The Role Of Prejudice In The Merchant Of Venice :: The Merchant Of Venice

The Role of Prejudice In The merchandiser of VeniceThis news report discusses the subject of prejudice in the William Shakespeareplay, The Merchant of Venice.I. IntroductionWilliam Shakespeares satirical comedy, The Merchant of Venice, believedto have been written in 1596 was an examination of hatred and greed. The premisedeals with the averse(p) relationship between Shylock, a Jewish money-lenderand Antonio, the Christian merchant, who is as freehearted as Shylock is greedy,particularly with his friend, Bassanio. The two have cemented a fib ofpersonal insults, and Shylocks loathing of Antonio intensifies when Antoniorefuses to collect interest on loans. Bassanio wishes to borrow 3,000 ducats fromAntonio so that he may journey to Belmont and ask the beautiful and wealthyPortia to bond him.Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, and kno fell he willsoon have some(prenominal) ships in port, agrees to part with a pound of flesh if theloan is not repaid within three months. Shyloc ks abhorrence of Antonio isfurther fueled by his female child Jessicas elopement with Lorenzo, another friendof Antonios.Meanwhile, at Belmont, Portia is being courted by Bassanio, and weddingplans cover when, in accordance with her fathers will, Bassanio is asked tochoose from three caskets -- one gold, one facile and one lead.Bassaniocorrectly selects the lead casket that contains Portias picture.The couplesjoy is short-lived, however, when Bassanio receives a letter from Antonio,informing him of the loss of his ships and of Shylocks determination to carryout the terms of the loan.Bassanio and Portia marry, as do his friend, Gratianoand Portias maid, Nerissa.The men return to Venice, but are unable to dish Antonio in court.Indesperation, Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and arrives in Venice with herclerk (Nerissa) to wall the case.She reminds Shylock that he can only collectthe flesh that the accord calls for, and that if any blood is shed, hisproperty will be confiscat ed.At this point, Shylock agrees to combine the moneyinstead of the flesh, but the court punishes him for his greed by forcing him to turn a Christian and turn over half of his property to his disoriented daughter,Jessica.II.BodyPrejudice is a dominant theme in The Merchant of Venice, approximately notablytaking the form of anti-semitism.Shylock is stereotypically described ascostumed in a recognizably Jewish way in a eagle-eyed gown of gabardine, probablyblack, with a red beard and/or wing like that of Judas, and a hooked putty noseor feeding bottle nose (Charney, p. 41). Shylock is a defensive character becausesociety is continuously reminding him he is different in religion, looks, andmotivation.He finds solace in the law because he, himself, is an shipwreck survivor of