Queenie Pang 8EN4 English Essay

In one of Shakespeares many works, The Merchant of Venice, the main issues has been developed, using the characters Shylock and Portia. It is regarded as a fact that many people believe this, because the characters demonstrate the issues through their speech in the play. Issues of power and wealth, choices, and prejudice and justice are shown all around the whole story. Power is an outrageous topic. It is the reign of male dominance, gathering the needs of wealth, giving you status. Power, not only grants you the ability to order people around, but also gain respect from the society. It the source which the society relies on during the Elizabethan Era, during Shakespeare's time. Various examples were shown on the characters Portia and Shylock. Portia, a woman whose beauty is in same level as her intelligence, was a wealthy heiress. '...the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.' Though she had a lot of money, she is still in control of the will of her father, who was already dead. When she wants some form of control she will grasp onto it and use it well. Quotes like ' ...I will describe them- and according to my description, level at my affection.' gives the evidence that she wants some form of power. Her power was granted when she was disguised as a male doctor. Her intelligence made her harsh in having mercy on Shylock, and also gave her the moment she uses her wit. During the court scene, how the court scene ends up, it was up to Portia to make the decision, and the Duke would confirm it. The character Shylock is also important for the issues wealth and power. During the Shakespeare Era, Jewish people like Shylock would be down graded, because of their religion. you spat me on Wednesday lastyou called me a dog. Christians in Venice would show their power by spitting on people with a lower status, such as Antonio, a wealthy trader. But the issue power was also shown, when Antonio, who is assisting his friend Bassanio, was asking Shylock to lend the money. It now appears that you need my help At this time, Antonio seems to be the victim, because Shylock is the person in control of lending three thousand ducats to Antonio, and in if Antonio fails to give back the three thousand ducats, Shylock would cut of a pound of flesh wherever he wants. Be nominated for an equal pound of flesh in what part of your body pleaseth me. Shylock also has the power to control in his house, because he was the only male in the house, and his daughter, Jessica, is a girl. Quotes such as Jessica my girl, Look to my house., gives the fact that he orders Jessica to look after the house, giving him some form of control at her. The second main issue pointed out was the choices that the characters in the play make. The choices also give away the personality, mood of the character and their actions. Using the character Portia, choices that she made were important. At the beginning of the story, Portia was talking to her maid, Nerissa, about her suitors. In their conversation, she complains about how she does not have the choice to choose whom she marries, because she needs to follow her dead fathers will. Her choice, in the conversation, was that she would rather marry a sponge than any of her suitors! Or maybe Bassanio, because he is the better person than all other suitors. ere I will be married to a sponge. Another example was also

Queenie Pang 8EN4 English Essay

when Portia makes the choice to follow Bassanio to the court, rather than to stay at a convent, waiting for Bassanio to come back. Well see our husbands Before they think of us. Shylock, on the other hand, is a character with many choices to make. At the beginning, he makes his first decision by assisting Antonio into giving three thousand ducats. Three thousand ducats for three months, and Antonio bound. This quote shows that he made a choice of lending the money to Antonio, along with a few conditions. Later, he also agreed to go to a dinner with Christians, though he was not entirely happy about it. but yet Ill go in hate, to feed upon The prodigal Christian. He makes the choice that he will join, but he would not eat or drink with them. Another example of Shylock making his choices was in Act 4, when there was a scene in the court. This was the part where Shylock was taking revenge, making the decision of cutting the pound of flesh, rather than having twice the amount of ducats, paid back. The pound of flesh which I demand of him His decision of taking the flesh was firm. tis mine, and I will have it. Prejudice was a main issue, focused mainly throughout the play. Prejudice was mainly discussed through the characters Portia and Shylock. During the Elizabethan era, prejudice was mainly used on religion; that is, if you were Jewish or Christian, female or male, and if your skin complexion is black or white. Such examples would be shown through the characters Portia, and Shylock. Through the character Portia, it is shown around the beginning, in how she was being racist, not even looking further than his colour of his skin. Quotes which give evidence to this is: If he have the condition of a saint, and the complexion of a devil. Portia would also have prejudice on Jewish people, because she was harsh on the character Shylock, during the time when Portia, disguised as a doctor, was being merciless on his life.