The whole play is interwoven with the theme of friendship and loyalty. It is witnessed first in the friendship between Antonio, a rich merchant and his intimate friend, Bassanio. Both of them a loving bond of friendship. Basssanio, a spendthrift, has taken a loan from his friend, Antonio. It is Antonio's love for Bassanio that makes him disregard Bassanio's frivolous habits and sign the fatal bond, even at the risk of his life. Bassanio reciprocates his love for Antonio with the same ardour. Just after winning Portia, when he comes to know of the danger to Antonio's life, he rushes immediately to Venice. He offers in the court the money he has inherited by marrying Portia to settle Antonio's debt. He even promises to sacrifice his own "flesh, blood, bones and all.".
2) Romantic love.
The element of love plays an important role in the drama. There are three love stories in the play-Portia and Basssanio, Nerissa and Gratiano and Jessica and Lorenzo. Like any love story, these three stories have obstacles which are finally overcome.
Portia and Bassanio represent the highest form of love. Though initially Bassanio appears to be influenced by Portia's riches, later in the play, he proves to be a true lover, who has been charmed by the numerous qualities of Portia. His love for Portia is also tested by his right choice of caskets. Portia too is in love with Bassanio. When Nerissa reminds her of Bassanio, she remembers him fondly and agrees with her that he would be the most suitable husband for her. She is thrilled when Bassanio succeeds in chosing the right casket.
Nerissa and Gratiano's love story is a mere imitation of the romance between their master and mistress. There is no fervour or intensity in their love. It is rather a prosaic love as both of them are guided by common sense. Jessica and Lorenzo's love is a true love that doesn't allow religious differences to prove an obstacle in their way.
Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice, has often been mistaken as a love story. ... The Merchant of Venice cannot be described solely as a love story. Hatred is very evident throughout The Merchant of Venice. ... Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice cannot be described as a love story. ... The Merchant of Venice cannot be described as a love story. ...
The Merchant of Venice is a play both about love and hate. ... Shakespeare demonstrates love in The Merchant of Venice amongst the Christians. ... (Jessica- 3,5,18-9) The Merchant of Venice is set in Italy in Venice and Belmont, representing the two worlds of the play. ... (Bassanio- 1,1,161-9) The Merchant of Venice is a play both about love and hate. ... Shakespeare often incorporated the themes of love and hate in his plays, either as the main plot, or a sub plot as such in The Merchant of Venice. ...
** The contrast between Belmont and Venice In "The Merchant of Venice" Shakespeare creates an interesting contrast between the mercantile, tumultuous city of Venice and the peaceful, gracious world of Belmont. ... It is in Belmont that love blooms, honesty and peace prevails everywhere. ... Moreover, in an ironic way, later love is talked about in commercial terms. ... In Venice, ceremony runs into difficulties. ... Shakespeare is a shrewd dramatic engineer and in words of Joan Holmer he "fashions an artistic unity out of the richly varied and often contradictory elements that constitute Th...
The Merchant of Venice is one of the wonderfully exciting plays showing at Bard on the Beach. ... It would be a pleasure to see where she goes after The Merchant of Venice. The Merchant of Venice contains a sophisticated love between Bassanio and Portia, but it also shows us the burdens of being Jewish in a society that is dominantly made up of intolerant Christians. ... The Merchant of Venice is a splendid play to watch for all ages. The Merchant of Venice is a "must see" play. ...
(Murry, 189) The Merchant of Venice had the sole purpose of being made into a feel-good story. ... The coherence of The Merchant of Venice is not intellectual or psychological." ... (Murry, 203) "The Merchant of Venice is not, and was never intended to be a, realistic problem-play." ... (Murry, 205) DON"T KNOW WHAT TO PUT There are some critics that agree with what John Middleton Murry said of The Merchant of Venice, but others critics such as Alexander Leggatt view The Merchant of Venice as quite different. ... (Leggatt, 154) The Merchant of Venice never really does get order from al...
In William Shakespeare's THe merchant of Venice, the mains themes are racism, love and friendship. ... Therefore, racism is a main theme in The Merchant Of Venice. ... THus, love is a main theme in the Merchant of Venice. ... Antonio, the Merchant of Venice, is a kind and generous friend to Bassanio and he lends money to Bassanio for th elove of Portia. ... In the Merchant Of Venice, the main themes that are presented are racism, love and friendship. ...
In "The Merchant of Venice" Shakespeare uses these elements as well as inspired plot and visual imagery to create a play that is increasing in popularity today. ... "The Merchant of Venice" contains four intertwined plots, which allows Shakespeare to include elements that appeal to all audiences, including revenge, romance and humour. ... It also continues the "something for everyone" aspect of "The Merchant of Venice", which makes it so universal and popular. ... Whilst this language is still present, "The Merchant of Venice" is easier to read and more simply structured than many of Shak...
Critical Evaluation The Merchant Of Venice Task: Explain fully how Shakespeare intertwines the story of Portia and her fathers wishes with Shylock and the Merchant of Venice. "The Merchant of Venice" written by William Shakespeare concerns two very bizarre circumstances. ... Consequently Portia and Bassanio marry at once and Portia gives Bassanio a ring to keep forever as a token for their love of each other. ... Meanwhile in Venice we see Shylock's daughter, Jessica, has fled from Venice with a young handsome Christian named Lorenzo with ...
Merchant Of Venice "How little is the cost I have bestowed in purchasing the semblance of my soul,"(3.5.19-20) is where the heart of this play is in my eyes. ... There are many places in the Merchant of Venice that show Portia and Bassanio's indifference, and what seems to be apathy toward wealth. ... I found that reading into The Merchant of Venice was a fun and interesting experience. ... Although Portia's father does not have a so-called character in The Merchant of Venice; his presence is definitely felt through Portia's character, as well as the scro...
The Merchant of Venice? ... This is whyThe Merchant of Venice? ... A place of great beauty, luxury and extremely artistic, it is the perfect setting forThe Merchant of Venice?. ... Although it is not the final scene, it is the finale of theThe Merchant of Venice? ... With these thoughts in the audience's heads, it is easy to see why Shylock is doomed from the start of the trial even before it has begun.The Merchant of Venice? ...