Tragedy in The Merchant of Venice

According to dictionary.com, a tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering; furthermore, it is a dramatic composition, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. Tragedy elements are that in which a protagonist agonizes disconnection from society and also, he or she makes an error or shows awful decision making. There are typically deaths which arise at the end or near the end of the play. The Merchant of Venice can be classified as a tragedy because it contains the rather sinister elements generally found in tragedies and the play Antigone can be considered a tragedy, because of the severe consequences of the story's proceedings.

As a tragedy, The Merchant of Venice focuses on the collapse of a Jewish moneylender, Shylock, who exits the stage a wrecked man and is unavoidable at the conclusion of the play to become a Christian and to surrender his assets. In this play, Shylock is the tragic hero because he has a tragic flaw. His fault is fairly obvious, all the way through the play, which is that his material prosperity depletes his judgments on a daily basis. One example where it is noticeable that he merely cares about his belongings is the instance when his daughter, Jessica, runs away. He says, “O, my ducats! O, my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O, my Christian ducats” (Shakespeare 2.8.15-16). He incorporates his daughter right in between as if she is one of his assets. Near the conclusion of the play, Shylock is humiliated. Shylock experiences disgrace when Portia, masked as a man, employs his personal remarks and bond in opposition to him. This occurs because i...

... middle of paper ...

...hant of Venice is noticeable by a pungent and ostracized Jewish moneylender, Shylock, who looks for vengeance in opposition to a Christian mercantile who fails on credit. Shylock and Antonio together experience personal distress which can categorize these plays as tragedies. Antigone is a story distinct by true misfortune as Creon is overpowered by his individual measures and Antigone's individual tragic fatality notes the start of that collapse. Antigone and Creon mutually have vital tragic flaws that eventually end in their tragedies, therefore, Antigone and The Merchant of Venice equally compare in making these two plays tragedies.

Works Cited

“Tragedy.” Dictionary.com. Dictionary, 2011. Web. 1 Dec. 2011.

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. New York: Washington Square Press, 1992.

Sophocles, . Antigone. Clayton: Prestwick House, 2005.