William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice

William Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice

In many ways, shylock is a more difficult character for a modern

audience than for an Elizabethan audience. With close reference to Act

1 scene 3, Act 3 scene 1 and Act 4 scene 1 show how an actor might

reveal the human being behind the stereotype.

The merchant of Venice is a play written in Elizabethan times by

William Shakespeare. The play is set in Elizabethan Venice. The play

starts with Antonio, a rich merchant, who is depressed without any

obvious reason. He denies that he is worried about his merchant ships

or that he is in love.

Antonio has lent money to his friend Bassanio in the past, but this

time Bassanio wants to borrow some money so that he can try for the

hand of Portia, who is a wealthy and beautiful heiress. In order to

lend Bassanio the money, Antonio himself must borrow money as all of

his moneys are on his merchant ships, which are trading to distant

countries.

Meanwhile, in Belmont, Portia is irritated. This is because of the

terms laid down in her father's will. His will says that everyone who

wishes to marry her must choose between a casket of gold, silver or

lead. Portia must accept the man who chooses the "correct" casket.

Also, the suitors must take an oath never to marry if they fail in

this contest. Half a dozen totally unsuitable young men leave rather

than taking their chances. The next candidate up to choose a casket is

the prince of Morocco.

Back in Venice, Bassanio has approached a wealthy Jew named Shylock.

Shylock is a money lender, who lends money in return for interest and

at this time Christians were not allowed to do this. Shylock and

A...

... middle of paper ...

...uld be broken,

on the floor, sobbing, unable to move, he must fully portray the hurt

that comes with losing everything that you have except for life. This

is when the actor must portray Shylock as a broken man, not as a

devil.

The Audience would be cheering, as they would now have no sympathy for

Shylock whatsoever, they have seen him try to kill Antonio and he has

lost.

In Conclusion, Shakespeare is trying to portray Shylock as a human

being who has lost everything. Shylock is a man who has lost his

daughter, his money and his pride. Shakespeare Portrays him as both

villainous and humane.

Shakespeare shows us that every man has the willingness to kill.

Shakespeare gives us unmistakably human moments, but he often steers

us against Shylock as well, painting him as a miserly, cruel, and

prosaic figure.