Stereotypes in "The Merchant of Venice"

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the play "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare which depicts characters who are not as obviously evil or heroic as originally thought. The paper illustrates that the play simply raises the question of stereotypes and of the audience's prejudices toward a race of people, in order to examine it in their own minds. There is no answer to the question of whether Shylock was good or evil. Critics who have placed the blame either squarely on Shylock for being evil or who have taken the opposite tact, have missed the point. The paper concludes that the point of the play is not to display Jewish villainy, but to show humanity, to examine pity, to find the meaning of mercy and to dread the consequences of revenge.

From the Paper:

"It is here, in The Merchant of Venice, the Jewish Shylock makes a case against slave ownership. He reaches the trial, an opportune time in the play where one might be able to make a point and make a point Shylock certainly does. Even though it has been argued that Shakespeare was anti-Semitic, in actuality, The Merchant of Venice shows that he is not insensitive to the Jewish plight and in fact is more anti-slavery than anything else. Even though the hero, Antonio, his friend, Bassanio and the duke triy to save the day, all are against him, Shylock does not waver, but continues with his request for a pound of flesh, as he says, concerning slaves, "Let them be free, marry them to your heirs /Why sweat they under burdens?.. . . You will answer 'The slaves are ours.' So do I answer you." A young judge is sent, when Bellario cannot come to be judge because he is ill. Balthasar decides in Antonio's favor, speaking through Portia, who in this play is shown not only to be assertive, but wise."

Sample of Sources Used:

• "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare

More papers on Stereotypes in "The Merchant of Venice":

• Analytical Essay # 64880 : "Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice?"
• Argumentative Essay # 4770 : "Shylock, Shakespeare and the "Merchant of Venice"
• Essay # 35932 : "Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice"

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