Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is one of the most celebrated Shakespearean plays. However, whether or not its title is equally matched is a question that has left many divided. The first and most obvious flaw with the title is the reference to a 'Merchant of Venice' while in the play there are actually two merchants, namely, Shylock and Antonio. Who the 'merchant' really is, is unclear. Apart from this, if the title is meant to refer to the play's hero, the title fails to do so. Shylock is presented, as a bloodthirsty villain while Antonio seems to be a depressed and morose character. There have been numerous arguments that have been put forward on whether or not Antonio is the merchant that the title refers to. Antonio is obviously one of the main protagonists in the play. He is a character who seems to care more for others than for himself. For instance, when Bassanio meets Antonio in Act I, Bassanio asks for an amount of money that Antonio does not have. Antonio decides to help him get a loan from a local moneylender. Antonio's selflessness is clearly demonstrated from the following quote: " Where money is and I no question make, To have it of my trust or for my sake. "
Shylock on the other hand is an arresting presence on the stage. Although he is the antagonist he has also come to dominate the imagination of critics and audiences alike. Shylock's physical presence in the play is not so large as he speaks fewer lines than other characters and does not appear in the last act. It is important to note though, that the play would not be what it is without him for it explores the relationship between Jews and Christians. The following quote sums up this relationship perfectly. ( ACT l, Scene l) " Thou call'st me a dog before thou had'st a reason.
Some common words found in the essay are:
Antonio Antonio, ACT Scene, Shylock Antonio, Shylock Merchant, Portia Quick-witted, Shylocks Jews, Merchant Venice, III Scene, Lady Belmont', Jews Christians, merchant venice, shylock bloodthirsty villain, bloodthirsty villain, act scene, jews looked, title play, antonio antonio, shylock bloodthirsty, characters play, scene 1, title refers,
Approximate Word count = 990
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
|
