External Conflict In Shakespeare's Tale Of Venice By William Shakespeare

1058 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The portrayal of women in Shakespeare's plays

Textual Evidence
Interpretation/Explanation
“I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer
A stony adversary, an inhuman wretch
Uncapable of pity, void and empty
From any dram of mercy” (Shakespeare 162).

Throughout the quote, the duke takes pity on Antonio. Shylock and Antonio’s deal is an example of an external conflict it involves two people in a struggle. Recently, Antonio suffered losses from another external conflict with nature. Adding to his pain, Shylock chooses to go through with exacting his payment, presumably in retaliation for his loss of his daughter and money, which is another incident of an external conflict. Considering what has transpired between Antonio and Shylock, one could interpret their relationship as an ongoing external conflict.

Term: Definition 2. Internal Conflict: A struggle inside a character’s mind involving …show more content…

Dramatic Irony: When the audience knows something that the character(s) do not
Textual Evidence
Interpretation/Explanation
“This letter from Bellario doth commend
A young and learnèd doctor to our court.
Where is he?” (Shakespeare 172).
In the quote, Portia and Nerissa pose as men. Though the crowd thinks that the two are a young lawyer and a messenger, the two are, in fact, two women attempting to aid one of their husbands. Not only do Portia and Nerissa need to disguise themselves in order to hide their identities, but also to appear more credible as well. At the time, women were generally less powerful than men and held less types of jobs. For that reason, in order to use the occupation of a wise lawyer, Portia would not have been able to remain as a woman and still remain credible in the eyes of her peers.

Term: Definition 6. Verbal Irony: When a speaker says something that contradicts their true, intended meaning/purpose
Textual Evidence
Interpretation/Explanation
“ 'Tis well you offer it behind her back.
The wish would make else an unquiet house” (Shakespeare

Show More
Related

  • Opposing Forces In Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet

    875 Words  | 2 Pages

    Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet uses opposing forces to express the differences and problems splitting Verona. He uses themes of Life and death, Light and dark, young and old, free will and fate and many other themes that are constantly being brought up throughout the play. Shakespeare used many of these opposing forces and sonnets as at the time he wrote the play this was very big and popular among the people.

    Read More

  • Portia's Power in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

    2454 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...ligent, and sometimes vicious character, in her society it is not acceptable for her to be a strong, intelligent, vicious woman. Sadly, Portia's public image must remain that of her speech in Act III. Though she will have ultimate control over herself and her husband, she still must call herself "an unlessoned girl," hiding her true authority under a thin mask of submission. Ironically, it is only when Portia dons a disguise that we see her as she truly is - a shrewd, calculating judge, willing to convict and sentence not only the inadequate suitor or the much-abused Jew, but also her own unsuspecting husband.

    Read More

  • How Shakespeare Makes Us Feel Sympathetic in The Merchant of Venice

    646 Words  | 2 Pages

    say, “If I can catch once upon the hip I will feed fat the ancient

    Read More

  • Important Decisions In William Shakespeare's The Tragedy Of Othello

    739 Words  | 2 Pages

    Within the drama, “The Tragedy of Othello”, Othello maintains a vital role in the plot within Shakespeare’s writing. Othello held a prominent role in society as a general for Venice and was both physically and psychologically respected in his community. However, during the drama Othello makes an important decision by choosing to murder Desdemona even with no clear proof; this action would affect Othello greatly as the drama transpired. Throughout Shakespeare’s script, Othello is continuously manipulated by Iago which ultimately results in not only the death of Desdemona but also the death of Othello himself. All of his actions would play a part in the overall analyzation of Othello; a tragic hero.

    Read More

  • Inner Conflict In Shakespeare's Macbeth

    860 Words  | 2 Pages

    Part of human nature is struggling to choose between two random forces. In the play Macbeth, Shakespeare describes how conflict within a person can drive someone mad until the end of their lives. For Macbeth, part of this struggle was keeping his sanity intact after all the bad deeds he had committed. Another part of his struggle was swaying between the forces of innocence and guilt. The final struggle Macbeth had within him was going up against fate and free will. Throughout the play, Shakespeare demonstrates the inner conflict within Macbeth, as he contends against the conflicts of fate and free will, sanity and insanity, and innocence and guilt.

    Read More

  • Macbeth - Conflict

    1480 Words  | 3 Pages

    Prior to deciding whether or not conflict is central to the dramatic development of MACBETH, one must consider all the dramatic factors that contribute to the Shakespearean play. The gradual decline of the protagonist , the role portrayed by characters and the order in which the events occur, greatly influence the direction in which the development of the play takes place. After reading the text MACBETH, by Shakespeare and viewing the film version, directed by Roman Polanski, it is logical to see that ambition and the deceptive appearances of what really is, is central to the dramatic development of MACBETH.

    Read More

  • Analysis Of Shakespeare's Othello

    1098 Words  | 3 Pages

    Plays are a unique form of entertainment and literature, for they typically include scenes in which characters acknowledge and address the audience directly through various monologues and soliloquies. This adds an extra interactive layer of involvement where the audience can influence a character’s decisions. For instance, in Shakespeare’s Othello, the main character, a wily young man ironically dubbed “honest” Iago stops to tell the audience about his true intentions just as often as he tries to undermine other characters. Naturally, Iago would need some release from his deceitful planning. Therefore, the audience, by silently abiding through Iago’s speeches, must be his sidekicks – albeit unwillingly – the only people Iago trusts and feels

    Read More

  • The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice Analytical Essay

    555 Words  | 2 Pages

    In William Shakespeare’s play, Othello, the power that Iago has over Emilia in their relationship helps manifest the unfairness of gender roles thus, leading to a distortion of the worth of women. The power that Iago has over Emilia hurts Emilia’s self-confidence. The distortion of the worth of women ultimately leads to misunderstandings in Emilia’s view of relationships.

    Read More

  • Theme Of Risk In The Merchant Of Venice

    1151 Words  | 3 Pages

    While engendering the bond in the inciting force of the play, Antonio says to Shylock – the antagonist – “Content in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond, / And say there is much kindness in the Jew” (1.3.149-150) which reveals how Antonio sees such positive terms in the deal. Although the terms may seem simples to follow, Antonio will still face the consequences of putting his life on the line for his dear friend, Bassanio. This bond portion of the play establishes relationships through the rivals and also gives background information about characters, which show the elements of dramatic significance. Subsequently, Shylock’s possessions are at stake during their trial after Antonio fails to pay him back because his argosies were abolished. Shylock’s punishment for attempting to

    Read More

  • The Inner-Conflict Effect In Shakespeare's Macbeth

    1068 Words  | 3 Pages

    When we, human beings, are about to commit wicked acts, we feel a variety of emotions. One of those emotions is guilt. You may also feel guilt due to moments you chose not to act. The presence of guilt is a driving factor that prevents us from acting irrationally. Citizens of the 16th century possessed these emotions as well, no matter their social standing. The citizens included Shakespeare as well, a poet and playwright of the 16th century, and writer of the play Macbeth. Shakespeare transfers the idea of negative emotions to Macbeth by using blood to symbolize guilt, among other emotions in the protagonists they do not show otherwise. In Macbeth, William Shakespeare uses blood to show the inner-conflict of the

    Read More

  • The Theme of Deception in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

    375 Words  | 1 Pages

    Words alone are not the only means by which imposters operate. A far more effective mode is one that fools the eye for it cannot pierce through the surface. Portia, the new wife of Antonio's friend, dresses as a lawyer in order to deceive the court. However, unlike Shylock's motive, Portia's intent is far more noble and selfless. She manipulates the law in such a way to save Antonio from certain death by the hand of Shylock. Through the eyes of the law, the imposture of a lawyer, especially by a woman at that time, was seen as extremely illicit.

    Read More

  • Victim Vs. Villain: Who Is Innocent?

    451 Words  | 1 Pages

    For example, he claims he wants to “feed his revenge” with Antonio's blood (III.i.45-46). This means that Shylock was being a little harsh on Antonio for the bet, but that doesn't mean Antonio should just get away with losing. For winning the bond Shylock got his “life...house...and” what “sustains” his house taken away from him (IV.i.390-392). Therefore the others punishing Shylock wasn't even in the bond but Antonio only showed barely any mercy when this is his fault. The others make fun of Shylock when his daughter “rebels” and “robs him” of all his money and she runs away (III.i.34). THis shows that Shylock has a good reason to be angry at Antonio and the others because they think it's funny his daughter left him. Shylock does not deserve to be treated any lesser ny the rest of the characters due to the issues he faces. Overall, Antonio should have been punished for breaking the bond , but instead Antonio was left untouched and Shylock lost everything. Shylock is a victim because he is treated with disrespect and hated because he is jew and won the

    Read More

  • Gender Roles In The Merchant Of Venice

    712 Words  | 2 Pages

    Everyone is deceived and believes Portia is truly a man therefore showing that she has the capabilities to exert the traits of a man. Portia is described as the “wise young judge” (IV, I, 228) and an “excellent young man” (IV, I, 252) by Shylock showing that he believes in the gender identity of Balthazar. Bassanio, Portia’s husband, is also fooled as he states that Antonio’s life is more valuable to him than Portia. Her credibility in turn gives her power over the men in the scene. She is able to use the balances of justice along with her knowledge in order to save Antonio. The turn in this scene is when she repeats, “A pound of flesh” (IV, I, 315) and states the specific words used in the document as no blood can be dropped from Antonio or else Shylock will be punished and strikes fear into Shylock. This shows that it is possible for a woman to obtain the masculine qualities of being powerful and intellectual. If Portia were to have not dressed as a man, but merely a woman, due to the social constructs of the time she would not have had any power in this situation. Portia tells Bassanio “I pray you, know me when we meet again” (IV, I, 432) which shows her feelings towards Bassanio not knowing her true identity, even through her disguise. Her actions were that of her individual, but due to her altering her appearance of gender it changed the way others viewed her

    Read More

  • Shakespeare And Anti-Semitism In The Merchant Of Venice

    1403 Words  | 3 Pages

    Antonio recognizes the futility of opposing Shylock's passion with reason. "He seems the depository of the vengeance of his race" (Goddard 11). Antonio consequently appears as a charitable Christian who lends money freely, in contrast to the miserly an...

    Read More

  • Macbeth Conflict Analysis

    909 Words  | 2 Pages

    In the work of Macbeth the constant power struggle between the main characters is prominent throughout the play. In particular, the power and rule obtained by Macbeth, through killing Duncan, makes a full circle back to the rightful heir which makes apparent that power ties closely with fate in this play.

    Read More

More about External Conflict In Shakespeare's Tale Of Venice By William Shakespeare

Open Document