Abstract In this paper the author discusses whether the "Merchant of Venice" is a fairy tale, as exemplified by the romantic comedy genre, or a problem play. The author looks at the three themes he suggests run through the play: Prejudice, Loyalty and Love. He looks closely at the character of Shylock and how he has been depicted over time, from villain to someone who should be pitied and at the hypocrisy shown by the Christian characters; he examines the relationships between Antonio, Bassanio, Portia, Gratiano, Nerissa, Lorenzo, and Jessica and the resulting marriages and love is examined with respect to the platonic loyalty between friends and in the romantic exchanges between suitors and spouses.
From the paper:
?The theme of loyalty in the play comes out through the interactions of several sets of characters. First, there is Bassanio, who is close friends with Antonio --? friendship which survives many stressful situations in the play. The loyalty between Bassanio and Antonio becomes evident I the first act of the play when Antonio loans Bassanio a large sum of money and takes him on his word that he will repay it.?
Abstract This paper discusses whether Shylock the Jew is the most money-hungry character in William Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice." The paper analyzes the plot and some of the scenes in the play in order to compare the different character's views on money. The paper concludes that it is the Christian Bassanio who is the most money-conscious of all of the persons in the play and explains why this is so.
From the Paper "It is the Christian Bassanio, ironically, who is the most money-conscious of all of the persons in the play. Bassanio chooses lead, when asked to select from the three caskets that Portia offers to test her suitors. She is happy that he wins, and the lead is supposed to be the correct choice, for the person who chooses lead is supposed to be a man who has hazarded all he has, to win Portia. But in truth, Bassanio has hazarded nothing and desires Portia's gold. It is Antonio who has taken the risk in lending money for his friend. Now that Shylock is angered because of the loss of his daughter, he resolves to call upon the bond Antonio made in jest, a pound of flesh. The jest-like nature of the false bond was reflected when Antonio said that: "The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind." (I.2) In other words, Shylock asked for no interest or money upon the loan in an effort to cement his relationship with Antonio (another example of how Shylock does not always put money before relationships). However, Shylock's kindness turns to cruelty, because a Christian has sundered his relationship with his beloved daughter--a Christian, incidentally, in need of money that willingly spends the ducats stolen by his stolen bride from Shylock's coffers."
This paper compares the three suitors in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice" and explores how Shakespeare influences the audience's attitudes towards the three men.
Abstract This paper explains that, in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice", Portia's three suitors--the Prince of Morocco, the Prince of Arragon and Bassanio-- reveal the contents of the three caskets and, by exposing their attitudes towards the caskets, indicate their true character, which heightens the dramatic tension. The author points out that, at the time the play was written England was at war with Spain so Arragon, a rather unflattering stereotype of a typical Spaniard, would have been funny to an Elizabethan audience and his name "Arragon" and "Arrogant" amusing. The paper relates that Morocco is jeered at for his skin color but Bassanio is portrayed more favorably as a Christian and Venetian, who is not proud or arrogant. Many illustrations.
From the Paper "The second suitor is the Prince of Arragon whose entrance unlike Morocco's is not pre-empted by any comments from Portia. His arrogance and pride are shown through his choice of casket and his reaction to choosing the wrong casket. He comments on the inscription of gold casket, "...I will not jump with common spirits/And rank me with barbarous multitudes" (Act II Scene ix). Thinking gold was too common for him he arrogantly discards it. He does not even stop to contemplate the lead casket saying only that it would have to look more attractive for him to hazard anything for it. The silver casket is the one that appeals to him the most because he feels that no one deserving should go unmerited. His arrogance leads him to assume that he is worthy of Portia."
Abstract Using John Mayer's song, "Daughters," as inspiration, the paper examines how family relationships, particularly that of a father and daughter, which is a woman's first "love" relationship, can influence her behaviors in future romantic relationships. It examines how "The Merchant of Venice" chronicles the relationships of two father-daughter pairs, showing how a father's selfishness can be ruinous to his daughter's marriage, whereas a close father-daughter bond can ensure a woman a better chance of a happy, healthy marriage.
From the Paper "Jessica portends the negative impact that her folly for revenge and escape will have on her marriage when she says "But love is blind, and lovers cannot see/The pretty follies that themselves commit," (2.5.36-37). Despite having everything she thinks she wanted - a life free from her father's house, and marriage to a man she loves - Jessica's actions will always hang over her life like a dark cloud. As she and Lorenzo sit and sing together near the end of the play, they "uneasily equate their love" to doomed couples such as Trolius and Cressida, Jason and Medea, and Pyramus and Thisbe, "all ominous archetypes of bonds somehow shattered in conjunction with attempts to invalidate family or cultural allegiances" (Boose 337)."
Abstract Using the ideas and motifs of the contextual text "Il Pecorone", William Shakespeare constructs a play - "The Merchant of Venice" - with a focus on sexuality and gender, creating equal grounds to contrast the characters Antonio and Portia. This paper shows that, adding a depth to the play that was not present in the original document, Shakespeare presents a world of romantic rivalry in which the woman assumes characteristics generally associated with the masculine - such as power, authority and self-control, while the man is shown as a weak character victimized by his own emotional instability.
From the Paper "Inspiration for the character of Portia is the Lady of Belmonte in the original text, a woman who uses her sexuality and power to lure gullible men into her trap. Highlighting the benefits of their visit, she counts on men's sexual greed and vulnerability to get them to accept the challenge and loose their ships - in a way she is the equivalent of hazardous storms that sailors face. The fact that the Lady's name is not specified strengthens her association with the supernatural, and establishes her as a strong character unaffected by human flaws. Her life experiences and maturity allow her to preserve the authority over her possessions and to make decisions about her future. As a widow, the lady defies the stereotype of a virginal maiden."
Abstract This paper looks at Portia's true love for Bassanio in Shakespeare's play, "The Merchant of Venice" and contrasts it with Antonio's self-serving, obsessive love for the same man. Reflections on Shakespeare's insights on true love are offered.
From the Paper "The Merchant of Venice like all of his plays is full of meaning on many levels. One of the predominant themes in this play however is that of love. A number of people in the play either love each other or claim to.."
Abstract The paper examines how the themes of fidelity and financial gain through greed are the main themes of the "ring plot" in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice". The writer proposes that, by analyzing the symbolic role of the wedding ring as a valuable financial asset, as well as a symbol for loyalty, one can realize the comedic value of Portia's test of Bassanio.
From the Paper "In this drama study the crucial "ring plot" in "The Merchant of Venice" will be examined. Both Nerissa and Portia both demand their husband's wedding rings due to the extreme monetary nature of love depicted between suitors and marriage in Shakespeare's play. The factors of infidelity, forced marriage, and the availability of wealth for Portia's suitors offers an solution as to why the rings become symbolic of greed and infidelity in marital issues. In essence, the rings come to symbolize the comedic overtones of greed for money and broken vows of marriage through the Venetian institution of marriage and courtship. In Act V, scene I of The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare acknowledges a triumphant court battle between Shylock and Antonio for a debt accrued for backing Bassanio's courtship fees for Portia."
Abstract This paper provides a description of the casket scenes in Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice." The paper looks at Portia, one of Shakespeare's more willful and determined women, and explains how the lottery system devised by Portia's father sheds light on her character. The paper also compares Portia's character at the casket scenes with that at the court scene.
Outline:
Introduction
The Casket Scenes
The Court Scene
Conclusion
From the Paper "First of all, it is interesting to note that the lottery system that Portia's father had construed consisted of caskets instead of any other available objects. In a system that was devised to find Portia a husband, it is almost macabre that caskets be used to symbolize her impending marriage. It is almost as if hinting that her father knew how much she would dread a chance marriage as much as death itself. The lottery system hides a Christian bias (Sparknotes.com) where it also resembles Venice of the play. The caskets are gold, silver and lead and each with its own inscriptions. According to Christian teachings, humans should resist the idea of desire as it is unreliable. There is also the matter of appearances being deceiving and that humans should not only trust their senses."
