William Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice - 1970 Words

It is a recurrence with Shakespeare’s plays that the titles are reflective of the protagonists featured within. For example, the famous titles of Julius Caesar and Hamlet tell the tragedies of those respective characters. However, when it comes to William Shakespeare’s fourteenth play, The Merchant of Venice, it can be argued that Antonio, the merchant, is not who the play is about. In fact, there is not just one character, but instead multiple that fit the description of the protagonist. The main plot, or rather plots, of the play revolve around four different characters, each possessing the qualities of a protagonist. Antonio, Shylock, Bassanio and Portia are all profound and interesting characters, are essential to the plot and have a perpetual goal for the entirety of the play. Antonio is often considered the protagonist of the play as it is titled after him. There is also much evidence in the play’s content that supports this. The play begins with Antonio sp eaking to Salarino and Salanio. Antonio speaks of his sadness and confesses that he doesn’t know the origin of his sorrow, â€Å"In sooth I know not why I am so sad./It wearies me, you say it wearies you† (I, ii : 1-2). As Antonio speaks of his emotions, his character is distinguished as a noble christian with great sadness hidden within. It is never clearly mentioned what the source of his sadness is, however, it becomes apparent later on in the play that he has no love in his life, which could possibly be whatShow MoreRelatedWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice Essay1624 Words   |  7 PagesWilliam Shakespeare s comedy The Merchant of Venice uses contrasting religions to draw out major themes through the ethnic divides that are exemplified. The play expresses the extreme cultural divide between the Jews and Christians through a legal contract between two men. The rivalry between the two men, Shylock and Antonio is clear from the beginning of the play and o nly intensifies as it continues on. Modern day readers most likely take away a slightly different message from the play than whatRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1320 Words   |  6 Pagesghetto, and were treated as inferior to the rest of the city. William Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice exhibits the prejudicial attitudes of his era. Antonio, a Christian merchant, makes a deal with Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock uses it as an opportunity to exact revenge by demanding a pound of Antonio’s flesh if he does not meet his end of the bargain. By pitting the majority of his characters against Shylock, Shakespeare portrays Shylock in a way that discriminates against all JewsRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice2269 Words   |  10 PagesSamantha Hansen ENG 314 Brother Brugger 12.15.14 The Question of Shylock It is hard to read The Merchant of Venice without finding at least one character to sympathize with. The unforgettable villain Shylock as well as Portia, Shakespeare’s first and one of his most famous heroines are arguably some of this plays most beloved characters. But, is Shylock really the villain? Or is he a victim of circumstance? Shylock’s insistence for a pound of flesh has made him one of literatures most memorableRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1315 Words   |  6 PagesIn The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare the play is based upon the hierarchy between Christian men and Jewish men. A character by the name of Bassanio borrows money from his friend Antonio, and Antonio borrows the money from Shylock to give to Bassanio. Eventually, Antonio cannot pay the money back because his ships have supposedly sunk. Therefore, he comes close to death because he signed a bond with Shylock stating that Shylock would get a pound of his flesh if t he bond was not repaidRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1532 Words   |  7 Pagesuseless dialogue can make readers skip over what seems like a false beginning to a good story. But think about this: what if those seemingly lengthy, extra, useless words were actually important? For example, the opening 115 lines of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice are provide minimal support to the story at first glance. In these lines, Antonio and his friends are discussing the dynamics of happiness and sadness in order to find the root of Antonio’s sad mood. This portion of the play givesRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Merchant Of Venice988 Words   |  4 PagesAs I finished reading Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare, I realized that the struggle of the play gyrates around whether justice is truly served and is morality advocated or manipulated by those in authority. The struggle between the principles of justice have caused many readers to question the interaction between the definition of morality and justice. The bond that causes readers to take a closer look throughout the play originates from Shylock’s desire for vengeance and Antonio’s desireRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1532 Words   |  7 Pagesfundamentalist Americans. The ills of money-lending from the Eastern perspective have been fodder for Western literature for centuries, replete with illustrations that mirror the differences and similarities in East-West cultural norms. In William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, money-lending has gone awry. In Act I, Scene iii, the Italian Antonio seeks to borrow 3,000 ducats from the Jewish Shylock, and Shylock intends to charge him interest, which is against Jewish economic-religious principles (BateRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice Essay1275 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is so alike to our financially afflicted world. The rules of law and commerce are subject to deceptive manipulation, fear of the other overwhelms respect for a common humanity, duplicity is the norm, sexuality is a vehicle for ambition, and money drives and wraps almost every action. It is a classic tale that includes important details of the financial crisis in the Unit ed States during 2007-2009. Shakespeare’s Venice, like the New York of his time - and theRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice2059 Words   |  9 Pagesin The Merchant of Venice resembles a folktale known as â€Å"A Pound of Flesh† (325). Artese supports his supposition with background context and parallels between the two story lines. Literary versions of the pound of flesh story circulated during the sixteenth century and were collected since the nineteenth century because of the plot’s longevity and populairity Shakespeare would have been familiar with pound of flesh stories (326). Human commodification is a central issue in both The Merchant of VeniceRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice1616 Words   |  7 PagesThe Merchant of Venice offers another unique perspective on crossdressing as it existed on the English Renaissance stage. Howard suggests that Portia’s crossdressing is â€Å"more disruptive than Violaâ€⠄¢s† (Howard, p. 433) because Portia herself was an unruly woman to begin with. Portia has become the master of her own destiny with the passing of her father, for she is referred to as the Lord of Belmont now that no man exists to fill such a role. What remains of the patriarchal authority, particularly

The Jungle A Close Examination Essay - 2731 Words

There are a million people, men and women and children, who share the curse of the wage-slave; who toil every hour they can stand and see, for just enough to keep them alive; who are condemned till the end of their days to monotony and weariness, to hunger and misery, to heat and cold, dirt and disease, to ignorance and drunkenness and vice! And then turn them over to me, and gaze upon the other side of the picture. There are a thousand-ten thousand, maybe-who are master of these slaves, who own their toil. They do nothing to earn what they receive, they do not even have to ask for it-it comes to them of itself, their only care is to dispose of it. They live in such palaces, they riot in luxury and extravagance-such as no words can†¦show more content†¦Also, Jurgis is paid five dollars to pick up paychecks for imaginary city workers. Later in the novel, Jurgis becomes involved in the political machine. He finds that he becomes one of the henchmen for the political powers in the packing yards. After he gets put in jail, he is forced to buy is way out, which costs him everything he has. After he is forced to live like a vagabond again, he feels an inadequacy about his life, an empty feeling. He misses how he used to live extravagantly, and wonders how he could have lived without it.Another character that finds the evils of capitalism is Marija, who is forced in a life of prostitution and drug use due to the competitive nature of capitalism. When she first tries to get a job in the meat plants, she needs to bribe the forewomen in order to get the job. Also while Marija is trying to support the family without Jurgis, she is led to a life of prostitution because it is the only job she can obtain. While living in the brothel, she acquires a morphine addiction. While she lives in the brothel, she finds that living there was unexpected consequences, such as having to pay for living there, which amounts to basically the entire paycheck. She soon finds out that she cannot support her family due to the capitalist mindset in Chicago. She figures that being a whore is a better than having to starve and liveShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis Of Rudyard Kipling s The Jungle Books 1275 Words   |  6 PagesRudyard Kipling with both the protagonists suffering from identity crisis by means of a close reading. In this study, I found out that both the novels have an autobiographical element of identity crisis. In the Jungle Books, Kipling confronts his young male audience with the reality of death and violence, in order to turn them into efficient rulers. The law of jungle plays an important role in this. The law of jungle was meant to be practical, not moral. I elaborately discussed Mowgli’s identity betweenRead MoreA White Heron and the Beast In The Jungle: A Comparison Essay785 Words   |  4 PagesComparing and contrasting Jewetts Sylvy in quot;A White Heronquot; with May Bartram of Jamess quot;The Beast in the Junglequot; proves to be an interesting task. How can two such unlike characters be so alike. Only on close examination do these common threads appear. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;In the story quot;A White Heron,quot; Sylvy is presented as a young, pre- adolescent girl, living in the country with her grand mother. They are very isolated to themselves, living fairly simpleRead MoreEssay on Critical Circumstances of the Vietnam War1607 Words   |  7 Pagesrole (or lack thereof) in the War. Through the literary works and the characters, both fictional and non-fictional, that will be highlighted, one will be able to see a first-person perspective of the war through the eyes of differing people. 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Thereafter, the number of troops continued to increase, in the article, â€Å"Vietnam War,† the author comments, â€Å"At the end of 1964, about 23,500 Americans had been serving in Vietnam, but by the close of 1968, that number would grow to 525,000 in a steady stream of additional deployments† (Tucker). Thousands of Americans were sent to serve in the war, and after only four years that number went up to hundreds of thousands American soldiers. InitiallyRead MoreEllis Island First Person Creative Essay1011 Words   |  5 Pagescleaned. Dirt and mud sat on the floor. Many passengers caught diseases. I stayed healthy but I wondered if the more sick would make it into America. Now focusing on some of the more tasteful parts of the voyage. Im normally quite shy. Living so close to others breeds annoyance and irritation, especially towards those others, but I did make a few friends. There was this bouncy girl, also from Spain, called Carlotta. She spoke Portuguese as well as Spanish and introduced me to her good friend SanchoRead MoreFood Products And Its Effects On The Context1722 Words   |  7 Pagescontent of meat products, similarly, is not doctored or minimized to the degree that Sinclair found a century earlier. In microscopic examinations of commercial meat products, skeletal muscle content was perhaps a lower proportion than might be implied by the ingredients list, but all other animal content were tissues that would not be unreasonable to find in close association with skeletal muscle. The risk of becoming ill as a direct result of product consumption has taken a different form in today’sRead MoreEnglish Language1951 Words   |  8 Pagesw w w e tr .X m eP e ap UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE INTERNATIONAL EXAMINATIONS International General Certificate of Secondary Education .c rs om 0500/22 FIRST LANGUAGE ENGLISH Paper 2 Reading Passages (Extended) Additional Materials: * 6 1 2 9 3 6 9 5 7 9 * October/November 2011 2 hours Answer Booklet/Paper READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST If you have been given an Answer Booklet, follow the instructions on the front cover of the Booklet. Write your Centre number, candidate number andRead MoreAnalysis Of Cat s Cradle 1554 Words   |  7 Pagesturns out, is almost all the time. In the first half of the novel, â€Å"Jonah† travels to a small town named Ilium to learn more about the late Dr. Felix Hoenikker, a scientist who helped develop the atomic bomb, from the people close to him. What follows is Vonnegut’s close examination on the effects of pure science on society -- while Felix had a knack for science, that was all. His son Newt recalls that â€Å"He was one of the best-protected human beings who ever lived. People couldn t get at him becauseRead MoreFilm Review : Blood Diamond1687 Words   |  7 Pagesstereotypical identity of whites, described by Bell Hooks in her book Black Looks: Race and Representation as â€Å"terrorists...who enter the segregated space of blacks† for their purposes of â€Å"economic exploitation† (2014: 170). However, the film’s examination of race becomes much more complex with its introduction of Captain Poison and the RUF. Captain Poison either ignores or does not realize the tragic irony with which he delivers rhetoric in glorification of his black brothers’ new freedom from slavery

Biblical analysis on genesis and exodus Essay Example For Students

Biblical analysis on genesis and exodus Essay After Adam and Eve the Hebrew ancestry grew on the shoulders of Abraham. From there we learn of the many books that comprise and make up the collection of stories that is The Bible. Depending on who you ask, The Bible according to the first full English translation (, King James Version,) construes the Old Testament and the New Testament, and in the process offers information for guidance and faith. What ultimately leads countless people to believe and religiously care for the works in this book solely is determined upon the readers perception and dogmatic beliefs. Of course none of this translates into why the Bible remains the most widely read book of all time. Morality, creation of time, and the purpose of life associate and form the backbone. These themes incorporated, through poems, hymns, proverbs, and dictations, enrapture the reader, even atheists, for the styles utilized gives the moral book a place on the shelf of every individual who can read and write. Genesis, Exodus, Job, and Matthew are a few selections that begin to explain the creation of time into the lineage of Jesus Christ. Now what prompts a sensible individual to believe that Eve was created by Adams rib or the devil took form into a snake, which lost its upright standing, in more ways than one? The use of allegories, aphorisms, parables, and proverbs place a broader meaning left for the reader to interpret the best it applies to them. Though some translate it literally, the masses understand it on its basis, uniquely, and the originators of this text simply wrote to enlighten and encourage despite religious preference. In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth, so the story goes into distinct and simple details of how earth was formed. God proceeded to create the great sea monsters and every living soul that moves about, with an air of nonchalance, stories told and retold were written and convinces the reader that this is exactly how it occurred. No room for questioning, Genesis continues in explaining the ancestry of Adam and Eve and Abraham. Gods contract with Abraham, God said that Abraham would be the father of many nations and that Abraham and his descendants should circumsize the male babies on the eighth day after birth to seal the contract, rules applied stray away from conventional history but go under the verisimilitude of truth. The explanation of morality and the changes God had to undergo displays itself in the story of Noahs Ark. †¦ the earth is full of violence as a result of them; and here I am bringing them to ruin together with the earth, God, the principal charac ter, shows his disapproving side of an immoral society. Through Noah, the righteous man, God regenerates the population from suitable ancestors and brings the immoral society a new image. In doing this, the observant reader understands that moral stability is the role he or she must play or they may risk certain death physically and spiritually. Though Gods admittance of not repeating this form of punishment if things do not turn to his liking, he uses the rainbow to signify all that ended will not repeat, giving a sign that stubbornness and learning from history must be achieved for a society to thrive. All this said in so many words. Having understood this, the future links Moses, who he himself has sinned, with the bearing of the Ten Commandments. Immorality reigned supreme again, and when Moses begged for God to give him a replacement for the tablets destroyed earlier one wonders if God would trust and accept an offer placed before him- with the promises of the people obedience should God risk his making another set of tablets. Carve out for yourself two tablets of stone like the first ones, and I must write upon the tablets the words that appeared on the first tablets, which you shattered, hence the rules and guidelines to acting and playing the role of an upright citizen devoted to God is given once more. The purpose to living and showing devotion to God is questioned by Job and he feels the adverse effects of doing so. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the Name of the Lord be praised, and Job embarks on his routine not having the best of situations. The Book of Job points out that suffering or wealth should not be directly related to sin: sometimes good people suffer and sometimes bad people prosper. This realization lends itself to the birth of Jesus Christ who, in Matthew, wrestles with individuals in giving pointed tips on how their lives should run its course. Jesus had many statements regarding how to live; some important ones were: Bu t I tell you, Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also†¦And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by menBut when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. Direct statements and the existence of Jesus paralleled with the acknowledgment of his stature in common society add fire to the embers of the purpose and convert ability of this book. .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb , .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .postImageUrl , .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb , .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:hover , .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:visited , .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:active { border:0!important; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:active , .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u4029becbc725eb4a4d7e884ab9e4efcb:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Colorado River EssayThe Bible, in ancient Hebrew, simply translates to a collection of books. These collections of stories go far beyond in asserting the faith and well-being of a volatile and unconventional society- a melting pot of cultures changing through the generations. One can perceive how a group of people can gather and relate on one item- this item the Bible. For the reason can only contribute itself to the way the Bible is handled, past through time, and taken down to scripture. Genesis, Exodus, Job, and Matthew summarize the important proverbs that have captured the attention of people, stemming from the Roman Catholic Church to the Lutherans, since the beginni ng of recorded time to the presence of modern sects beneath an established religious organization which incorporate the same beliefs. The only difference: with sophistication. Used and affiliated with numerous religious organizations, the Bible has undergone the test of time and considered to be the ultimate in theories of how the universe was created, as well as a study guide on the meaning of life. Despite the Darwins and Castros, many still turn to the Bible for inspiration and purpose. All of this achieved by the dogmatism, installation of guidelines, and universal perception of morality that made this book a religious experience for many.

The Art of Forgiveness free essay sample

I’ve often been taught that God moves in mysterious ways, and that He speaks to us through a canvas of sky and a language of love. With love comes trial and tribulation, and upon overcoming these, the heart develops a new kind of strength. Some people have a defining moment in which they have a revelation about this love, and ultimately, about their character. My moment came on the fifth day of a rainy December. Reluctantly, I stepped off the afternoon bus and into a thick atmosphere. With effortless, instigating talent, the wind whispered some of my flaws. Cowardice. Selfishness. Grief plagued my mind, and I did the only thing I had known to do for the past five years. I retreated to my bedroom; my sanctuary, with an armful of oil pastels and an endless pulse of memories. December 1st of 2001, my baby brother was born under fatal circumstances. We will write a custom essay sample on The Art of Forgiveness or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Lack of oxygen rendered him lifeless for nine minutes. Resuscitation proved to be a miracle; however that did not save him from serious heart and brain trauma. After seeing the furrowed brows of several medical professionals, my parents decided to pull the plug on December 5th. I was in fourth grade at that time, and had never previously experienced the death of a family member. The expression on my ten year old face must have been one of both disbelief and incredible confusion. After the initial shock, our household had reasonably succumbed to a state of depression. As my vision clouded with the dark tapestries and umbrellas of the burial, my hand responded with the smudge of charcoal on a blank canvas. Art has always been a path of relief and self expression for me. In this instance, my neutral usage depicted the numbness I felt. What began as abstract shapes and lines took a symmetrical turn. Before I knew it, I was creating the patterns and features of Jeremiah’s perfectl y sculpted face. Subtle movements for his long, baby eyelashes and soft gestures for his hidden cheekbones provoked a sensation I hadn’t felt since the funeral. My sketches came to life in a flicker of imagination. His newborn gaze shifted toward the artist, his arms came into view, and small hands reached out off the paper to link life and death. I sat helplessly on the edge of my bed with the thought of him invading my senses. I sad wordlessly at the hurt I had tuned out for so long; the same hurt that was bleeding out of my portrait and staining my fingers hueless. My eyes wandered out the window to a cemetery just down the street. Jeremiah rested footsteps away from my front door in a place where birds withheld their song. He had seen a collection of serious faces showing respect in a strictly business-like fashion, but what of his family? His sister sat comfortably in a house on a hill, with no concern for her past actions. I jumped out of my position to fix what was bro ken. Along with the circulating storm overhead, a sickening feeling circulated in the pit of my stomach. I wanted to run back inside and embrace the security I was accustomed to. Stubbornly, my feet would not submit. My mind screamed at its disobedient exterior until I reached the iron entrance to the cemetery. All was still. In the general location of his tiny tombstone, I began to scan the names. Baker. Cooper. Yates. Stone and marble figures loomed above, watching my every move. Adams. Oaks. Whitehouse. Another gust of wind nearly knocked the breath out of me. Jones. Ellis†¦Johnson, it read. Jeremiah Johnson. December 1st, 2001, to December 5th, 2001. Clean and crisp, the engraved letters spelled out a message from my mother. My Sweet Jeremiah. I sat eye-level to his memorial stone, unsure of what to expect from myself. The air came to an uncomfortable halt. â€Å"Thought I’d see how you’re doing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I bit my bottom lip in embarrassment. How was I s upposed to address this situation sensibly? How could I reach my closure in a way that was predictable and formal? Everyone else seemed to have mastered this technique, why couldn’t I? I tried again. â€Å"I’m sorry I missed your birthday†¦Ã¢â‚¬  My eyes glazed over. I had so many thoughts to express, and no words to say them with. I was at war within myself; my heart for justice, my mind for contentment. I closed my eyes and bit my tongue. It was then that I got an answer to my question, and then that I began to release my feelings for the first time. Just let go. Ever fiber of my being reacted to these three words collectively. Years of self conflict exploded in an incoherent babble, and I collapsed face-first into the dirt. I screamed and spat until I had to gasp for air. I apologized to Jeremiah for refusing to accept his death. I apologized to my friends and family for passing judgment on whatever ways they were able to cope. I repented for blaming God in a situation where I needed Him the most. I surrendered my body and soul, both works of art, and He gave me the strength I needed to lift myself off the ground. Anyone within hearing distance could tell it was a visitation long overdue. Some people may consider my resolution that day an act of humiliation, but I disagree. I had passed a test of strength, and the wind no longer had the authority to whisper to me my flaws. Recognizing me as a worthy opponent, it swept in a gift on inspiration. Water droplets plummeted from competing rain clouds. I wordlessly witnessed the transaction of art from Heaven to Earth. That day, I found beauty in the art of forgiveness.