The Conflict Within Venetian Society in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

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The Conflict Within Venetian Society in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare during the late

sixteenth century. The play is based on different conflicts:

Christians and Jews, father and Daughter and patriarchal system.

The main plot of the play is the flesh bond between Shylock and

Antonio. The sub plots are the three caskets, the ring plot and

Jessica and Lorenzo.

Antonio is a merchant of Venice, who takes money from Shylock the Jew,

for his friend Bassanio. Bassanio needed the money to go to Belmont to

get married to wealthy Portia to become wealthy. Antonio fails to pay

back the money to Shylock. Antonio is bought to court to pay the bond

to Shylock.

Shylock ignores the many pleas to spear Antonio's life and calls for

trial to decide it. The Duke of Venice shows sympathy to Shylock, he

announces that he has sent for a lawyer, it turns out to be Portia

dressed as a man.

Portia asks Shylock to show mercy to Antonio but Shylock disagrees to

it because it belongs to him in law. Bassanio offers Shylock twice the

amount of money but he insists on collecting the bond. Portia then

examines the contract and declares it legal that Shylock is entitled

to the bond. Shylock ecstatically praises her wisdom, but as he is on

the verge of collecting his due, Portia reminds him that he must do so

without causing Antonio to bleed, as the contract does not entitle him

to any blood. Trapped by this logic, Shylock hastily agrees to take

Bassanio's money instead, but Portia insists that Shylock take his

bond as written, or nothing at all. Portia informs Shylock that he is

guilty of conspiring against the life of a Venetian citizen, which

means he must turn over half of his property to the state and the

other half to Antonio. The duke spares Shylock's life and takes a fine

instead of Shylock's property. Antonio also forgoes his half of

Shylock's wealth on two conditions: first, Shylock must convert to

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