Masculinity

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses the issue of male relations and friendship which has been discussed in literary texts in different ways. William Shakespeare and Goethe are representative figures of the literary world and are essential authors in the discussion. The paper specifically refers to Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and Goethe's "The Sorrow of Young Werther", which are significant in highlighting relevant coordinates that defined the way in which male relationships were viewed, depicted and constructed both in terms of reality observation, as well as from the point of view of the literary practice.

From the Paper:

"On the other hand, Bassanio is the dreamy type of character, who follows his heart and who is desperately in love with Portia, the heiress of a considerable fortune. The relationship of the two men is based on sincere feelings and constant mutual support. Nonetheless, Antonio is the one more coherent in thoughts and actions, as he is the one advising his friend to acquire the money he needs for courting Portia from a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. This initiative reveals both the practical nature of Antonio, as well as the adventurous spirit of the two. From this perspective, the initial relationship of the two may be compared to that of Romeo and Mercutio, from Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". Despite the fact that the "Merchants of Venice" is more a comedy rather than a tragedy, the relationship of the two is somewhat comparable with that available in "Romeo and Juliet". Similar to Romeo and Mercutio who are strongly connected through a friendship that defies any norm and rule, Antonio and Bassanio are too linked through a certain sense of completion. Mercutio may resemble Antonio through their more pragmatic spirit, while Bassanio is similar to Romeo in his quest for his impossible love."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Halio, Jay L., ed. The Merchant of Venice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1998.
• Wain, John. The Oxford Library of Short Novels. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1990.

More papers on Masculinity:

• Essay # 137893 : "The Construction of Masculinity in Margaret Atwood’s, The Edible Woman"
• Analytical Essay # 147659 : "Gillette and the Defining of Male Masculinity"
• Analytical Essay # 85041 : "Presentations of Masculinity in Film"
• Analytical Essay # 133223 : "Masculinity Before and After World War II"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: