Merchant of Venice Essay

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Defeating the enemy, light-heartedness, and a happy ending for the lovers are all elements in a comedic play. William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice shows that love conquers all and that you can always defeat the enemy. Even if a pound of flesh is the difference between life and death, or if one wrong person chooses the casket that decides your fate. For example, The Merchant of Venice, Antonio, not only survives the fate of having a pound of his flesh taken from his body on account of his friend that could not repay the bond to a man who is seen as the devil, but gets thrice his money back and the villain is taken down. Not to mention that Antonio’s best friend, Bassanio, not only repays the bond and gets out of his debt to help his friend, but also marries himself a rich wife. In contrast, Portia, who was bound by her dead father to marry a man whom she could never love, cheated her fate and married the man she truly loved. What makes this play a comedy is clearly evident; the villain is defeated and destroyed, and happy endings are given to those that deserve them like the Christians.
Antonio is melancholic in the beginning though he did not know much of the reason as to why. It is found that he could not support his closest friend, Bassanio, out of debt because he had not any money at the time, and he was watching Bassanio leave him to look for love. Bassanio wants to look wealthy to Portia, so they go to Venice in search of money for Bassanio. They wind up making a deal with Shylock, a Jew. Shylock is not all that cooperative as a result of being bullied by the Christians, such as Bassanio and Antonio. To the audience, this is enjoyable for they see that they are hurting the Jews with their words. As it turns ...

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...n. Also that Antonio's closest companion, Bassanio, not just reimburses the bond and escapes his obligation to help his companion, additionally weds himself a rich wife. Interestingly, Portia, who was bound by her dead father to wed a man whom she could never love, duped her destiny and wedded the man she legitimately adored. If there are evil devils in your way it is possible to overcome them, with love in your heart. This brings light-heartedness in the play; no one is disheartened, and people are overjoyed by the outcome: that love conquers all, and the Christians come out victorious. A 16th century comedy must do this for it really would not be a comedy if it did not. Often times in life we are faced with people or obstacles we must overcome, but if you go in not with ignorance and arrogance, but with love, you are able to take it down: coming out victorious.

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