
Dionysian personalities. Mozart embodies the Dionysian elements of a

The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice was written in 1598 by William Shakespeare. The story is set in
Elizabethan times, which was the sixteenth century. People back then were quite prejudiced towards
any race that was not Christian. They would have hated Jews. When Shylock would come onto the
stage, the audience would have just booed him back off. The Christians had their reasons for hating
the Jews. The fact that they supposedly killed "Jesus" still angers many people today. Christians
were resentful of their wealth. Jews were very successful with their businesses. You could say that
the Christians were experiencing Xenophobia, fear of foreigners. They feared that they would take
over their land. So when Shylock comes to act, ... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
The audience would feel some sort of pity for him when Antonio says, "I'm like to kick you again!"
On the other hand the Elizabethan audience members might go up on stage and give him a pat on
the back.
When the court scene begins, Shylock is not anywhere to be seen nor is Antonio, the supposed
victim of his. The duke is there who is supposed to be the master of ceremonies. One thing that you
should know is that Antonio and the Duke are good friends, which puts Shylock in a bad position
right away as the man who decides his fate is biased towards Antonio, meaning that he is in favour
of helping out Antonio. The Duke says to Antonio, "I'm Sorry for Thee." You can see that Shylock
will have his work cut out for him. The court rooms are a place of justice, the duke should not even
think to be biased. They describe Shylock as, "stony, cold and inhuman." They say that he is
incapable of pity. He is at the bottom of the chain of beings, below animals. You can see that
Shylock is being criticised in his absence. The Christians who are in the court at the moment refer to
him as "The Jew." He is nameless to these people. He is portrayed, through their use of language, as
a stone cold villain.
After much criticism and "behind his back" abuse, Shylock comes in. His entry is quite dramatic in
the way of what he brings in with him. It shows his cold side, and

The Merchant Of Venice As A Tragedy
The Merchant of Venice, written by Shakespeare, is a complicated play that has controversy themes.
There are some analysts that argue this play is a comedy. On the other hand, other analysts will
argue the opposite, and see the play as a tragedy. Both of these themes have strong arguments and
can be supported with many examples throughout the play.
Despite the fact that The Merchant of Venice has characteristics of a comedy, it is also considered a
great tragedy because of the terrible way Jews are treated and looked upon by the Christians,
Shylock's refusal to show mercy to Antonio which ultimately leads to his own downfall, and the lack
of seriousness when it comes to the relationship of love between the characters. The first example of
a tragedy is the way the Christians treat the Jewish people. Shylock recalls the many times Antonio
has treated him badly. He states, "Signor Antonio, many a time and oft In the Rialto you have rated
me about my moneys and my usances. Still I have borne it with a patient shrug. You call me
misbeliever, cutthroat dog, and spet upon my Jewish gaberdine" (1.3 116–122). Shylock recalls
many times Antonio refused to show him kindness, and now Antonio needs a favor from him,
Shylock is not eager to show him kindness. Also Lacelet tell Jessica that because her father was a
Jew, she will be damned. Lancelet says to Jessica, "Therefore be o' good cheer, for truly I think you
are damned....." (3.5 5–6). His belief that she is

How Is Portia Presented In Julius Caesarce
In Scene 1, Portia converses with the Prince of Morocco very politely and even invites him to dinner
before he chose the casket, which seems like she is in favour of having the Prince of Morocco as her
suitor. However, in Scene 7, after he chooses the wrong casket and leaves, Portia says "A gentle
riddance", which shows us that she is very happy that the Prince of Morocco is not going to be her
husband.
Through these scenes, I learn about Portia's gracious character and her tact in using her appearance
to deceive her suitors. This is because she does not want to hurt the feelings of the suitors, but at the
same time, she is witty enough to dupe them, without them knowing that she is doing so. This
reveals the theme of Appearance vs. Reality,

Essay on merchant of venice
The play, ¡°The Merchant of Venice¡± by William Shakespeare has two main settings. One setting is
Venice, a city where many businessmen live, a place, full of unhappy and unkind people. It a world
of commercial and law. Shakespeare has portrayed Venice as the ¡°real¡± world. The other setting is
Belmont, a city which houses a rich, happy society of beautiful people. Belmont is a fairy–tale
world of music and love. In this play, it is evident that, good things happen in Belmont and not so
pleasant events happen in Venice.
The play begins with Antonio, a rich merchant of Venice is depressed, which shows that money and
wealth did not bring happiness to this man. Shylock, a wealthy businessman who lives in Venice is
... Show more content on Helpwriting.net ...
Also the people in Venice mock and laugh at Shylock when his daughter ran away with his money to
marry a Christian. Salarino and Salanio make fun of him.They had no sympathy towards the man
who has just lost his only family and his valuable money. Maybe he is greedy, but it was still his
money and one would expect people to feel sorry for him but they were even crueler to him by
laughing at his losses.
Even though one should feel sorry for Shylock, he himself is a very cruel man. He hates Antonio
and all Christians and when he got the opportunity to take revenge he was more than prepared to do
so. He and Antonio had a contract which stated that, if Antonio was not able to pay off the debt of
three thousand ducats he borrowed from Shylock within three months, he would have to pay the
debt by letting Shylock cut a pound of flesh from his body close to the heart. When Antonio¡¯s ships
were lost and he was not able to pay off the debt, Shylock was delighted. Shylock likes saying ¡°I
thank God, I thank God. I thank thee good Tubal: good news, good news! ha, ha!¡± ¡°I¡¯m am very
glad of it: I¡¯ll plague him; I¡¯ll torture him: I¡¯m glad of it¡± This shows that he was a horrible
man. Later when he was offered the money, he refuses saying that he would rather

Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice is a story about man seeking justice for the forfeiture of
his bond. Shylock the Jew created a bond loaning three thousand ducats to his rival Antonio. In the
event that the loan could not be paid back, Shylock was entitled to a "pound of flesh from the
breast" of Antonio. Antonio's invested the money in his merchant ships hoping to gain profit.
Unfortunately he loses his ships at sea, losing everything Shylock had loaned him. Shylock happily
takes Antonio to court in hopes of receiving that pound of flesh as a result of the forfeiture of his
bond. However due to manipulation of the court by an illegitimate lawyer, Shylock is ruled as the
guilty party of the case. Shylocks' sentencing from the court ... Show more content on
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The impartial Duke once again tries to bend the law by persuading Shylock to take Bassanio's offer
of six thousand ducats to compensate for the three thousand Antonio owes him. Shylock counters
with a key point arguing that the Duke and other higher position authorities own slaves and no one
could not tell them how to treat them because they own them:"You have among you many a
purchased slave...you use in abject and in slavish parts, Because you bought them. Shall I say to
you, 'Let them be free!'...You will answer 'The Slaves are ours'." (4.1–90–9) According to the laws
of Venice, which all should abide by, Shylock owns that flesh and no person, not even the judge, has
the right to tell him what to do with it. Once again the court is showing bias towards Shylock,
further displaying the corruption of this court. The final point in conveying the aggressiveness of
this court to go against Shylock occurs during the closing argument from Portia, disguised as a
lawyer named Balthazar. Portia argues that Shylock was in fact legally justified in obtaining a pound
of Antonio's flesh. However she then points out that if he sheds one drop of blood when he cuts it,
Venice will then have the right to confiscate his lands and property. Portia shows her conflict of
interest against Shylock by then saying "Thou shalt have justice more than thou desir'st." (4–1.315)
This quote means

`` The Merchant Of Venice `` By William Shakespeare
Risk is a situation that involves the possibility of exposure to dangers. Risks exist everywhere, even
the most minute of actions can place someone in jeopardy. It is an inescapable labyrinth that plagues
the lives of all ever since humanity's first existence. Yet it,s double–edged sword like characteristics
of also providing opportunities and gains keeps many enthralled in it. In William Shakespeare 's' The
Merchant of Venice, Antonio, a protagonist, gives himself over to a life–threatening contract with
the villain, Shylock the Jew, in order to provide the means for one of Antonio's friend the
opportunity to woo a lady. Over the course of the play, various risky opportunities and events also
expose other relationships as means of satisfying their wants, although not all their outcomes are
favourable. Risk is the root cause of rewards and punishments in The Merchant of Venice. This is
seen between the play's rivals, such as Antonio and Shylock. Also is seen between lovers, such as
Bassanio and Portia. It is seen again between fathers and children, such as Shylock and Jessica.
The outcomes of the rivals plot, namely the struggles between Antonio and Shylock, were greatly
influenced by the partaking of risks. One of the risks taken by the main pair of rivals is Shylock
employing a malevolent bond purposed with ending the life of Antonio. Shylock demands that he
will "have [his] bond; speak not against [his] bond:/ [he has] sworn an oath that [he] will have [his]
bond."

Male Friendship in William Shakespeare´s The Merchant of...
In 16th century England, platonic, passionate friendships between men were a commonality, and this
was the case for Bassanio and Antonio. The Merchant of Venice shows how Antonio's help in
Bassanio's pursuit for Portia's love is actually his way of showing love. Antonio gives Bassanio
financial support even though Bassanio already owes him money. He especially risks himself by
taking out a bid from Shylock because all of his assets are at sea. These actions can be seen as loyal
friendship, but Antonio exceeds friendship by taking a risky loan and putting his life in the hands of
a cruel Jew to assure the contentment of his dear friend. Antonio's actions overstep heterosexual
boundaries by plunging into a risky business ordeal so his friend can charm Portia in style.
The first scene where we are introduced to Antonio, he is speaking to his friends Salarino and
Gratiano. He is a melancholy, distressed character who proclaims "I hold the world but as the world,
Gratiano,–a stage where every man must play a part, and mine a sad one." (Act 1, Scene 1, Page 4).
This line becomes more important when Bassanio enters, and Gratiano and Salarino rush themselves
away, knowing that Antonio would prefer to be with Bassanio alone. After they leave, Antonio
presses Bassanio about the girl he is interested in. While this is a common thing to ask among
friends, deeper inquiry suggests that Antonio has deeper feelings for Bassanio. Thus the line about
the "part" Antonio plays in the world

Portia, The Merchant Of Venice
Portia, The Merchant of Venice
Do you agree that Portia is a memorable character in the play The Merchant of Venice?
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.
Portia is not a memorable character because amongst her 'god–like amity' and her 'mortal–breathing
saint' personality, she also portrays a deceitful character through her complex personality. Portia's
personality is superficial. Her evaluation of her suitors is both articulate and scathing; Portia
deconstructs each man with a kind of clinical precision, seeming to take particular pleasure in
questioning their masculinity. "God made him, and therefore let him pass as a man;" (1.2.50). This
quote reveals Portia's conception of masculinity seems to have little to do with mere anatomy. The
French Lord, she says, though he posses the outward signs of masculinity, plays a man's part poorly
that only God's intent allows him to be considered one. She apparently believes herself to have
superior judgement of what make a truly masculine man. Though her

The Arduous Journey Of Discovering Antonio 's Destiny
I decided that "The Arduous Journey to Discovering Antonio's Destiny" is a decent, exceptional title
for my paper, because it gives a brief description on what my paper will be about, Antonio's
expedition on finding his destiny.
1 ½ ) When reading over the assignment rubric, I noticed a few errors. One being in question
number 1, where it says,"How are Samuel, Antonio, and Cico different?". Instead of saying "are"
you would say is. "Is" is singular while "are" is plural, and since it 's talking about each individual, it
would make it singular. 2) Antonio and Cico just saw a golden carp, which is a pagan god according
to Samuel. Witnessing it strongly impacted Antonio, since actually seeing it was as splendid and
impressive as the Catholic God. Previously observing Ultima 's magic and just the thought of the
carp really shows to Tony that there is more to life than what he 's been taught from church and his
mother. After confronting the carp, Antonio realizes that Ultima was able to do things his Catholic
god couldn't, revealing that he would never be fulfilled by his Catholic faith. His friends Samuel and
Cico are all different from each other. Antonio is a Catholic, Samuel tells Antonio about the carp,
and Cico believes in many gods, like the golden carp, and shows it Antonio.
3) In the setting of the novel, it seemed as if the boys and girls were separated in a way, because the
girls had to stay confined indoors while the boys had to go outside, even in the

Similarities And Differences Between Merchant Of Venice...
Two of Shakespeare's works, The Merchant of Venice and Twelfth Night, both have a parallel plot
structure which involves a woman disguising herself as a man in order to accomplish some goal. In
the former, Portia disguises herself as a lawyer so as to enter the Duke's court and help her husband's
friend, Antonio, avoid having a pound of his flesh cut off. In the latter, Viola disguises herself as
Cesario so she can enter Duke Orsino's court and work as a page. This parallel structure is further
strengthened by the fact that in both plays, the woman in disguise has to perform some task that
(during Shakespeare's time) was usually performed by a man. Portia has to defend her husband's
friend, Antonio, in court, while Viola has to engage in a sword fight with Sir Andrew. Despite the
many similarities, there is a subtle difference: Portia seems much more confident in her role as a
man when compared to Viola. We see when Portia is effective and confident as a lawyer but Viola is
reluctant to spar with Sir Andrew in a sword fight, and also when she is weary that the Fool has
caught on to her disguise. This difference reflects the theme of challenging prejudice in The
Merchant of Venice, and also reflect the theme of highlighting gender difference in Twelfth Night,
which reveals a lot about both plays as a whole.
Portia shows much confidence as a lawyer in the trial scene (Act 4 Scene 1) of The Merchant of
Venice. For example, she displays great knowledge of the laws of Venice when

Portia In Romeo And Juliet
Shakespeare uses the character, Portia, to display that even when you do love someone you do not
always have full trust in them. Portia, despite her love for Bassanio, tested the loyalty and
trustworthiness of her husband. She dosesn't know if she can fully trust him to keep the vows and
the promises he made, in marrying her and to the ring of their love, in his time of trouble. When
Bassanio leaves to try to save Antonio from his debt, Portia begins to talk to Nerissa and hatching a
plan: "Come on, Nerissa; I have work in hand / That you yet know not of: we'll see our husbands /
Before they think of us." (3.4. 50–61) Through this passage, we see it's clear that Portia does not
have complete trust in her husband. She makes a secret plan with

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