The Merchant of Venice :: Free Merchant of Venice Essays

"The Merchant of Venice" by WIlliam Shakespeare. "The Merchant of Venice" is a play about revenge, justice, deseption and friendship. The story is about, Shylock a wealth Jew, lending one of his enemies, Antonoi, three thousand ducats. Although Antonio is a rich merchant all his resources are in his ships, trading too distant countries, but because he wants to help out his friend, Bassanio, he has no choice but to ask Shylock for a loan , not to know it could lead to his death. In this play there is a big difference between the Christian charaters and Shylock, the main difference being Shylock seems to be more interested in his money and business rather than human relationships, which the Christian charaters seem to b e more interested in. However, in one part of the play Shylock seems to be hurt at the fact his daughter has sold a ring, which his deceases wife gave him, for a monkey. (Act 3 Scene 1 ) " It was my turquoise, I had it off Leah when i was a bachelor. I Would not have given it for a Wilderness of monkeys. " This shows a side to Shylock that we have never seen. It shows the love he had and still has for his deceased wife Leah. Shylock shows how hurt and betrayed he feels that his daughter has sold his ring by saying that he wouldn't had given it away for a " wilderness of monkeys ". Another theme in the play that Shylock brings out is predjudice. He judges people before he gives them a chance to show what they are really like. He has different veiws on different characters depanding on who they are. ( Act 1 Scene 3 ) "I hat him for he is a Christian" This shows how he feels against antonio , a Christian whom he has never met and it shows how prejudice he can be. In one part of the play Shylock shows a side to him we have never seen before. Instead if seeing him as the man who is greedy and