Merchant of Venice

A detailed Summary of Merchant of Venice


In the play "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare many forms of prejudice are expressed through various characters in the duration of the play. There are several prejudice comments made by various characters, however, Shakespeare also includes statements that support his tolerance. This is what has aroused the controversial question of whether or not he shares the common prejudice of the Elizabethan era. After examining the play, we see that Shakespeare is somewhat prejudice, however, he has more of an enlightened opinion.

In this play the audience is exposed to various forms of prejudice such as Portia's casual discrimination towards several ethnicities and Shylock being a character that runs into an abundance of hardships and obstacles; we are able to realize that this supports the theory that Shakespeare did in fact share a portion of the prejudice. Through Portia's discrimination towards the prince of Morocco, the prince of Spain, Arragon; and against people of Jewish origin, the audience is able to recognize Shakespeare's prejudice. It seems as though Shakespeare tries to build sympathy for her character beforehand, by revealing her to the audience as a kind and loving woman, who is looking for love, yet her fr


food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases,

make incision for your love, to prove who's blood is reddest his or mine.

I will execute and it shall go hard but I will better the

I tell thee, lady this aspect of mine hath fear'd the valiant: by my love, I



Some common words found in the essay are:
Lorenzo Christian, Jew IV, Spain Arragon, Arragon Portia, William Shakespeare, Jewish Christian, Revenge Christian, Jessica Lorenzo's, Hath Jew, Shylock Jew, common prejudice, shakespeare share, shylock's speech, morrocco's speech, jessica lorenzo's elopement, elopement morrocco's, hath jew, prejudice portia's, final punishment, share common prejudice, elizabethan era, lorenzo's elopement morrocco's, jessica lorenzo's, shakespeare share common, elopement morrocco's speech,

Approximate Word count = 1769
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Novels

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