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Theme of revenge in merchant of venice
Describe the trial scene in Merchant of Venice
Describe the trial scene in Merchant of Venice
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Shylock is partial to blame for Jessica's rebellious actions. Jessica is talking to Lancelet Gobbo about how she is planning to run away from her father’s house: “ I am sorry thou wilt leave my father so./Our house is hell and thou, s merry devil,/Didst rob it of some taste of tediousness” (2.3.1-3) With Jessica saying this she is telling Lancelet Gobbo that she wants to leave because living with Shylock is a living hell to her. She is also telling him about her plans to rob her Shylock’s house just because she can and she is using it as a way to get revenge on Shylock for making her life a living hell. After Shylock leaves to go to a party Jessica dresses up a boy, robs Shylock, and runs away with a Christian: “Here, catch this casket; it …show more content…
When Bassino was looking to get a loan from someone he found Shylock they started talking and then Shylock said, “You spurned me such a day; another time/ You called me a ‘dog’; for these courtesies/ I’ll lend you thus much moneys?”(1.3.137-139). With this, he is saying that Antonio and Bassanio have called him a dog and insulted him yet they have the audacity to ask him for a loan.This shows how he was the victim of Antonio and Bassanio because he is a jew. After Shylock agrees to give them the loan they talk about what will happen if they don’t pay the 3,000 ducats in three months: “Expressed in the condition, let the forfeit/ Be nominated for an equal pound/ Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken/ In what part of your body pleaseth me” (1.3.160-163). This is saying that if they fail to pay him back Shylock gets to take a pound of Antonio's flesh from where ever he wants. This is showing that being treated as a victim made him want revenge of Antonio and that blinded him because, in the end, this will be his downfall. When Shylock and Antonio went to court because Antonio didn’t pay back Shylock back in time Balthazar decide this: “Tarry, Jew./The law hath yet another hold on you./It is enacted in the laws of Venice,/If it be proved against an alien/That by direct or indirect attempts/He seek the life of any citizen,/The party 'gainst the which he doth contrive/Shall seize one half his goods; the
In Susan Pharr's "The Common Elements of Oppression", she defines "the other" as the outcast of society, the ones who stand up for what they believe in, no matter how `against the grain' it may be, the ones who try the hardest to earn acceptance, yet never receive it. In Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice", Shylock, the `villain' is portrayed as the other simply because of his faith, because he is Jewish in a predominantly Christian society.
incident, even Shylock realizes this, bemoaning the loss of a ring that his late wife gave him, and insinuating that it was worth more than money. Despite this, Shylock appears indifferent at best to his daughter, showing no signs of the love between parent and child. Coldly, the man even wished
When the play was written the audience would have immediately disliked Shylock on the basis of his religion and occupation, however nowadays when religious prejudice is not nearly as strong we still find him an unpleasant character. One of the main things which makes him seem unpleasant is his greed and love of money. His first words are actually “Three thousand ducats; well”, perhaps a method of Shakespeare’s to show the audience immediately what is most important to Shylock. Later on in the first scene, when Antonio enters to talk to him about lending Bassanio money Shylock says to himself;
In Act 1 Scene 3, we are first introduced to Shylock, we see him as
receives. So it would not be fair to say that he was totally evil as
Shylock lends Antonio a sum of money, that Antonio intends to pay back when his merchant ships arrive in Venice, one month before the debt would be forfeited. When Bassarnio arranges the sum of money, Shylock befriends them, only to stand aside and utter to him self, "I hate him for he is a Christian... If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed my ancient grudge I bear him," Act 1, Scene 3. Shortly after saying, "But ships are but boards, sailors but men... the perils of waters, winds, and rocks...Three thousand ducats; I think I may take his bond." Shylock is setting his trap here. Shylocks terms of the debt are a pound of Antonios flesh from closets his heart if it be forfeited.
Shylock confronts Antonio for spitting on his gabardine, calling him a ‘dog’, and scolding him in the Rialto about his moneys. Antonio replies with, "I am like to call thee so again, To spet on thee again, to spurn thee, too"(1.3.140-141). Antonio does not deny his actions and instead of apologizing he says he will do them again. He does not hold back his feelings for Shylock and in a broad sense his feelings toward Jews. In the second act, Launcelot is debating whether or not he should seek a new employer. His problem is that he works for Shylock, who is Jewish. Launcelot thinks to himself, "Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation" (2.2.24). Eventually, he decides to run away from Shylock rather than continue working for a Jew. He then presents the argument, "I am a Jew if I serve the Jew any longer" (2.2.104) to his father. Before accepting the new job, Antonio discusses the matter with his father and reminds himself that Bassanio is much poorer than Shylock, but that he would much rather work for a Christian than a Jew. Lorenzo harshly insults Shylock when he tells Jessica that if her father ever makes it to heaven, it is only because Jessica converted to Christianity and that is portrayed through the line, "If e’er the Jew her father come to heaven, It will be for his gentle daughter’s sake" (2.4.36-7). Lorenzo describes Jessica using the word gentle. The word gentle in Shakespeare’s time can also be pronounced gentile which means against Judaism. In this quote and later on in the play through the line, "Our house is hell, and the, a merry devil"(2.3.2-3), Shakespeare is informing the reader that Jessica dislikes her father and that the house she has lived in with him is hell.
Their father to daughter relationship isn’t traditional, yet it still holds love and understanding. In the following adaptation of the play (Act 2 Scenes 4 and 5), Jessica and Shylock’s relationship isn’t perfect, but it isn’t nearly as bad as Jessica believes it is. Shylock tries to express his love to Jessica through light-hearted joking, but his strict demeanor makes it difficult for him to get through to his daughter. In these scenes, Shylock expresses his anger strongly and freely, which upsets Jessica. Jessica views these bouts of anger as if they are directed at her, when they are simply anger at the world. Jessica wishes for freedom from the anger Shylock holds. This yearning for freedom leads Jessica to her blind love for
The Merchant of Venice and Othello: Shylock vs Iago. Shakespeare's use of timeless themes makes his works relevant to the modern reader. His two plays "The Merchant of Venice" and "Othello" deal with the seeking of revenge and forbidden love. In "The Merchant of Venice," Shylock, the main character, is a Jew who loans money and charges interest.
...f flesh, and thereby Antonio's life. One might argue that it is Shylock's honesty that becomes his downfall. In the end there is no doubt in anyone's mind that he, as an alien, did "seek the life of a citizen" (IV, i, 347), and that he therefore is liable to persecution.
Shylock lends Antonio a sum of money, that Antonio intends to pay back when his merchant ships arrive in Venice, one month before the debt would be forfeited. When Bassanio arranges the sum of money, Shylock befriends him, only to stand aside and utter to him self, "I hate him for he is a Christian... If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him," Act 1, Scene 3. Shortly after saying, "But ships are but boards, sailors but men... the perils of waters, winds, and rocks...Three thousand ducats; I think I may take his bond." Shylock is setting his trap here. Shylocks terms of the agreement are a pound of Antonios flesh from closets his heart, if it be forfeited.
Bassanio says that his great debts in Venice abridge him from a noble rate, and that is prodigal hath left him g Here, Bassanio mentions his serious debt and that wealth or lack of it plays an important role in Venice’s society. The religious conflict in Venice can be seen where Shylock, a Jewish money-lender, is approached by Antonio, a Christian, to obtain a loan. Shylock agrees to give the loan, on condition that if it can’t be paid back, Antonio gives Shylock a pound of flesh. Antonio and Shylock have deep-rooted hatred for each other because of their religion. This hatred is spurred over the greedy interest loan Shylock has offered.
Antonio and Shylock are both successful entrepreneurs in Venice but they both have different attitudes and experiences. When Antonio is asking Shylock for the loan he says, “Within these two months – that’s a month before this bond expires – I do expect, return of thrice times the value of this bond.” (1.3.169-170). Antonio and Shylock both are well off and successful businessmen. Antonio, being a man who is treats everyone nicely, lends his good name to Bassanio to woo Portia. Shylock on the other hand, could never do that and is a very greedy man who asks for three times the value of the loan. Also, Antonio is a risk taker and thinks things will always go the right way for him and his success will continue, which is shown when he accepts the high interest rate and the bizarre payment if the money isn’t received. Shylock handles his business straightforward and charges interest because it is his job, although being a very high amount and if it isn’t carried out, Shylock gets his payment of one pound of flesh. Shylock is depicted as the greedy businessman while Antonio is the nice man who tries his luck.
She demands to pay twice or even three times the amount owed, for she loves Bassanio and anyone he calls friend. Shakespeare shows here that money doesn’t have the same effect on love as it does with the caskets or with the evil in Shylock and that it can be used for good love in Portia’s donation. In Venice Bassanio brings fourth the 6000 ducats to repay Shylock, but he doesn’t accept it. Once Portia, disguised as the doctor, entered the court, she pleads with Shylock to show mercy, but he refuses. Shylock makes known that he would rather have law than his money and mercy. The doctor approves the pound of flesh to be taken from Antonio under the condition that Shylock must cut exactly one pound while shedding no blood, or he will lose all his lands and goods. Now faced with the impossible, Shylock requests that he take his 6000 ducats and let Antonio go. However, the doctor has already made the call and demands Shylock take the flesh or he will suffer death. Shylock has been so adamant that the law be upheld, but now that it has turned in loves favor, he becomes the victim. Venetian law states that any man who wrongfully attempts to take another man’s life will be subject to lose his own decided by the Duke and will lose all of his possessions. The Duke spares his life, but takes all his goods. Shylock cries out
which tells us that Shylock is being referred to as a dog, not like a