William Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice is full of many characters exploring love, friendship, money and revenge. Two characters that are obviously very different are Antonio and Shylock, but these characters have some similarities as well. Many of their similarities lie beneath but with some digging are apparent. Many of their differences are found on the surface. First, is their religion, Shylock being a Jew and of lower status in Elizabethan society is considered inferior by Antonio. This is apparent when of Antonio speaks of Shylock’s heart and how hard it is. He says, “…as seek to softer that—than which what’s harder?—his Jewish heart.”(pg. 26) Antonio is personally offended by Shylocks choice of religion but is especially against Shylock’s career as a creditor. Antonio is smug about his money and loans it out without interest hurting Shylock. Shylock expresses his views on Antonio saying, “How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian, but more for that he lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice.” (pg.5) The hate between these two runs deep but similarities are equally important. First off, both men are business people, Antonio as an investor and Shylock a creditor. They are also, deeply religious, even though their religions are a reason of conflict. Another similarity is that both have given much to a person that they love. Shylock’s daughter runs away with most of his money, still Shylock finds a way to love his daughter. Also, at the end he gives half of all he has to her. Similarly, Antonio uses his credit against his better judgment, to make his friend Bassiano happy in love. Antonio’s life is spared at the last minute but he was willing to give his life for Bassanio. Although the conflict between Antonio and Shylock are what make The Merchant of Venice a great story and one worth telling, Their similarities are also important to the story and the harmony between the two of them.
Today in class as we listened to the NPR report on modern Italy I started to make some connections that surprised me but were reasonable and logical. Before when I thought of Italy in Elizabethan times I had a harder time understanding the tension between Shylock and Antonio as well as the motivation behind the tension. After listening to the way Blacks are treated in Italy today I am able to relate the two situations to each other as well as make other connections to other incidents. One of the first things I thought of was the equal rights movement in America not so long ago. Many of the things the Italians were saying such as, segregated schools and poor job opportunities relate exactly to what African Americans went through. Another group that I didn’t first connect to but later started to consider is women. The suffrage movement was an important change in American culture. Although women don’t come from a different country (or planet as it sometimes seems), they are different from one another and this is the starting point for tension and women’s need to stand up and achieve equal rights. Although two groups may be different from one another, that is no reason for people to feel a prejudice toward one another. This is shown through Shylock’s interactions to Christians, mainly Bassiano thus far in the book.
Today in class as we listened to the NPR report on modern Italy I started to make some connections that surprised me but were reasonable and logical. Before when I thought of Italy in Elizabethan times I had a harder time understanding the tension between Shylock and Antonio as well as the motivation behind the tension. After listening to the way Blacks are treated in Italy today I am able to relate the two situations to each other as well as make other connections to other incidents. One of the first things I thought of was the equal rights movement in America not so long ago. Many of the things the Italians were saying such as, segregated schools and poor job opportunities relate exactly to what African Americans went through. Another group that I didn’t first connect to but later started to consider is women. The suffrage movement was an important change in American culture. Although women don’t come from a different country (or planet as it sometimes seems), they are different from one another and this is the starting point for tension and women’s need to stand up and achieve equal rights. Although two groups may be different from one another, that is no reason for people to feel a prejudice toward one another. This is shown through Shylock’s interactions to Christians, mainly Bassiano thus far in the book.
A. So far in merchant of Venice we have discovered a lot about certain characters as well as themes and motifs in the book. Two of my favorite characters are Portia and Nerissa. In the scene where the two are talking about possible suitors I found their witty humor and rude comments funny because they reminded me of high school girls picking dates for the prom. I never thought Shakespeare was as funny as he is until I began to pull apart the meanings and find humor in them. Another character that I enjoyed was Lorenzo. He is so love sick that he wants to break Jessica out of her father’s house dressed as a boy. He is a little pathetic in how he speaks in Elizabethan language but it adds to the scenes in a comedic way. However, a character I don’t enjoy is Lorenzo’s love Jessica. I don’t think she has a very high moral code, the fact that she wants to forsake her father and his religion doesn’t bother me, it is that she does it with no integrity and she steals from him. The way she speaks about it she tries to act like she had to do it but I think she would have been more of a noble heroine for standing up for her love if she hadn’t stooped to such a low level.
In the commoner scene with Lancelot Gobbo and his father, as well as Bassaino I started to crack up once I realized what they were talking about. The way they worded things and because I couldn’t hear him speak it made it difficult to hear it how Shakespeare meant it to. In other Shakespeare plays I found the commoners funny and witty. As Ms. Robison said in class I they offer good comic relief after intense scenes.
Hosted by 