Dance Of The Call Bells Essay - 1168 Words

When admitted to a hospital patients may feel they have little control over their situation and the surrounding environment. Using a call bell to meet their needs is perhaps one of a few things that gives patients a feeling that they still have some control. The title of the article Dance of the Call Bells: Using Ethnography to Evaluate Patient Satisfaction with Quality of Care, suggests that the key phenomenon of the study was the evaluation of patients’ satisfaction with quality of care they received in terms of their experience in the use of call bells (Deitrick, Bokovoy, Glenn, Panik, 2006). The title did not describe the population, group or community under study, other than stating that the population was â€Å"patients†. The title did not state that phenomenon was also looked at and analyzed through perspectives of family members and staff, nor did it mention that the study was done on a med-surgical unit. The abstract of the study clearly and concisely summarized the main features of the report. It stated that the study was conducted as a qualitative, ethnographic research. Then, it briefly described the problems associated with call bells and how these problems affected patients’ perceptions regarding the quality of care. It explained that the study identified three interrelated themes regarding communication through call bells including answering the call bell, communicating the patient’s request to the appropriate health care provider and following through with theShow MoreRelatedCall Bells1293 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Dance of the Call Bells 1. Explain the key differences between a qualitative and quantitative study? A qualitative study addresses the complexity of human experience, focusing on the big picture (Rebar Gersch, 2015); while a quantitative study breaks a problem down into small pieces and focuses on specific parts to see how they all relate (Rebar Gersch, 2015). Qualitative methods focus on subjective information, and never try to predict or control the phenomenon of interest (Rebar GerschRead MoreCaribbean Music1076 Words   |  5 Pageswere brought to Caribbean Island. They composed music with the help of percussion instruments like drums, bells and shakers. The music had unique musical style elements with special tempo-setting rhythms created by claves or bells, multi-layered and syncopated rhythms and songs which were in the form of call-and-response formats. The European influence came through the usage of guitar, Spanish dance styles along with the use of Western European type of harmony. There are different types of CaribbeanRead MoreThe Indus Valley Civilization1488 Words   |  6 Pagesworld today. Music, art, dancing, and theater are forms of entertainment that the Indus Valley people used. Most if not all classical Indian style of dance has been adapted from the Indus Valley people. To keep themselves entertained, the Indus Valley people had dance dramas. India s dance dramas, there would be several stories told through dance. D Indus Valley people, had a goddess of music. They invented string music instruments that look like harps. The fact that the Indus people had a goddessRead More Native American Music Essay490 Words   |  2 PagesGrass Dance, the Zuni Lullaby, and the Iroquois Quiver Dance are the principal methods which contribute to Native American music. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The Sioux Grass Dance is considered to be the most popular style of Native American Music. As one dances to this music, they follow a pattern known as â€Å"toe-heel.† This consists of the individual placing the left foot in front of the right and repeating with the other foot. Each male dancer makes many personal variations of this dance resultingRead MoreThe Dangerous Life of a Squirrel in Autumn Essay790 Words   |  4 Pagesslightly browning at the edges. It makes a show of falling, as though it knows it has an audience. It spins and dances, carried across an unseen stage by the breeze. The breeze fades and dies and the leaf follows shooting down quickly towards the earth like a predatory birding diving down onto its prey. It makes no sound as it lands and lies atop its brethren who had performed the dance before it. Its faded green shows brightly against the decaying browns and violets. I twitch my nose as my interestRead MoreQuality Improvement in Nursing Essay1427 Word s   |  6 PagesQuality Improvement Project Answering the call light (also called call bell a handheld like that is attached to the patient room wall, above the headboard of the bed) in a timely manner by the nursing staff in hospital setting is necessary to prevent falls that can harm, prolonged stays, and unnecessarily increase the cost of healthcare. However, researches concerning call light uses as it relates to patient safety, patient-care management and patient satisfaction are limited (Meade et alRead MoreSummary Of The Carnival Of Barraquillais1221 Words   |  5 Pages(Groups of dances and disguises), among which are the marimondas (hooded with long noses, gigantonas, cabezon dwarves, etc). The parade is presided over by the float of the Queen who dances and throws flowers to the spectators, accompanied by a great group of princes and princesses. The following day, Sunday of Carnival, the Parade of the Great Parade, carried out by the popular dances of the Torito, the one of the Garabato and the one of the spinners is realized. The two most characteristic dances of thisRead MoreCase Study : Examining The Research Approach879 Words   |  4 Pagesstill think the study would still have too many variables to give it a lot of merit in my opinion. The second article I chose was the â€Å"Dance of the call bells using ethnography to evaluate patient satisfaction with quality of care† (Deitrick, Bokovoy, and Stern, Panik, 2006, p.316). This too was a qualitative study used to see why it took so long for some call bells on a busy medical surgical floor to be answered. According to the article â€Å"Qualitative methods, especially ethnography, are useful inRead MoreThe Cask of Amontillado663 Words   |  3 Pageswith the last row of bricks , he tortures Fortunato psychologically as he begs for mercy and all he does is scream back at him in a very insane way. As Fortunato tries to get off the chains, the bells attached to the chains ring and ring making a pleasing sound for Montresor. He dances and cheers to the bell sounds and ends up finishing the brick wall and leaves him to die. At the end Montresor says that happened fifty years ago and no one has found out yet. In ‘’Cask of Amontillado’’, irony andRead MoreResearch Article Critique Of The Call Bells Essay1851 Words   |  8 PagesResearch Article Critique Dance of the Call Bells suggest that using ethnography to evaluate patient satisfaction with quality of care is a way of evaluating problems in a hospital. In this paper different methods provided insight into the perception that patients have in regard to the care that they should receive. It is very clearly and concisely stated that there are three interrelate components associated with bell calling the nurse. These are the responding of the patients call, understanding the

The Link Between Down Syndrome and Alzheimers Disease...

The Link Between Down Syndrome and Alzheimers Disease The individuals with Disabilities Education Act states that all children with disabilities, including mental retardation, be educated to the maximum extent appropriate with students who are not disabled (2). In an ideal world, society would have no problem following this decree, but the world is less than perfect and, therefore, stigmas are unfortunately attached to those suffering from mental disabilities, especially the mentally retarded. One has to question whether this group of people deserves these stigmas. Having grown up with two severely retarded cousins and, for that matter, a great uncle suffering from Alzheimers Disease, I often wondered as to what was happening†¦show more content†¦The fact that individuals displaying the same symptoms have similar abnormalities in their brains gives supporting evidence to the brain = behavior argument. In further support, studies have suggested that mentally retarded adults have the same risk as other adults of developing Alzhei mers disease, which affects roughly 6% of adults over 65 in the general population. However, adults with Down Syndrome have a much higher rate of developing the disease. 25% of adults with Down Syndrome develop the disease by age 40, and the rate sky-rockets to 65% after age 60. Upon autopsy at death, nearly all adults that suffered from Down Syndrome show brain patterns analogous with those of Alzheimers (9) . If the brain is responsible for the behaviors demonstrated by the sufferers of both Down Syndrome and Alzheimers, then one has to question what the link is. What makes the transition from one to the other more frequent than in the general population and why are the mentally retarded not afflicted by Alzheimers as often as those with Down Syndrome? Down Syndrome is the most common genetic form of mental retardation and occurs in about 1 out of every 800 births. It has distinctive characteristics that allow it to be easily distinguished from other forms of mental retardation (3). Factors such as maternal age, hormonal abnormalities, x-rays, viral infection, immunologic problems, and genetic predisposition can cause the improperShow MoreRelatedThe Chronic Neurological Disease : Alzheimer s Disease1649 Words   |  7 PagesNeurological Disease: Alzheimer’s Hollie Haywood South Piedmont Community College Abstract Alzheimer’s disease has been around since 1901; a German psychiatrist Alois Alzheimer was the first man to identify and follow a case that is now known as Alzheimer’s disease. Alzheimer’s disease is involved in synaptic deterioration and neuronal cell death, and causes degeneration in the hippocampus and amyloid deposition in blood vessels, ultimately cell death is the cause of the disease. There areRead MoreThe Link Between Autistic Spectrum Disorder1473 Words   |  6 PagesAbstract Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a progressive brain disease that results in cognitive functioning and memory loss. It is thought that reduced levels of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) contributes to increased amyloid precursor protein (APP) levels, therefore contributing to the symptoms of AD. However, the link between Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and AD is still a relatively new area of research, so there are few certainties and still many unknowns. Studies were carriedRead MoreThe Effects Of Concussions On The Football Field1553 Words   |  7 PagesA strong willed linebacker accelerates down the football field. He eyes up his opponent- the running back- both men lower their heads, bracing for impact, while helmets crunch, fans roar. Immediately after connecting, the running back s head feels undeniably different, but at this point in the game, it would cost the team playoff contention if they lose. This man is young, rich, and famous, but little does he kno w that each concussion he gets brings him one step closer to his own grave. MultipleRead MoreManifestations of Dementia Essay1343 Words   |  6 Pageswas alert and mentally quite capable until about a year ago when she began to manifest signs and symptoms of dementia. A review of her medical records failed to document a thorough analysis of her dementia, but a diagnosis of â€Å"probable Alzheimer disease† was recorded. What are the common manifestations of dementia? The definition of Dementia is â€Å"a general term for loss of memory and other mental abilities severe enough to interfere with daily life. It is caused by physical changes in the brainRead More Alzheimer’s Disease Essay2338 Words   |  10 PagesAlzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder, meaning it attacks the neurons within the brain. Neurons are the areas of the brain that allow for chemical messages, or neurotransmitters, to be transmitted. These neurons are necessary for connections with other nerve cells, and without them, the neuronS ultimately die. Alzheimer’s is a form of, and the most common cause of, dementia, or loss of intellectual capacity and personality. (Dementia.) Alzheimer’s disease, or AD, is not a normal partRead MoreThe Detrimental Effects of Concussions1183 Words   |  5 Pagesbrain cells.†(Carr) That is exactly why a concussion can be devastating to a person’s long term health. There are many symptoms of concussions and very few ways to treat them. The symptoms of a concussion can range from a mild headache to brain diseases such as dementia. Early symptoms include headache, dizziness, disorientation, a change in a person’s memory or an easy loss of concentration. A person with a concussion can also have early symptoms such as always being tired, having a nauseous feelingRead MoreOutline Of Alzheimer s Disease2765 Words   |  12 PagesMilton Schiffenbauer Research Topics in Biology GSB 493 CA Alzheimer’s disease Introduction Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that accounts for sixty to seventy percent of Dementia cases. It is characterized by the development of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles, the loss of connection between neurons in the brain and the death of nerve cells. There are two types of Alzheimer’s Early on-set Alzheimer’s which occur from the ages of thirty to sixty is very rare andRead MoreThe Disease Of Alzheimer s Disease2246 Words   |  9 PagesINTRODUCTION Alzheimer’s Disease has been one of the top leading causes of death in our country. It is understood that this disease is identified as an excess of the protein amyloid-ß within an increase of plaque (Seneff, Wainwright, and Mascitelli, 2010). Additionally, as the brain ages, it gets used to the inflammation and oxidative stress, so it is important to take the right amount of antioxidant micronutrients like vitamin C and vitamin E as well as anti-inflammatory macronutrients such asRead MoreDown Syndrome : An Intellectual Disability2156 Words   |  9 PagesOverview of Down syndrome Down syndrome is an intellectual disability that is a result of a person being born with an extra chromosome, specifically chromosome 21. Down syndrome is the most common intellectual disability affecting approximately 1 in every 1000 births (Asim, Kumar, Muthuswamy, Jain, Agarwal, 2015). Research has found a direct link between the age of the mother and the possibility that the baby will be born with Down syndrome, with the occurrence of Down syndrome increasing proportionallyRead MoreDementia Awareness1790 Words   |  8 Pagesdepression, delirium and age related memory impairment may be mistaken for dementia. Depression, delirium and age related impairment can be mistaken for dementia as they all have similar signs and symptoms. Some of the signs that are similar between depression and dementia are - * low mood or sadness * feeling hopeless and helpless * feeling irritable and intolerant of others   * having no  motivation  or interest in things * finding it difficult to  make decisions *

Construction Of The Construction Project Management Essay

According to Koskela, current nature of production in construction is considered to be activity-oriented transformation model, rather than taking into account the flow control as a whole. Specifically, they can be characterized into five areas: In the conceptual basis of the construction project management is a term most commonly used in construction activities. Since the development of a long history in the construction industry, which has its own associated culture before clear scientific analysis and problem-solving. It seems to be the most general conceptual understanding of architecture as a series of activities for a specific output, namely the conversion. That is a key issue cost estimates for these activities. Traditionally, the building is divided into several constituent elements, each element of the necessary raw materials and labor costs (input into the output) during construction estimate. In addition, the contract specified as part of a building, pay as output and input, respectively. This is a conversion from a traditional model, this is a hypothetical production process consists of a set of inputs into output sub-processes, and may be realized and analyzed independently of each other. In addition, there are theoretical or conceptual studies do not exist for general use. That is the goal of many textbooks construction management is subjective describe management and control of specific technology and construction projects instead of doing architectural conceptShow MoreRelatedProject Management : Construction Of Construction1038 Words   |  5 Pagesproperty owners use project management to organize complex builds that bring ideas to life. Contractors build structures in phases, beginning with project pre-planning and culminating in the erection of physical land features. For many years, construction firms documented tasks manually and with limited technology. Now, however, sweeping innovations promise to bring the construction trade up to speed with other technologically savvy industries. What Is Project Management in Construction? As outlinedRead MoreConstruction Management And Construction Project Management1396 Words   |  6 PagesMichael Saavedra Construction Management- 401W Construction management or construction project management (CPM) is the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to completion. Throughout this semester I learned many various information on construction management, from the bid package process to scheduling a projects. Also learned the various contracts and legal structure of a construction company. Overall this semester I learned the overall knowledge ofRead MoreConstruction Management And Construction Project Management1103 Words   |  5 Pages Construction management or construction project management (CPM) is the overall planning, coordination, and control of a project from beginning to completion. Throughout this semester I learned many various information on construction management, from the bid package process to scheduling a projects. Also learned the various contracts and legal structure of a construction company. Overall this semester I learned the overall knowledge o f construction management. The first thing we learnedRead MoreRole Of Construction Management For Construction Projects Essay1485 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to my understanding the project manager in the construction industry is a person assigned by an organization to run, control, and manage a team to achieve the final project execution goals. Where as in actual view â€Å"A project manager is the person who has the overall responsibility for the successful initiation, planning, design, execution, monitoring, controlling and closure of a project.’’ (Duncan Haughey, 2014) Investigating from the literature according to International Journal Of AcademicRead MoreConstruction Of Integrated Construction Project Management1650 Words   |  7 Pages INTEGRATED CONSTRUCTION PROJECT MANAGEMENT ASSIGNMENT- 2 Topic- Lean construction- from Theory to Practice Date- 12-31-2014 Done by- Sushil sriram Subramanian Fq7893@wayneRead MoreConstruction Project Management1420 Words   |  6 PagesKPB 730 ASSIGNMENT BY DANIEL JOHANNES CORNELIS VILJOEN 23056674 SUBMITTED IN FULFILLMENT OF PART OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF B.Sc (Hons) (CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT) IN THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, BUILT ENVIRONMENT AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA DATE OF SUBMISSION 07 MAY 2008 I understand that this assignment contributes to the assessment of my competency on work lectured on this course and co-determines my qualification forRead MoreProject Management Of Construction Projects Essay3459 Words   |  14 PagesINTRODUCTION Construction projects can be extremely complex and fraught with uncertainty. Risk and uncertainty can potentially have damaging consequences for the construction projects. Therefore nowadays, the risk analysis and management continue to be a major feature of the project management of construction projects in an attempt to deal effectively with uncertainty and unexpected events and to achieve project success. Risk is inherent on construction projects and disputes frequently arise. OneRead MoreProject Management And Construction Of The Project996 Words   |  4 PagesAll the financing, sourcing, bidding management and construction of the project are decided by MOR internally7. Eventually, the power centralized into three people – former Minister of Railways Liu Zhijun, former railway ministry chief engineer Zhang Shuguang and former China Railway Communication Group Corp. Chairman Ma Cheng. Liu Zhijun, who had the main leadership responsibility for the accident and acted as the executive sponsor, was sacked and detained in Feb, 2011, before it happened, beingRead MoreRisk Management For Construction Projects1095 Words   |  5 Pagesoverall aim of this study report is to let everyone know what risk management is, realize the procedure of risk management in construction project and have a deeper study on the application of risk management during construction period, therefore, a better project output and better value for both clients and constructors. There are two objectives of this study: 1. To assess the most major and common risks which cause bad effect on construction period. 2. To figure out reasonable solutions. On the basisRead MoreImportan ce Of Project Management For Construction1129 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Construction Management is not a new idea. The function of the Construction Manager is to work on behalf of the owner to complete a project within the plans and specifications provided. In the last few years construction practices have changed dramatically. Technology, materials, government bureaucracy, financing, design, and engineering have all advanced. With the complexity of the construction process increasing, owners demand accountability and accurate guidance during the entire

Journey Essay - 1104 Words

English Speech- Journeys â€Å"To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive.† In other words a journey and the experiences you have are better than the actual destination. The novel â€Å"The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn† by Mark Twain and the poem â€Å"The Road Not Taken† by Robert Frost have taught me that journeys may involves barriers and hardships, they can lead to significant personal change and more importantly journeys facilitate reflection about how you see yourself, others and the world. Journeys are very important in personal change and growth. They can also help us in comparing and contrasting new and old experiences. Journeys may involve many barriers and hardships and overcoming them can lead to personal change and growth.â€Å"The†¦show more content†¦In addition, â€Å"The Road Not Taken† also shows us how journeys allow for our reflection on many things. In the poem the traveller experiences an obstacle or fork in the road. This allows the traveller to take in his surroundings whether that be the path ahead or the people around him. This is shown when he states ‘two roads diverged in a yellow wood’. The traveller has two options and to make a decision he has to really explore both of them. Robert Frost uses this poem to express his belief in not always following the crowd and being an individual. Robert Frost uses conversational language to create a sense of communication between the traveller and the reader and to enlighten the reflection that the traveller has made. After comparing both paths and seeing every option his reflection about his journey changes. The traveller decides to go with the path less travelled. He decides to be different. Journeys can lead to significant personal change. The experiences you have on a journey can shape and change your perception of yourself and the people around you. In ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’ this is shown when Huck’s beliefs change and he becomes more mature. Huck and Jim’s relationship also develops throughout the journey. Huck’s perception of Jim at the beginning of the journey is very different compared to the end. At the start Huck doesn’t take Jim very seriously and has no compassion or respect for him. The influences of society have taughtShow MoreRelatedEssay on Anaylysis of Journey to the West1379 Words   |  6 Pagesidea of a ‘journey’ apply to Tripitaka’s pilgrimage? If so, how? The idea of embarking on journeys has stood the test of time - early man explored uncharted territories, while modern citizens jump at the chance to have an overseas experience. Are we truly concerned with materialistic experiences, or are we seeking to expand our horizons ? The term pilgrimage itself suggests a journey to a geographical location of spiritual importance. However, journey in this caseRead MoreMistrys Such a Long Journey: the Struggle Within Essay1130 Words   |  5 Pagescharacters throughout Rohinton Mistrys Such a long journey include the contrast of many opposing forces. Good and bad, bitterness and forgiveness, saving and destruction, heaven and hell as just a few of the conflicting themes. Many secondary characters in the novel are important in the life of Gustad, and encourage these themes. In The Road to Salvation: Mythological and Theological Intertextuality in Rohinton Mistrys Such a Long Journey, Michel W. Pharand states: Since good and evilRead MoreJourney to Ixtlan: Getting the Message Across Essay692 Words   |  3 PagesNow I do not know what Carlos Castaneda was smoking while he wrote Journey to Ixtlan: the Lessons of Don Juan, but it sure did bring out his creative side. Throughout Journey to Ixtlan, the reader is constantly perplexed and confused by the enigma that is don Juan. Don Juan is a teacher, if you want to call him that, and he teaches Castaneda how to stop the world and how to erase personal history. In reality I really do not think don Juan existed, he was merely a figment of Castanedas peyote-influencedRead MoreEssay on Eugene ONeills Long Days Journey into Night1740 Words   |  7 PagesEugene ONeills Long Days Journey into Night As the fog descends around the Tyrone’s summer home, another fog falls on the family within. This fog is that of substance abuse, in which each of the four main characters of Eugene O’Neill’s play, Long Day’s Journey into Night face by the end of Act IV. Long Days Journey into Night is a metaphoric representation of the path from normalcy to demise by showing the general effects of substance abuse on human psychology and family dysfunctions throughRead MoreSymbolism In Long Days Journey Into The Night Essay1153 Words   |  5 PagesSymbolism is prevalent throughout the play, Long Day’s Journey into Night. The three most notable symbols, the fog, the foghorn and MaryÂ’s glasses, interpret the author’s life at best. There is double meaning to fog in this play because it is seen as the substance abuse issue and the atmosphere of the family. These are representations of illusions and the family as a whole not wanting to face actuality. The Ty rone family appears to progress during the day and possess a sense of normality, but pulledRead More American Religion in Long Days Journey into Night Essay861 Words   |  4 Pages American Religion in Long Days Journey into Night nbsp; nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; The modernist sentiments throughout Long Days Journey into Night, by Eugene ONeill, are apparent in many different ways.nbsp; Among the methods he used was the portrayal of Americas withdrawal from traditional religion and modes of behavior.nbsp; He used his immigrant Irish family, the Tyrones, as a pedestal for this idea by highlighting their departure fromRead MoreAnalysis of Eugene ONeills Long Day’s Journey into Night Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"rational, strong, protective, and decisive† while woman as â€Å"emotional (irrational), weak, nurturing, and submissive† (Tyson 85). Because of such system, women are indoctrinated into the mentality that they are inferior to men. In the play, Long Day’s Journey into Night, Eugene O’Neill portrays Mary Tyrone, the female protagonist, was being oppressed socially and psychologically by her family. Her husband, James, and two sons, Jam ie and Edmund, attempt to support her and keep her stable. However, theirRead MoreEssay about Long Days Journey into Night Eugene by ONeill759 Words   |  4 Pages amp;#9;In the play Long Day’s Journey Into Night by Eugene O’Neill, the Tyrone family is haunted not by what is present in flesh facing them, but by memories and constant reminders of what has been the downfall of the family for years. amp;quot; No it can never be now. But it was once, before you-amp;quot; (72) [James Tyrone referring to the Morphine addiction of his wife, Mary, which attributed to the undoing of the family]. Their trials and tribulations are well documented by O’Neill throughRead MoreEssay about The Ending to Eugene ONeils Long Days Journey Into Night809 Words   |  4 PagesThe Ending to Eugene ONeils Long Days Journey Into Night It is understandable that so many people in our class did not find the last act of Eugene ONeills Long Days Journey Into Night a satisfying one; there is no tidy ending, no goodbye kisses or murder confessions; none of the charaters leave the stage with flowers in their hands or with smiles on their faces and none of the characters give explanatory monologues after the curtain falls, as weve become accustomed to by reading so muchRead MoreJourney Essay1466 Words   |  6 PagesThe Journey is the reward: Discuss the truth of this statement using the core text, with one piece of text from the BOS booklet together with two pieces of related material. All issues are to speak in relation to Sally Morgans inner journey. The inner journey is a concept that has always been debated, and so has its meaning. The word ‘inner has the alternative meaning of personal. Moreover, the word journey has an alternative meaning of movement. So, the concept of the inner journey, customarily

The Merchant of Venice Free Essays

Parent-Child Relationship Between Jessica and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice After reading The Merchant of Venice, we should ask ourselves if Shylock, who many people perceive as tragedy stricken and victimized, is in fact so hard done by after all. When it comes to family matters, I believe that Shylock is the ultimate cause behind his awful relationship with Jessica. In this play, Shakespeare portrays an old fashioned child-parent relationship in which the child feels inferior to the parent. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now Shylock and Jessica lack trustworthiness, care, love, and consideration for one another. Their horrible relationship, which is a huge attribute to the play, is not due to conflicting personalities as commonly believed, but rather to the fact that Shylock is a terrible father. Over the course of the novel, Shylock and Jessica have numerous disagreements on certain issues, and Shylock is too stubborn to compromise. Firstly, when it comes to issues regarding religion, the two dispute because Jessica is ashamed to be Jewish while Shylock takes pride in it. Jessica clearly shows how upset she is to be Jewish when she says, â€Å"Alack, what heinous sin it is in me to be asham’d to be my father’s child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners† (2. 3. 18). When Jessica is speaking to Launcelot, she essentially says that she would never act like she a Jew, which displays the lack of pride and hatred she has towards this â€Å"flaw† of hers. Secondly, Shylock persistently will not give Jessica any more freedom, and the ability to make her own decisions. Before the party that Shylock decides to attend, he says to Jessica: †¦ Hear you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum and the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, clamber not you up to the casements then, nor thrust your head into the public street, to gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces. But stop my house’s ears—I mean my casements—let not the sound of shallow foppery enter my sober house (2. 5. 27-35). Shylock gives strict instructions to Jessica to lock up the house, not reveal her face to anyone outside and not participate part in the Christian activities taking place, showing his lack of trust in her and demonstrating the restriction that Jessica is under. In many novels and other literature, not only are characters able to overcome conflicting personalities but in some cases, those are the characters that compliment each other best. Therefore, Shylock is simply stubborn preventing his relationship from progressing with Jessica. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent that Shylock values materialistic things, putting them before Jessica. Firstly, when Jessica escapes home and her well being is questionable, Shylock’s concern lies in his possessions that she had taken with her. While speaking to Tubal, Shlock says, â€Å"I would my daughter were dead at my food and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin! †¦ The thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief—and no satisfaction, no revenge†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (3. 1. 79-84). This shows that Shylock is a very materialistic person and considers his daughter to be of less importance than his goods. He even goes to the extent of wishing that she was dead in front of his feet so he could take all of his precious jewels back. Secondly, throughout Venice, Shylock is known as the ‘greedy money lender’ and we see him live up to his name on a few occasions. Shylock speaks to Jessica and says, â€Å"There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, for I did dream of money bags tonight† (2. 5. 17-18). This tells us that he knows things aren’t going in his favor because he had dreamt of money bags previously and therefor he lives up to his name of being greedy and money-oriented. As a parent, Shylock should set his priorities straight and put Jessica before material possessions and money. Shylock is uninvolved in Jessica’s life and doesn’t invest enough effort or consideration into her. Firstly, Jessica is in love with Lorenzo, a christian, but Shylock resists stubbornly. Jessica says, â€Å"O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife† (2. 4. 18-20). Jessica is basically admitting that life with Shylock is unpleasant and if all goes according to plan, she can marry Lorenzo and leave. Shylock is restricting her from doing this. Secondly, Shylock spends too much time worrying about his own issues in the book such as interacting with Lancelot, moneylending to Bassanio as well as others, and seeing through his promise for a pound of Antonio’s flesh. In act three, we can see a segment of Shylock’s busy life when he says: I’ll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak; I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield To Christian intercessors. Follow not! I’ll have no speaking, I will have my bond (3. 3. 12-17). This is one of many examples of Shylock seeking Antonio’s flesh intently. As a caregiver, Shylocks priorities need to be in his children but it is apparent that his time is consumed adversely. Shylock is a terrible father because he does not involve himself in Jessica’s life enough and make time for her. Wether it’s in being too busy to take interest in Jessica, persistently restricting her, cringing at the thought of his inheritance to go to her, or being extremely money orientated, Shylock is most definitely the source of the poor father-daughter relationship between himself and Jessica. At numerous points within the novel, we can see Shylock’s lack of care, acceptance, involvement, love and trust that he has in Jessica. These are all essential behavioral traits that a caregiver and role model should have. In conclusion, Shylock is an inadequate father to Jessica and therefore, he is more of a villain than a victim. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays The Merchant of Venice The play The Merchant of Venice is a comedy about a man named Bassanio who wants to travel to Belmont to try and win the love of a rich, beautiful and intelligent heiress, names Portia. Bassanio has his friend Antonio borrow money from a Jewish money lender for him so that he could travel to Belmont. The Merchant of Venice has many different themes, including the two themes; revenge love and friendship. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first theme in the play The Merchant of Venice is revenge. In the beginning of the play, Shylock (the Jewish money lender) tells the audience of his hatred for Antonio. Shylock hated Antonio for many reasons. Antonio had disgraced him, hindered him half a million, laughed at his losses, mocked his success, scorned his nationality, and more, but Antonio was in need of money to help out his friend Bassanio. Bassanio had asked Antonio for the money, but Antonio could not give it to him. He told Bassanio that he could borrow from a money lender, in his credit and he would pay the money back. Even though Shylock disliked Antonio, he agreed to lend the money on one condition, If the money was not paid on time, Shylock was entitled to one pound of flesh from anywhere on Antonio’s body. Antonio agreed and signed the bond because he knew that he had ships with money and they would be back before the bond was up. Shylock made his dislike of Antonio very clear, and that he would have his revenge if the money was not paid. The second example of revenge shown in the play was during the trial scene. Antonio had gotten news of his ships crashing before their returns. Antonio was not able to pay the bond off. Shylock had him arrested and taken to court. During the trial, Bassanio and Portia (dressed as a lawyer) tried to convince Shylock to take two, three, or even four times the amount of the bond. Shylock refused, he was set o his revenge on Antonio. Shylock had no mercy for Antonio. Portia however convinced the duke that Shylock was not allowed to draw blood with with pound of flesh, making his condition impossible. The duke realized that Shylock would show no mercy, so he would not get his revenge. That is how the play The Merchant of Venice shows the theme of revenge. The second theme is Love and Friendship. There are many friendships and relationships in The Merchant of Venice. Antonio and Bassanio have a strong friendship. Antonio risked his life by signing the bond that said if he did not pay the money on time, Shylock was entitled to one pound of his flesh. He did this so that his best friend Bassanio could go to Belmont to win the love of Portia. Antonio must have really valued the friendship they had to risk his own life for Bassanio. Bassanio and Antonio’s friendship helped build the main romantic relationship between Portia and Bassanio. Portia was an heiress whose father passed away and had written in his will that Portia would marry the man who could correctly choose the portrait of Portia from one of three caskets. This is why Bassanio wanted to go to Belmont for Portia. He was confident that he would be the one of all the suitors who attempted to choose the correct casket. In the end, Bassanio chose the correct casket and won Portia’s love. They got married and had a happy ending. In conclusion, I believe that the two main themes showed in The Merchant of Venice, are revenge love and romance. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays The Merchant of Venice is a comedy by William Shakespeare, but it is the serious themes within the play that are most striking for readers and audiences alike.   Among all the other themes in The Merchant of Venice, Anti-Semitism is the most notable and controversial. In the play, William Shakespeare illustrated Anti-Semitism through the character of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now    He was portrayed as greedy, vengeful, and full of hatred.   These characteristics made Shylock the most unforgettable character, even overshadowing the play’s protagonist Antonio.   It was Shakespeare’s depiction of Shylock that established the Anti-Semitic perception of the play, as it clearly painted a negative picture of Jewish people. Within the first three acts of the play, Anti-Semitism is conveyed through Shylock’s interaction with the other characters, and his response toward them.   One example of this is found in Act 1 Scene 3: [Aside] How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian, But more for that in low simplicity (Shakespeare 15) This is Shylock’s reaction upon the arrival of Antonio, who comes to borrow â€Å"three thousand ducats† from him (Shakespeare 16).   First, Shylock comments on Antonio’s appearance.  Ã‚   He then directly states his hatred, which is based on Antonio’s religion.   Through his use of Shylock as example, Shakespeare had shown the aversion of Jews to Christians. In Act 3 Scene 1, Shylock begins by explaining how Jews and Christians are alike.   However, he ends his statement with the justification of his wrongdoings toward Christians:  If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility?  Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance  be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me,  I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the  instruction (Shakespeare 51). Shylock explains that his actions are merely responses to the cruelty of Christians towards him.   Thus, he will repay them with revenge more cruel than the way they have treated him.   In this way, Shakespeare portrays Jews as vengeful. Another display of anti-semitism is expressed through Shylock’s love of money over the love for his daughter.   When his daughter Jessica eloped with her Christian lover Lorenzo, she took some of his jewels and gold.   Shylock was enraged, not because of his daughter’s departure, but because of his gold and jewels: Two thousand ducats in  that; and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter  were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear; would she were  hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! (Shakespeare 52) In this statement, Shylock’s concern for his jewels and ducats are obvious.   On the other hand, he expresses anger towards his daughter, whom he wished was dead.   Hence, Shakespeare depicts Jews as those who value material wealth over family. In conclusion, the play The Merchant of Venice carries the theme of Anti-Semitism.   It is considered as Anti-Semitic because of William Shakespeare’s depiction of Jews as despicable.   He casts a negative light on Jews through his character Shylock.   He is depicted as vengeful, greedy, full of hatred towards Christians, and one who values material wealth over family.   These are the characteristics by which Jews are identified.   In the end, it is the theme of Anti-Semitism that best identifies the play. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. â€Å"The Merchant of Venice.† Campus Bookstore. 31 Jan 2008 How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples The Merchant Of Venice Free Essays Portia is also manipulative, using silent humor as to not embarrass herself, having discussed with Inertias her displeasure in the choice of suitors, she cleverly replies, ‘Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair as any comer I have looked on yet for my affection. ‘ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 20) this demonstrates the use of her words as not to cause embarrassment, whilst being honest and telling Inertias he literally that he had no chance. The language Shakespeare uses for Portia and Shylock is different, both Portia and Shylock are very formal in the way they speak. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant Of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now Shylock is formal in a polite way in the judgment scene out of respect, ‘your grace’ (Act 4, Scene 1 Line 35). As a sign of nobility Portia is formal in the way that she speaks, mostly she uses verse in more important scenes such as the judgment scene, which further emphasizes her portrayal as a formal male character. However, Portion’s language is far more informal when she speaks to Inertias ‘You know I say nothing to him, for he hath neither Latin, French nor Italian’ this clearly accentuates their relationship as close; Portia speaks to Inertias in prose. Shylock on the other hand speaks predominantly in prose showing his lower status, particularly in his conversation with Tuba, ‘How now, Tuba, what news from Genoa? Hast thou found my daughter? ‘ (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 71), enhancing the informality of the conversation, and also the lower social status of Shylock as a Jew and Tuba as a Christian. In contrast to the majority of the play where Shylock speaks mostly in prose, in the judgment scene Shylock starts his opening speech with verse, ‘l have possessed your grace of what I purpose†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. .. As losing suit against him. Are you answered? ‘ ( Act 4, Scene 1, Line 35-63) this indicates the formality of where they are and this particular occasion, towards the end of the judgment Shylock language changes to prose making it less formal, when he no longer has the upper hand, ‘ take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice and let the Christian go. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1 r Line 31 6) Portia however, maintains her style of language throughout the scene which reinforces her position and the formality of the situation they are in. In the beginning Of the scene, Shylock is very in control using lengthy paragraphs and verse. He is knowledgeable about the law, ‘If you deny me, fie upon your law: There is no force in the decrees of Venice. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 101 ) and adamant that he will succeed in the debt being paid, ‘The pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought; ‘its mine and I will have it. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 99) However, Portia is also both very knowledgeable of the law and very cleverly using a literal interpretation of the law to undermine Shylock case ‘The bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are’ a pound of flesh’. ‘(ACTA, Scene 1, Line 304) going on to say ‘One rope of Christian blood†¦ Are by the laws of Venice confiscate. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 308) The difference between Portia and Shylock is that Portia maintains her control. Throughout this process Shylock responses become much shorter as his confidence diminishes. By literally interpreting the words Portia manipulates Shylock to a point were he becomes submissive, ‘l pray you give me leave to go from hence; I am not well. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 3, Line 97) Portia, even she though is portraying a man still has a higher stature than Shylock even as a woman. Shylock is refereed to as ‘the Jew an insult and a means of singling IM out as a lower class of person. By calling him ‘Jew’ throughout the scene the Christians are putting him in his place. By Portion’s reference to Christian blood being shed as being ‘By the laws of Venice confiscate’ she is indicating that Christians are more special in the eyes of the law. However, Shylock shows a similar prejudice towards Christians as they do toward Jews, by addressing Antonio as the Christian, And let the Christian go. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 31 7) Shylock shows no mercy, at any point during this scene, even when he realizes he may not get everything he desires ‘Is that the law? Act 4, Scene 1, Line 312) he still continues to try to get the best deal he can ‘l take this offer then. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 31 6) Portia begins to contradict herself when she appeals to Shylock with her The quality of Mercy’ speech (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 182) as throughout the scene she in fact shows no mercy, ‘Soft. The Jew shall have all justice; soft, no haste; He shall have nothing but the penalty. ‘ (ACTA, Scene 1, Line 31 8) Portia then manipulates the concept of mercy, by asking the criminal what mercy he desires towards Shylock, leaving him with nothing, not even his faith. How to cite The Merchant Of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays In â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by William Shakespeare, Shylock is always portrayed as the villain of the play. However, a study of his strengths and weaknesses reveals how hard it is to tell whether he is a villain or a victim. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ written by William Shakespeare is two stories; the flesh blond tale and the love caskets tale. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now An important character that portrays these two stories is Shylock, an arrogant Jewish merchant. Shylock is an old man who is wealthy by lending money and charging interest e. g. 3000 ducats with Antonio. Shylock has a deep hatred for Christians and he has many strengths and weaknesses. Shylock is sadly always portrayed as the villain of the play. In ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare Shylock is always made known that he is the villain. This is because people stereotype him on his religion and what he acts like. Shylock is portrayed as the villain just because he is a Jew and holds grudges. We are first introduced to Shylock in Act One, Scene Three where we learn of his usury. In this scene we hear of his hatred for Antonio. â€Å"How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian† (1, 3, 37-38). This statement shows that Shylock hates Antonio. Shylock hates him because he has different beliefs than him and he hates Christians because of past abuse. Shylock also shows signs of ferociousness in his refusal to forgive 3 the Christians. â€Å"If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him† (1, 3, 43). Everybody despises Shylock because he is devious and very cunning. He shows this when naive Antonio accepts the bond of taking a pound of flesh if 3000 ducats is not paid in three months. Although Shylock performs evil he should be treated like everyone else, not like an animal such as in Act Four, Scene One. In â€Å"The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, Shylock has many strengths, even though he is pictured to be a cold hearted, selfish, revenge-seeking, parochial, unmerciful, stubborn, and naive man. In fact, Shylock has more strengths than weaknesses but they are very hard to point out. People put him down just because he is a Jew – which equals prejudism. Shylock is an extremely successful business man by lending money and charging interest, such as in Act One, Scene Two with Antonio and Bassanio. Shylock is also very optimistic and is never hurt by what other people say or think of him. I suppose you could say he is naive then. I mean, it is just a human flaw to want revenge so why should Shylock suffer the pain and teasing? Another strength that Shylock has is that he is very cunning. Some people believe this is a weakness; it is not because through this he earns money and starts friendships. In â€Å"The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, Shylock has many weaknesses, these are easier to point out because he has so many of them and they are very obvious. First of all, Shylock is a very cold hearted man, especially with his treatment of his daughter Jessica. 4 â€Å"Hear you me, Jessica lock up my doors: and when you hear the drum†¦ Nor thrust your head into the public street†¦ but stop my house’s ears†¦ Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter my sober house† (1, 5). This is when Shylock is telling Jessica to stay locked up inside and look after his house- therefore he is overprotective. Shylock is also very naive, he doesn’t realise the strange behaviour between Jessica and Lorenzo. This is showing that he isn’t an attentive father. It also shows that he is greedy and wrapped up in his own little world because he is more preoccupied in his wealth than his daughter. Another weakness that Shylock carries is that he is very revenge-seeking. Especially when he hates Antonio because of past insultment and he is a Christian. He shows this when he lends money to Antonio with an unusual bond that he know will work because Antonio’s wealth is at sea. Shylock is also very materialistic and thinks money buys happiness/life. In ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, Shylock is the most noteworthy figure and it is hard to tell whether he is a victim or a villain. He is portrayed as a greedy, naive, and cold hearted man. But people don’t see that, on the inside he is a good person, instead they just stereotype him on his religion and personal traits. I guess his greediness overpowers his personality. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples The Merchant of Venice Free Essays How is your prescribed text made memorable through the interaction of ideas and the ways these ideas are represented? â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by William Shakespeare contains many memorable themes. Through the use of techniques ideas are represented. These ideas are the power of money, conflict/prejudice between Jews and Christians and the role of women. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now The memorable ideas represented throughout the play are extremely important to â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† and is the reason why it is called a ‘problem play’. Shylock is often classed as the stereotypical miserably Jew, and some use his repetition of â€Å"Three thousand ducats† to show how his life is dominated and ruled by money. Shylock is obsessed with money this becomes clear in Act 2, Scene 8 as Solanio mimics Shylock’s anguished cries of repetition â€Å"My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter†. In Act 3 Scene 1 as Tubal notifies Shylock of Jessica spending â€Å"fourscore ducats† in one night, Shylocks reaction supports the fact that he is obsessed with money, â€Å"I shall never see my gold again†. Christians and anti-Semitism are extremely important to â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†. Shylock who is constantly vilified and ridiculed by the Christians throughout the play portrays the Elizabethan era of which the play was written, and it is no coincidence that the heroes in the play are Christians and the villain is Jewish. The society, which is mostly Christians, degrades and ostracises the Jews because of the different ways of life and beliefs. Hence, the idea of anti-Semitism is brought into the play. Shylock is frequently called â€Å"the devil† (Lancelot 2:2) or linked with dehumanising imagery â€Å"cut-throat dog, this is evident in Act 1 Scene 3 as Shylock is in conversation with Antonio. Antonio thinks of the Jew when he calls Shylock a â€Å"misbeliever† and â€Å"spat upon his Jewish gabardine†. Consequently Shylock displays the same hatred and disrespect for Antonio as he publicly expresses that he â€Å"hates him for he is Christian†. The use of rhetorical questions is a vivid dramatic change, climaxing in his taunting lines: â€Å" Hath a dog money? In this play, we can see that religious prejudices outweigh justice. In the trial scene (4:1), the way in which they address Shylock as â€Å"the Jew† implies the hearing is unfavorable towards Shylock. Portia argues that there must be â€Å"no jot of blood†¦ in the cutting it†. Though this reasoning is flawed in the actual context, it is done to save a fellow Christian from a Jew. The Duke also tries to defend Antonio and ask Shylock to â€Å"forgive a moiety of the principal†. However, when Shylock is undone by Portia’s interpretation of the law, none of them show â€Å"mercy† to the losses he suffers. He loses â€Å"one half of his good† to the state â€Å"the other half† to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death and most significantly he loses his religion. The Christians put on a veil of â€Å"justice† by stating that â€Å"the Jew shall have all justice†. However, for the state of Venice to take away one’s religion unwillingly to be christened shows that the rule of law is in fact, one-sided and does not serve justice for the Jews. Conclusively, it seems evident that prejudice prevails over justice. The role of women is also explored in the trial scene (4:1). The traditional idea of men and women has been subverted as Portia dresses as a man. Portia’s intellectual qualities are highlighted in the trial scene, where she illustrates her ability to reason with a legal approach â€Å"this bond is forfeit†. Portia also shows her wit and intellect as she comments on Bassanio’s will to sacrifice his wife to save Antonio, â€Å" your wife would give you little thanks for that, if she were by to hear you make the offer. Thus Portia can be regarded as the ideal compound of intellect and romance, who blots her copybook only once, and that is in her catlike playing with Shylock. Based on the play, Shakespeare exploits the themes of power of money; the role of women and the prejudice between Christians and Jew. These memorable ideas are represented primarily through the characters of Shylock and Portia , whom give us an accurate idea of Christians and Jews during the Elizabethan era. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays he MMabelMartin Professor Valencic, Adam ENGL 200 Dec 16, 2012 Dear Prof. Valencic: In exploring â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by William Shakespeare while trying to classify it, as it is a troublesome play to classify in the usual Shakespearean categories of comedy, history or tragedy, I came to the conclusion that the ultimate view of this drama is neither simply a comedy or a tragedy, but a combination of both. In the book it was stated that, â€Å"Coinciding with the reduction in the stature of characters in tragedy has come a hybrid form that has come to be known as tragicomedy, that is, works of drama that combine the tragic and comic together† (277). We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now With this in mind, after reading this troublesome play, I’d have to argue that it be considered a â€Å"Tragicomedy†. So now I ask professor, would this qualify as such, although originally this drama has been titled, The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice, originally I did not see the comedy within it, but I can see some now, but I also wouldn’t call it a complete tragedy, being that there was conflict, it ultimately never ended in a complete tragedy to call it that either. I appreciate any feedback to the matter, whether it still corresponds to the original question? Is my understanding of the term applied correctly in my opinion towards this drama? I look forward to gaining more knowledge towards this assignment which I enjoyed analyzing. Sincerely, Mabel Martin MabelMartin Professor Valencic, Adam ENGL 200 Dec 16, 2012 The Merchant of Venice â€Å"The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction† (324). When analyzing this line from â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†, it does not seem as though this drama would be considered a comedy, but rather a tragedy. We all have read and studied the variety of works of the great writer William Shakespeare, most of his plays can be categorized into comedy, history, or tragedy. However, this specific plays full name is originally ,The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice, but although the title contemplates that it be considered a comedy, after reviewing and summarizing the complete drama, I disagree and view this plays classification to be different. Considering the above mentioned quote directly from the drama, one would assume it may then be a tragedy, which for a while, I almost believed it to be. But after discovering the final outcome, and looking at the drama as it whole, I would not even consider it a tragedy either. Nevertheless, I found there to be direct correlation to both classifications within the play as a whole. Earlier through my studies of Drama throughout the chapter, however, I came across a new term; one that I believe would best suit the classification for this particular drama. â€Å"Coinciding with the reduction in the stature of characters in tragedy has come a hybrid form that has come to be known as tragicomedy, that is, works of drama that combine the tragic and comic together† (277). This definition led me to the conclusion that this is what I would base my classification for William Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† This drama is not only a tragedy, because although a character does seem to express characteristics of those of a villain, â€Å"The pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought, ’tis mine, and I will have it†, there is more background to his experiences, (personal, psychological, emotional, social and even moral) which are explained, for why he is the way he is, and also the final outcome does not go as he had hoped as one would expect from a tragedy. Although tragedies are not always followed with death, there are many other points that come across that are aspects of a comedy. As far as being a comedy, it also displays, not only laughing moments, which are not what a true comedy was actually based on in drama, it displayed for some a happy ending, where there are weddings, and another shot at living for Antonio. This play even displays what I think to be to an extent, in a religious view, an anthropological approach, which honestly is a key factor in this play, where a main character, Shylock’s, believes in religion, those of a Jew, compose a major role for the development in this play, to the point in the end he is even forced to convert into Christianity, which in turn the villains tragic plot, becomes tragic for him as it turns back on him, and all else continue with their lives, to include his daughter, happy, in this complicated compilation of drama classifications that change throughout the story. Ultimately, this intended comedy, is in fact a comedy, but can also be viewed as a tragedy, because of the villain, although the final tragedy ends over him. With this in mind, Shakespeare seems to want the reader to gain sympathy for the so called villain, as it has been his difficult life that has took led him there. Coming from that point of view, it is a tragedy, that he loses his daughter, his agreement misunderstanding, and ultimately his religion, which is forced, and for anyone that would be tragic, to be treated as such all your life for your beliefs, and then ultimately forced to change them. So depending on one’s standpoint, and the relationship you develop with the characters, this story can be viewed differently, as either simply a comedy or for some, who may understand what that is like be seen as a tragedy. However, as it was defined earlier, I conclude that the best suited classification for this play overall would be tragicomedy. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. â€Å"The Merchant of Venice. †Ã‚  ENGL200: Composition and Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill 2011: 308-339. Web. 16 December 2012. ENGL200: Composition and Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill 2011: 275-289. Web. 30 November 2012. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples

The Merchant of Venice Free Essays

Parent-Child Relationship Between Jessica and Shylock in The Merchant of Venice After reading The Merchant of Venice, we should ask ourselves if Shylock, who many people perceive as tragedy stricken and victimized, is in fact so hard done by after all. When it comes to family matters, I believe that Shylock is the ultimate cause behind his awful relationship with Jessica. In this play, Shakespeare portrays an old fashioned child-parent relationship in which the child feels inferior to the parent. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now Shylock and Jessica lack trustworthiness, care, love, and consideration for one another. Their horrible relationship, which is a huge attribute to the play, is not due to conflicting personalities as commonly believed, but rather to the fact that Shylock is a terrible father. Over the course of the novel, Shylock and Jessica have numerous disagreements on certain issues, and Shylock is too stubborn to compromise. Firstly, when it comes to issues regarding religion, the two dispute because Jessica is ashamed to be Jewish while Shylock takes pride in it. Jessica clearly shows how upset she is to be Jewish when she says, â€Å"Alack, what heinous sin it is in me to be asham’d to be my father’s child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners† (2. 3. 18). When Jessica is speaking to Launcelot, she essentially says that she would never act like she a Jew, which displays the lack of pride and hatred she has towards this â€Å"flaw† of hers. Secondly, Shylock persistently will not give Jessica any more freedom, and the ability to make her own decisions. Before the party that Shylock decides to attend, he says to Jessica: †¦ Hear you me, Jessica. Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum and the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, clamber not you up to the casements then, nor thrust your head into the public street, to gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces. But stop my house’s ears—I mean my casements—let not the sound of shallow foppery enter my sober house (2. 5. 27-35). Shylock gives strict instructions to Jessica to lock up the house, not reveal her face to anyone outside and not participate part in the Christian activities taking place, showing his lack of trust in her and demonstrating the restriction that Jessica is under. In many novels and other literature, not only are characters able to overcome conflicting personalities but in some cases, those are the characters that compliment each other best. Therefore, Shylock is simply stubborn preventing his relationship from progressing with Jessica. Throughout the novel, it becomes apparent that Shylock values materialistic things, putting them before Jessica. Firstly, when Jessica escapes home and her well being is questionable, Shylock’s concern lies in his possessions that she had taken with her. While speaking to Tubal, Shlock says, â€Å"I would my daughter were dead at my food and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin! †¦ The thief gone with so much, and so much to find the thief—and no satisfaction, no revenge†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (3. 1. 79-84). This shows that Shylock is a very materialistic person and considers his daughter to be of less importance than his goods. He even goes to the extent of wishing that she was dead in front of his feet so he could take all of his precious jewels back. Secondly, throughout Venice, Shylock is known as the ‘greedy money lender’ and we see him live up to his name on a few occasions. Shylock speaks to Jessica and says, â€Å"There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, for I did dream of money bags tonight† (2. 5. 17-18). This tells us that he knows things aren’t going in his favor because he had dreamt of money bags previously and therefor he lives up to his name of being greedy and money-oriented. As a parent, Shylock should set his priorities straight and put Jessica before material possessions and money. Shylock is uninvolved in Jessica’s life and doesn’t invest enough effort or consideration into her. Firstly, Jessica is in love with Lorenzo, a christian, but Shylock resists stubbornly. Jessica says, â€Å"O Lorenzo, if thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, become a Christian and thy loving wife† (2. 4. 18-20). Jessica is basically admitting that life with Shylock is unpleasant and if all goes according to plan, she can marry Lorenzo and leave. Shylock is restricting her from doing this. Secondly, Shylock spends too much time worrying about his own issues in the book such as interacting with Lancelot, moneylending to Bassanio as well as others, and seeing through his promise for a pound of Antonio’s flesh. In act three, we can see a segment of Shylock’s busy life when he says: I’ll have my bond; I will not hear thee speak; I’ll have my bond, and therefore speak no more I’ll not be made a soft and dull-eyed fool, To shake the head, relent, and sigh, and yield To Christian intercessors. Follow not! I’ll have no speaking, I will have my bond (3. 3. 12-17). This is one of many examples of Shylock seeking Antonio’s flesh intently. As a caregiver, Shylocks priorities need to be in his children but it is apparent that his time is consumed adversely. Shylock is a terrible father because he does not involve himself in Jessica’s life enough and make time for her. Wether it’s in being too busy to take interest in Jessica, persistently restricting her, cringing at the thought of his inheritance to go to her, or being extremely money orientated, Shylock is most definitely the source of the poor father-daughter relationship between himself and Jessica. At numerous points within the novel, we can see Shylock’s lack of care, acceptance, involvement, love and trust that he has in Jessica. These are all essential behavioral traits that a caregiver and role model should have. In conclusion, Shylock is an inadequate father to Jessica and therefore, he is more of a villain than a victim. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays The Merchant of Venice The play The Merchant of Venice is a comedy about a man named Bassanio who wants to travel to Belmont to try and win the love of a rich, beautiful and intelligent heiress, names Portia. Bassanio has his friend Antonio borrow money from a Jewish money lender for him so that he could travel to Belmont. The Merchant of Venice has many different themes, including the two themes; revenge love and friendship. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now The first theme in the play The Merchant of Venice is revenge. In the beginning of the play, Shylock (the Jewish money lender) tells the audience of his hatred for Antonio. Shylock hated Antonio for many reasons. Antonio had disgraced him, hindered him half a million, laughed at his losses, mocked his success, scorned his nationality, and more, but Antonio was in need of money to help out his friend Bassanio. Bassanio had asked Antonio for the money, but Antonio could not give it to him. He told Bassanio that he could borrow from a money lender, in his credit and he would pay the money back. Even though Shylock disliked Antonio, he agreed to lend the money on one condition, If the money was not paid on time, Shylock was entitled to one pound of flesh from anywhere on Antonio’s body. Antonio agreed and signed the bond because he knew that he had ships with money and they would be back before the bond was up. Shylock made his dislike of Antonio very clear, and that he would have his revenge if the money was not paid. The second example of revenge shown in the play was during the trial scene. Antonio had gotten news of his ships crashing before their returns. Antonio was not able to pay the bond off. Shylock had him arrested and taken to court. During the trial, Bassanio and Portia (dressed as a lawyer) tried to convince Shylock to take two, three, or even four times the amount of the bond. Shylock refused, he was set o his revenge on Antonio. Shylock had no mercy for Antonio. Portia however convinced the duke that Shylock was not allowed to draw blood with with pound of flesh, making his condition impossible. The duke realized that Shylock would show no mercy, so he would not get his revenge. That is how the play The Merchant of Venice shows the theme of revenge. The second theme is Love and Friendship. There are many friendships and relationships in The Merchant of Venice. Antonio and Bassanio have a strong friendship. Antonio risked his life by signing the bond that said if he did not pay the money on time, Shylock was entitled to one pound of his flesh. He did this so that his best friend Bassanio could go to Belmont to win the love of Portia. Antonio must have really valued the friendship they had to risk his own life for Bassanio. Bassanio and Antonio’s friendship helped build the main romantic relationship between Portia and Bassanio. Portia was an heiress whose father passed away and had written in his will that Portia would marry the man who could correctly choose the portrait of Portia from one of three caskets. This is why Bassanio wanted to go to Belmont for Portia. He was confident that he would be the one of all the suitors who attempted to choose the correct casket. In the end, Bassanio chose the correct casket and won Portia’s love. They got married and had a happy ending. In conclusion, I believe that the two main themes showed in The Merchant of Venice, are revenge love and romance. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays The Merchant of Venice is a comedy by William Shakespeare, but it is the serious themes within the play that are most striking for readers and audiences alike.   Among all the other themes in The Merchant of Venice, Anti-Semitism is the most notable and controversial. In the play, William Shakespeare illustrated Anti-Semitism through the character of Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now    He was portrayed as greedy, vengeful, and full of hatred.   These characteristics made Shylock the most unforgettable character, even overshadowing the play’s protagonist Antonio.   It was Shakespeare’s depiction of Shylock that established the Anti-Semitic perception of the play, as it clearly painted a negative picture of Jewish people. Within the first three acts of the play, Anti-Semitism is conveyed through Shylock’s interaction with the other characters, and his response toward them.   One example of this is found in Act 1 Scene 3: [Aside] How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian, But more for that in low simplicity (Shakespeare 15) This is Shylock’s reaction upon the arrival of Antonio, who comes to borrow â€Å"three thousand ducats† from him (Shakespeare 16).   First, Shylock comments on Antonio’s appearance.  Ã‚   He then directly states his hatred, which is based on Antonio’s religion.   Through his use of Shylock as example, Shakespeare had shown the aversion of Jews to Christians. In Act 3 Scene 1, Shylock begins by explaining how Jews and Christians are alike.   However, he ends his statement with the justification of his wrongdoings toward Christians:  If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility?  Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance  be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me,  I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the  instruction (Shakespeare 51). Shylock explains that his actions are merely responses to the cruelty of Christians towards him.   Thus, he will repay them with revenge more cruel than the way they have treated him.   In this way, Shakespeare portrays Jews as vengeful. Another display of anti-semitism is expressed through Shylock’s love of money over the love for his daughter.   When his daughter Jessica eloped with her Christian lover Lorenzo, she took some of his jewels and gold.   Shylock was enraged, not because of his daughter’s departure, but because of his gold and jewels: Two thousand ducats in  that; and other precious, precious jewels. I would my daughter  were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear; would she were  hearsed at my foot, and the ducats in her coffin! (Shakespeare 52) In this statement, Shylock’s concern for his jewels and ducats are obvious.   On the other hand, he expresses anger towards his daughter, whom he wished was dead.   Hence, Shakespeare depicts Jews as those who value material wealth over family. In conclusion, the play The Merchant of Venice carries the theme of Anti-Semitism.   It is considered as Anti-Semitic because of William Shakespeare’s depiction of Jews as despicable.   He casts a negative light on Jews through his character Shylock.   He is depicted as vengeful, greedy, full of hatred towards Christians, and one who values material wealth over family.   These are the characteristics by which Jews are identified.   In the end, it is the theme of Anti-Semitism that best identifies the play. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. â€Å"The Merchant of Venice.† Campus Bookstore. 31 Jan 2008 How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples The Merchant Of Venice Free Essays Portia is also manipulative, using silent humor as to not embarrass herself, having discussed with Inertias her displeasure in the choice of suitors, she cleverly replies, ‘Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair as any comer I have looked on yet for my affection. ‘ (Act 2, Scene 1, Line 20) this demonstrates the use of her words as not to cause embarrassment, whilst being honest and telling Inertias he literally that he had no chance. The language Shakespeare uses for Portia and Shylock is different, both Portia and Shylock are very formal in the way they speak. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant Of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now Shylock is formal in a polite way in the judgment scene out of respect, ‘your grace’ (Act 4, Scene 1 Line 35). As a sign of nobility Portia is formal in the way that she speaks, mostly she uses verse in more important scenes such as the judgment scene, which further emphasizes her portrayal as a formal male character. However, Portion’s language is far more informal when she speaks to Inertias ‘You know I say nothing to him, for he hath neither Latin, French nor Italian’ this clearly accentuates their relationship as close; Portia speaks to Inertias in prose. Shylock on the other hand speaks predominantly in prose showing his lower status, particularly in his conversation with Tuba, ‘How now, Tuba, what news from Genoa? Hast thou found my daughter? ‘ (Act 3, Scene 1, Line 71), enhancing the informality of the conversation, and also the lower social status of Shylock as a Jew and Tuba as a Christian. In contrast to the majority of the play where Shylock speaks mostly in prose, in the judgment scene Shylock starts his opening speech with verse, ‘l have possessed your grace of what I purpose†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦. .. As losing suit against him. Are you answered? ‘ ( Act 4, Scene 1, Line 35-63) this indicates the formality of where they are and this particular occasion, towards the end of the judgment Shylock language changes to prose making it less formal, when he no longer has the upper hand, ‘ take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice and let the Christian go. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1 r Line 31 6) Portia however, maintains her style of language throughout the scene which reinforces her position and the formality of the situation they are in. In the beginning Of the scene, Shylock is very in control using lengthy paragraphs and verse. He is knowledgeable about the law, ‘If you deny me, fie upon your law: There is no force in the decrees of Venice. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 101 ) and adamant that he will succeed in the debt being paid, ‘The pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought; ‘its mine and I will have it. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 99) However, Portia is also both very knowledgeable of the law and very cleverly using a literal interpretation of the law to undermine Shylock case ‘The bond doth give thee here no jot of blood. The words expressly are’ a pound of flesh’. ‘(ACTA, Scene 1, Line 304) going on to say ‘One rope of Christian blood†¦ Are by the laws of Venice confiscate. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 308) The difference between Portia and Shylock is that Portia maintains her control. Throughout this process Shylock responses become much shorter as his confidence diminishes. By literally interpreting the words Portia manipulates Shylock to a point were he becomes submissive, ‘l pray you give me leave to go from hence; I am not well. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 3, Line 97) Portia, even she though is portraying a man still has a higher stature than Shylock even as a woman. Shylock is refereed to as ‘the Jew an insult and a means of singling IM out as a lower class of person. By calling him ‘Jew’ throughout the scene the Christians are putting him in his place. By Portion’s reference to Christian blood being shed as being ‘By the laws of Venice confiscate’ she is indicating that Christians are more special in the eyes of the law. However, Shylock shows a similar prejudice towards Christians as they do toward Jews, by addressing Antonio as the Christian, And let the Christian go. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 31 7) Shylock shows no mercy, at any point during this scene, even when he realizes he may not get everything he desires ‘Is that the law? Act 4, Scene 1, Line 312) he still continues to try to get the best deal he can ‘l take this offer then. ‘ (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 31 6) Portia begins to contradict herself when she appeals to Shylock with her The quality of Mercy’ speech (Act 4, Scene 1, Line 182) as throughout the scene she in fact shows no mercy, ‘Soft. The Jew shall have all justice; soft, no haste; He shall have nothing but the penalty. ‘ (ACTA, Scene 1, Line 31 8) Portia then manipulates the concept of mercy, by asking the criminal what mercy he desires towards Shylock, leaving him with nothing, not even his faith. How to cite The Merchant Of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays In â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by William Shakespeare, Shylock is always portrayed as the villain of the play. However, a study of his strengths and weaknesses reveals how hard it is to tell whether he is a villain or a victim. ‘The Merchant of Venice’ written by William Shakespeare is two stories; the flesh blond tale and the love caskets tale. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now An important character that portrays these two stories is Shylock, an arrogant Jewish merchant. Shylock is an old man who is wealthy by lending money and charging interest e. g. 3000 ducats with Antonio. Shylock has a deep hatred for Christians and he has many strengths and weaknesses. Shylock is sadly always portrayed as the villain of the play. In ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare Shylock is always made known that he is the villain. This is because people stereotype him on his religion and what he acts like. Shylock is portrayed as the villain just because he is a Jew and holds grudges. We are first introduced to Shylock in Act One, Scene Three where we learn of his usury. In this scene we hear of his hatred for Antonio. â€Å"How like a fawning publican he looks! I hate him for he is a Christian† (1, 3, 37-38). This statement shows that Shylock hates Antonio. Shylock hates him because he has different beliefs than him and he hates Christians because of past abuse. Shylock also shows signs of ferociousness in his refusal to forgive 3 the Christians. â€Å"If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him† (1, 3, 43). Everybody despises Shylock because he is devious and very cunning. He shows this when naive Antonio accepts the bond of taking a pound of flesh if 3000 ducats is not paid in three months. Although Shylock performs evil he should be treated like everyone else, not like an animal such as in Act Four, Scene One. In â€Å"The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, Shylock has many strengths, even though he is pictured to be a cold hearted, selfish, revenge-seeking, parochial, unmerciful, stubborn, and naive man. In fact, Shylock has more strengths than weaknesses but they are very hard to point out. People put him down just because he is a Jew – which equals prejudism. Shylock is an extremely successful business man by lending money and charging interest, such as in Act One, Scene Two with Antonio and Bassanio. Shylock is also very optimistic and is never hurt by what other people say or think of him. I suppose you could say he is naive then. I mean, it is just a human flaw to want revenge so why should Shylock suffer the pain and teasing? Another strength that Shylock has is that he is very cunning. Some people believe this is a weakness; it is not because through this he earns money and starts friendships. In â€Å"The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, Shylock has many weaknesses, these are easier to point out because he has so many of them and they are very obvious. First of all, Shylock is a very cold hearted man, especially with his treatment of his daughter Jessica. 4 â€Å"Hear you me, Jessica lock up my doors: and when you hear the drum†¦ Nor thrust your head into the public street†¦ but stop my house’s ears†¦ Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter my sober house† (1, 5). This is when Shylock is telling Jessica to stay locked up inside and look after his house- therefore he is overprotective. Shylock is also very naive, he doesn’t realise the strange behaviour between Jessica and Lorenzo. This is showing that he isn’t an attentive father. It also shows that he is greedy and wrapped up in his own little world because he is more preoccupied in his wealth than his daughter. Another weakness that Shylock carries is that he is very revenge-seeking. Especially when he hates Antonio because of past insultment and he is a Christian. He shows this when he lends money to Antonio with an unusual bond that he know will work because Antonio’s wealth is at sea. Shylock is also very materialistic and thinks money buys happiness/life. In ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare, Shylock is the most noteworthy figure and it is hard to tell whether he is a victim or a villain. He is portrayed as a greedy, naive, and cold hearted man. But people don’t see that, on the inside he is a good person, instead they just stereotype him on his religion and personal traits. I guess his greediness overpowers his personality. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples The Merchant of Venice Free Essays How is your prescribed text made memorable through the interaction of ideas and the ways these ideas are represented? â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by William Shakespeare contains many memorable themes. Through the use of techniques ideas are represented. These ideas are the power of money, conflict/prejudice between Jews and Christians and the role of women. We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now The memorable ideas represented throughout the play are extremely important to â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† and is the reason why it is called a ‘problem play’. Shylock is often classed as the stereotypical miserably Jew, and some use his repetition of â€Å"Three thousand ducats† to show how his life is dominated and ruled by money. Shylock is obsessed with money this becomes clear in Act 2, Scene 8 as Solanio mimics Shylock’s anguished cries of repetition â€Å"My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter†. In Act 3 Scene 1 as Tubal notifies Shylock of Jessica spending â€Å"fourscore ducats† in one night, Shylocks reaction supports the fact that he is obsessed with money, â€Å"I shall never see my gold again†. Christians and anti-Semitism are extremely important to â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†. Shylock who is constantly vilified and ridiculed by the Christians throughout the play portrays the Elizabethan era of which the play was written, and it is no coincidence that the heroes in the play are Christians and the villain is Jewish. The society, which is mostly Christians, degrades and ostracises the Jews because of the different ways of life and beliefs. Hence, the idea of anti-Semitism is brought into the play. Shylock is frequently called â€Å"the devil† (Lancelot 2:2) or linked with dehumanising imagery â€Å"cut-throat dog, this is evident in Act 1 Scene 3 as Shylock is in conversation with Antonio. Antonio thinks of the Jew when he calls Shylock a â€Å"misbeliever† and â€Å"spat upon his Jewish gabardine†. Consequently Shylock displays the same hatred and disrespect for Antonio as he publicly expresses that he â€Å"hates him for he is Christian†. The use of rhetorical questions is a vivid dramatic change, climaxing in his taunting lines: â€Å" Hath a dog money? In this play, we can see that religious prejudices outweigh justice. In the trial scene (4:1), the way in which they address Shylock as â€Å"the Jew† implies the hearing is unfavorable towards Shylock. Portia argues that there must be â€Å"no jot of blood†¦ in the cutting it†. Though this reasoning is flawed in the actual context, it is done to save a fellow Christian from a Jew. The Duke also tries to defend Antonio and ask Shylock to â€Å"forgive a moiety of the principal†. However, when Shylock is undone by Portia’s interpretation of the law, none of them show â€Å"mercy† to the losses he suffers. He loses â€Å"one half of his good† to the state â€Å"the other half† to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death and most significantly he loses his religion. The Christians put on a veil of â€Å"justice† by stating that â€Å"the Jew shall have all justice†. However, for the state of Venice to take away one’s religion unwillingly to be christened shows that the rule of law is in fact, one-sided and does not serve justice for the Jews. Conclusively, it seems evident that prejudice prevails over justice. The role of women is also explored in the trial scene (4:1). The traditional idea of men and women has been subverted as Portia dresses as a man. Portia’s intellectual qualities are highlighted in the trial scene, where she illustrates her ability to reason with a legal approach â€Å"this bond is forfeit†. Portia also shows her wit and intellect as she comments on Bassanio’s will to sacrifice his wife to save Antonio, â€Å" your wife would give you little thanks for that, if she were by to hear you make the offer. Thus Portia can be regarded as the ideal compound of intellect and romance, who blots her copybook only once, and that is in her catlike playing with Shylock. Based on the play, Shakespeare exploits the themes of power of money; the role of women and the prejudice between Christians and Jew. These memorable ideas are represented primarily through the characters of Shylock and Portia , whom give us an accurate idea of Christians and Jews during the Elizabethan era. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Papers The Merchant of Venice Free Essays he MMabelMartin Professor Valencic, Adam ENGL 200 Dec 16, 2012 Dear Prof. Valencic: In exploring â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† by William Shakespeare while trying to classify it, as it is a troublesome play to classify in the usual Shakespearean categories of comedy, history or tragedy, I came to the conclusion that the ultimate view of this drama is neither simply a comedy or a tragedy, but a combination of both. In the book it was stated that, â€Å"Coinciding with the reduction in the stature of characters in tragedy has come a hybrid form that has come to be known as tragicomedy, that is, works of drama that combine the tragic and comic together† (277). We will write a custom essay sample on The Merchant of Venice or any similar topic only for you Order Now With this in mind, after reading this troublesome play, I’d have to argue that it be considered a â€Å"Tragicomedy†. So now I ask professor, would this qualify as such, although originally this drama has been titled, The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice, originally I did not see the comedy within it, but I can see some now, but I also wouldn’t call it a complete tragedy, being that there was conflict, it ultimately never ended in a complete tragedy to call it that either. I appreciate any feedback to the matter, whether it still corresponds to the original question? Is my understanding of the term applied correctly in my opinion towards this drama? I look forward to gaining more knowledge towards this assignment which I enjoyed analyzing. Sincerely, Mabel Martin MabelMartin Professor Valencic, Adam ENGL 200 Dec 16, 2012 The Merchant of Venice â€Å"The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction† (324). When analyzing this line from â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†, it does not seem as though this drama would be considered a comedy, but rather a tragedy. We all have read and studied the variety of works of the great writer William Shakespeare, most of his plays can be categorized into comedy, history, or tragedy. However, this specific plays full name is originally ,The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice, but although the title contemplates that it be considered a comedy, after reviewing and summarizing the complete drama, I disagree and view this plays classification to be different. Considering the above mentioned quote directly from the drama, one would assume it may then be a tragedy, which for a while, I almost believed it to be. But after discovering the final outcome, and looking at the drama as it whole, I would not even consider it a tragedy either. Nevertheless, I found there to be direct correlation to both classifications within the play as a whole. Earlier through my studies of Drama throughout the chapter, however, I came across a new term; one that I believe would best suit the classification for this particular drama. â€Å"Coinciding with the reduction in the stature of characters in tragedy has come a hybrid form that has come to be known as tragicomedy, that is, works of drama that combine the tragic and comic together† (277). This definition led me to the conclusion that this is what I would base my classification for William Shakespeare’s â€Å"The Merchant of Venice† This drama is not only a tragedy, because although a character does seem to express characteristics of those of a villain, â€Å"The pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought, ’tis mine, and I will have it†, there is more background to his experiences, (personal, psychological, emotional, social and even moral) which are explained, for why he is the way he is, and also the final outcome does not go as he had hoped as one would expect from a tragedy. Although tragedies are not always followed with death, there are many other points that come across that are aspects of a comedy. As far as being a comedy, it also displays, not only laughing moments, which are not what a true comedy was actually based on in drama, it displayed for some a happy ending, where there are weddings, and another shot at living for Antonio. This play even displays what I think to be to an extent, in a religious view, an anthropological approach, which honestly is a key factor in this play, where a main character, Shylock’s, believes in religion, those of a Jew, compose a major role for the development in this play, to the point in the end he is even forced to convert into Christianity, which in turn the villains tragic plot, becomes tragic for him as it turns back on him, and all else continue with their lives, to include his daughter, happy, in this complicated compilation of drama classifications that change throughout the story. Ultimately, this intended comedy, is in fact a comedy, but can also be viewed as a tragedy, because of the villain, although the final tragedy ends over him. With this in mind, Shakespeare seems to want the reader to gain sympathy for the so called villain, as it has been his difficult life that has took led him there. Coming from that point of view, it is a tragedy, that he loses his daughter, his agreement misunderstanding, and ultimately his religion, which is forced, and for anyone that would be tragic, to be treated as such all your life for your beliefs, and then ultimately forced to change them. So depending on one’s standpoint, and the relationship you develop with the characters, this story can be viewed differently, as either simply a comedy or for some, who may understand what that is like be seen as a tragedy. However, as it was defined earlier, I conclude that the best suited classification for this play overall would be tragicomedy. Works Cited Shakespeare, William. â€Å"The Merchant of Venice. †Ã‚  ENGL200: Composition and Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill 2011: 308-339. Web. 16 December 2012. ENGL200: Composition and Literature. New York: McGraw-Hill 2011: 275-289. Web. 30 November 2012. How to cite The Merchant of Venice, Essay examples