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William Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice in the 1600s. In it, a merchant in Venice named Antonio doesn’t pay back a big loan from a Jewish moneylender named Shylock. It was probably written sometime between 1596 and 1599.
Even though the First Folio called it a comedy and it has some things in common with Shakespeare’s other romantic comedies, the play is best remembered for its dramatic scenes. Shylock’s famous demand for a “pound of flesh” as revenge and the “Hath not a Jew eyes?” speech on humanity are the most famous parts. Because of this, there is a debate about whether or not the play is anti-Semitic. The part of Portia’s speech about “the quality of mercy” is also important.
Shakespeare’s message in Merchant of Venice
The main action in The Merchant of Venice is so close to being tragic that the play is very close to being a tragedy instead of a comedy. It could also be called an external conflict because it takes place in the real world and is caused by natural rather than supernatural forces. It happened during the golden age of Venetian power, before Da Gama’s mission opened Europe’s front door to the Atlantic Ocean and made the Mediterranean seaports into unimportant side entrances. Scenes move from busy Venice to Belmont, whose name literally means “beautiful mountain,” which is a striking hint.
The play’s goal is to show the main conflict between the right to property and the right to life, as well as the smaller conflict between a parent’s will and a child’s right to choose. There are two clear plot lines in the play: the trouble in Venice and the trouble in Belmont. But their goals are so intertwined that each is a means to the other’s end.
Themes of The Merchant of Venice
The drama rapidly flips between these diverse perspectives. By linking the two notions with the play’s two locales, Shakespeare arranges the transitions between idealism and reality. Venetians are portrayed as businessmen, usurers, and cynical young men. Belmont, on the other hand, is a place where fairytales come true and romance reigns supreme.
Mercy, asks the Merchant of Venice, does mercy exist in the world? The play lacks a merciful being among religious prejudice and personal retribution.
Against all difficulties, Portia manages to bring some kindness to Venice. Portia persuades the Duke to forgive Shylock as he faces death for his misdeeds. She then convinces Antonio to be merciful and not take all of Shylock’s money. Portia’s presence at this scene shifts the focus away from violence and toward forgiveness. As a result, Portia is able to convey some of her idealism to Venice. Act IV concludes by implying that idealism might occasionally flourish in the actual world.
Prejudice
Launcelot Gobbo is still attempting to reconcile his love for Jessica with his opinion that all Jews are demons at the end of Act 3, Scene 4. This motif recurs throughout the clown scenes, and it appears that Shakespeare is purposefully mocking Christian prejudices about Jews.
By asking basic, apparent questions, a clown may mislead people and undermine their assumptions. Launcelot, in his clownish ways, shows the follies and complexities that emerge from the inevitable damnation of a religious religion by exposing biblical text misinterpretation and presenting pragmatic issues concerning Jewish conversion. He ultimately stops the drama from oversimplifying life. The play’s seeming clear-cut cultural boundaries hide a recognition of the intricacies of actual life.
Problem in Merchant of Venice
The main conflict in The Merchant of Venice is between Bassanio and Shylock. Bassanio wants to marry Portia so he can pay off his debt to Antonio. Shylock wants to get even with Antonio for giving him money for free and for making anti-Semitic comments. Shylock wants to get back at Antonio because he wants to protect his humanity and his way of life. During the play’s starting point, Bassanio uses Antonio’s credit to borrow money from Shylock. This ties Antonio to Shylock and forces them to meet at the end. Even though the men go their separate ways after this, the conflict between them gets worse as the play goes on. First Lancelot and then Jessica rob Shylock and leave him, making him even more angry. Next, Bassanio wins the chance to marry Portia in the casket game. This fulfils his superficial desires for money and marriage and brings him close to proving his character by paying Antonio back with money, love, and loyalty. Finally, Antonio’s ships don’t come back. This gives Shylock the chance to get his own back, and Bassanio the chance to show what kind of person he is by coming to Antonio’s rescue.
Conclusion
The structure of The Merchant of Venice is based in part on the difference between idealistic and realistic ideas about relationships and society. On the one hand, the play tells us that love is more important than money, that mercy is better than revenge, and that love lasts forever. On the other hand, more cynical voices tell us that money rules the world, that mercy alone can’t run our lives, and that love can disappear after marriage.
