?The Merchant of Venice? was written by William Shakespeare almost certainly between 1596 and 1598 and was first performed at The Theater, London, in 1597. The play is classed as one of the sixteen comedy plays but it is also aproblem? play due to the tragic elements woven throughout the intricate plot. It was performed in front of a xenophobic, Elizabethan audience who were not particularly well educated or literate but they understood the complexities of the issues being raised in the play and would have been less sympathetic towards Shylock than a modern day audience. The play concludes with a harmonious ending but throughout the plot, reoccurring themes of sadness and tragedy are included. This is whyThe Merchant of Venice? falls into one of the more difficult comedy plays. .
The play is set in Venice, an ancient civic republic and not a nation ruled by a King or Queen. Venice fascinated the Elizabethans, as it was commercially hospitable to people from all parts of the world e.g. Greeks, Jews and Protestants. The city was also a trading centre of great importance; Venice itself was a Catholic city and was politically independent. A place of great beauty, luxury and extremely artistic, it is the perfect setting forThe Merchant of Venice?.
The play centres on two main characters, Antonio, an extremely wealthy merchant and Shylock, a very wealthy Jew. In Venice, your word was your bond. A promise made by word of mouth was the same as having an agreement in writing you had to keep your word or pay the consequences.
Shylock is a usurer, a person who lends sums of money to others, charging vast amounts of interest. However, Antonio also lends amounts of money, but minus the interest. This is one of the main reasons why Shylock hates Antonio with a vengeance as Antonio is supposedly causing Shylocks's profits to drop. Shylock also hates Antonio for the differences in their lifestyles and religions-.
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. ... Deceit is a recurring issue throughout The Merchant of Venice. ... The Merchant of Venice cannot be described as a love story. ...
** 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. ... Venice itself was Catholic city and politically independent. ... Belmont in contrast to Shylocks Venice is full of music. ... 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 The Merchant of Venice". ...
The Merchant of Venice is one of the wonderfully exciting plays showing at Bard on the Beach. ... I feel that Mara Gottler captured and brought to life the atmosphere of The Merchant of Venice. ... It would be a pleasure to see where she goes after The Merchant of Venice. ... The Merchant of Venice is a splendid play to watch for all ages. The Merchant of Venice is a "must see" play. ...
The Merchant of Venice is a play both about love and hate. ... Shakespeare displays the repugnant effects of hatefulness in The Merchant of Venice. 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. ...
German merchants were housed in the Fondaco dei Tedeschi, located in the Rialto, the commercial heart of Venice. They provided Venice with necessities such as silver, copper, iron and gold. ... The Greek community was composed of mariners, scholars and merchants. ... Following the commercial and territorial expansion, merchant galleys were built in order to make the longer journeys to new markets and to transport cargo faster and more safely. ... This isolated Venice and greatly reduced trade. ...
(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 "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. ... A while afterwards events occur when a Jewish money lender called Shylock to get a forfeit that he should rightfully claim off of a merchant Antonio when the money lent has not been given back. ... Meanwhile in Venice we see Shylock's daughter, Jessica, has fled fro...
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. ...
