Love Plot in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a play of both love and hate. The love plot
begins to develop in Acts 1 and 2, as we are introduced to the leading
characters of the play.
Bassanio is a friend of Antonio, who is the merchant of the play’s
title. Bassanio is a young man, and in the beginning of the play we
are introduced his infantile character. We learn that he has spent all
of his own money and aspires to regain his fortune by marrying the
heiress, Portia.
“…she is fair, and- fairer than that word- of wondrous virtues…Her
name is Portia, nothing undervalued…”
He needs to borrow ducats to present himself to Portia as an eligible
suitor. Consequently, he turns to his friend Antonio for the money;
however, Antonio has invested all his money in his ships at sea but
still offers to borrow money for him, from Shylock. This shows the
bond of friendship that lies between Antonio and Bassanio, and in this
scene we are introduced to the love of friendship that they both hold.
In the second scene of Act 1, we are introduced to Portia, whom we
have heard little of from the first scene. In the second scene she is
longing to finally find her future husband. We learn of a test that
Portia’s father had devised before his death, that all her suitors
must submit to. As Portia and Nerissa (her lady in waiting) laugh
about some of the mens’ peculiarities, Nerissa reminds her of a young
Venetian soldier whom Portia met when her father was still alive.
Nerissa described him as ‘a scholar and a soldier.’ Portia recalls
the man immediately and says:
“Yes, yes, it was Bassanio!”
The enthusiasm with which Portia recalls his name shows us that she
remembers him with delight.
Later on, in Act 2, we learn some new information about the caskets.
Portia says to a new suitor who is the Prince of Morocco:
“You must take your chance or swear before you choose, if you choose
still a common view of Jews is for them to be penny pinching, both in
themes of love and hate are very important in the play as the plot is
In one of William Shakespeare’s most renowned and celebrated plays, the story of a General named Othello unravels in tragic form as he falls victim to the lies created by Iago. Once revered as a war hero and wed to the beautiful Desdemona, Othello’s life spirals downward with the untimely death of his beloved in his own hands, ultimately ending with his own demise. Love is the force behind this tragedy. Tragedy is the main driving force that brings happiness and tragedy to the characters within the play. But even as such a prominent force, it lacks clear definition. Love has a different meaning to the characters in the play. Characters like Othello, Desdemona, and Iago all have different perspectives on love, which informs their behavior in different ways.
The William Shakespeare tragedy Othello features various types of love, but none compare to the love we find between the protagonist and his wife. In this essay let us examine “love” as found in the play.
The love of the protagonist and his wife in William Shakespeare’s trgedy Othello can not stand up against the repeated assaults of the sinister Iago. Let us in this essay search for and comment on the examples of love found in the play.
say, “If I can catch once upon the hip I will feed fat the ancient
However, Shakespeare also picks on love. Not only did Malvolio's confusion about his and Olivia's relationship prove to add to the comedy, but it rather showed how one can play with love, and use it for another's harm. Apart from this example, love is depicted as a light and lovely emotion.
From the beginning of fiction, authors have constantly exploited the one topic that is sure to secure an audience: love. From the tragic romance of Tristan and Isolde to the satirical misadventures in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, literature seems obsessed with deciphering the mysteries of affection. The concept most debated is the question of where the line falls between lust and love and what occurs when the two are combined, and few portray it more clearly than Edmund Rostand in his French drama Cyrano de Bergerac. The influence of fickle physical attraction and deep romantic love on each other are explored by the interactions of the four main characters: De Guiche, Christian, Roxane, and Cyrano.
Love is a wonderful curse that forces us to do unexplainable things. Romeo and Juliet is a famous play written by William Shakespeare, who does an exceptional job in showing the readers what hate, mercy, death, courage, and most importantly, what love looks like. This play is about two star-crossed lovers who are both willing to sacrifice their lives just to be with one another. Unfortunately tragedy falls upon the unconditional love Romeo and Juliet have for each other, but along the way they experience immeasurable forgiveness and extraordinary bravery just to be with one another. Sadly enough, love is a cause of violence in the end.
Ultimately`, William Shakespeare shows in many different ways throughout the play, ‘Romeo and Juliet’, that love is the more powerful force than hate. The readers see how the characters continuously forgive one another, even when the conditions are tough. The friendships between specific characters display a loving bond that cannot be broken with hate. Shakespeare demonstrates that Romeo and Juliet’s love can overpower the hate of many events in the play. He shows that their love can even overpower the death of one of their own family members. Romeo and Juliet’s love brings friendship between their feuding families. This story is a true example of how love can conquer all.
The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is an intriguing play that is constantly being debated over and argued about. Why is this particular play the source of so much controversy? It cannot be decided if it is considered a comedy or a tragedy… although it is obviously a comedy. Perhaps it is the mere fact that this play is written by the genius, and legend, Shakespeare, that no one can comprehend the possibility of this play being humorous although it is evident that it is quite comedic. Another possibility of it being perceived as a tragedy is the unfortunate ending for Shylock, but most would find it rather amusing to see the villain receive what he deserves in the end. The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, is a comedy
What is love? In William Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night love is nothing more than another disguise. It is an illusion that fools everyone. Orsino, Olivia, Sebastian, and Viola do any of them find love in the end? No, they find nothing more than a disguise, an illusion of love. By analyzing each of these characters, their thoughts and feelings of, and their experiences with love throughout this play, we can determine that in the end, none of them have found true, genuine love.
One of the interpretations attributed to the concept of love in this comedy, and often portrayed in Shakespeare's plays, is that of love as a kind of richness, as a commercial enterprise in which men and women trade. Under this light, the bond beaten lovers gains a mercantilistic value and may thus be regarded as a kind of contract...
Love, Hate, and the Influence of Money in “The Merchant of Venice” William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice presents a battle between love and hate, influenced by money. Written during the 16th Century, Shakespeare depicts an anti-Semitic era through the eyes of both Jews and Christians. Each perspective has it’s struggles, but what stays consistent between them is what makes this play so historical. Throughout this play, it becomes clear that a culture affected by love and hatred, under the influence of money, can deliver a powerful message that still speaks to readers today. Among the many different themes presented in The Merchant of Venice, the most prominent is true love.
True Love in The Merchant of Venice Among the various themes presented in the Merchant of Venice most important is the nature of true love. The casket plot helps illustrate the theme of the book. Through a variety of suitors the descriptions of the caskets, Shakespeare shows the reader how different people view true love. He also shows what is most important to the suitors and in some cases it is not true love, but material things and outward appearance. The first suitor who tries to win Portia's hand is the Prince of Morocco.