ENG II

William Shakespeare (bapt. 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616)[a] was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely
regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist.[2][3][4] He is often
called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard").[5][b] His extant works,
including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays,[c] 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other
verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are
performed more often than those of any other playwright.[7] They also continue to be studied and reinterpreted.

The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare. It contains some of
Shakespeare’s most memorable and complex characters. While Antonio is central to this play —
after all, he is normally considered the person for whom it is named — audiences are inevitably
fascinated by Shylock, the Jew who sues Antonio for a lethal “pound of flesh” in return for unpaid
loans, and by Portia, the wealthy heiress, who marries Antonio’s friend Bassanio and saves
Antonio’s life in a dramatic courtroom scene.
Antonio
The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylock’s contract and
almost lose his life.
Jessica
Although she is Shylock’s daughter, Jessica hates life in her father’s house, and elopes with the
young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo. 

Bassanio
A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanio’s love for the
wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. 

Gratiano
A friend of Bassanio’s who accompanies him to Belmont.

Lorenzo
A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylock’s daughter,

Shylock
A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice’s
Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to eke out his revenge by ruthlessly
demanding as payment a pound of Antonio’s fl

The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, does not fit the conventional definitions of a tragedy
or a comedy. It is categorized as a comedy, although one of the two distinct plotlines is a tragedy. This
play is multi-faceted and is really a combination of two plays in one. The Merchant of Venice bridges the
gap between comedy and tragedy. Shakespeare blends serious issues and values with light comedic
elements in this rather complex play. The two main plots are the comedy about Portia and her marriage
to Bassanio and the tragedy about Antonio, the merchant and Shylock, the Jew.

The Merchant of Venice is a play both about love and hate. Shakespeare illustrates
the theme of hate most prominently through the prejudices of both Christians and
Jews and their behaviour towards one another. The theme of love is shown amongst
the Christians, in the love of friendship and marital love. The themes are emphasised
in the settings of the play, Belmont symbolising love and Venice symbolising hate. As
well as this the immorality of various characters can be seen in their motives for love
and hate..
Antonio, the merchant of Venice, gives 3.000 ducats to his friend Bassanio so that he can marry the wealthy
and beautiful Portia of Belmonte. Since Antonio’s money is tied up in business that depends on the safe return
of his ships from sea, he borrows the money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender who he has previously
insulted for his high interest. Shylock proposes a bond according to which if Antonio does not repay the loan,
Shylock will have the right to a pound of Antonio’s flesh. Portia’s father has decided that she will marry the man
choosing the correct casket among three (gold, silver and lead). The Princes of Morocco and Aragon fail, but
Bassanio succeeds by choosing lead. News arrives that Antonio’s ships have been lost, so he is unable to pay his
debt. Shylock’s demands his pound of flesh and brings the guys before the law court. Portia disguises herself as
a young lawyer acting on behalf of Antonio. She states that Shylock is entitled to his pound of flesh but not to
spill any of Antonio’s blood; moreover the Jew should forfeit his life for having conspired against the life of a
Venetian. The judge pardons Shylock on condition that he gives half his wealth to Antonio and half to the state.
Antonio refuses his portion on condition that Shylock converts to Christianity and leaves his property to his
daughter Jessica, who had run away with her Christian lover Lorenzo. Finally there is good news about
Antonio’s ships. 

Shylock doesn't deserve all that hate though.

He hates Christians and Antonio specifically due to his behavior towards him.
Antonio has insulted Shylock many times in the Rialto, kicked him, called him a
misbeliever, spit on his Jewish robe, made his friends cold toward him and his
enimies even colder. It is obvious for anybody to hate someone who would
disrespect you in such a way.
He does care for his daughter (sort of). He doesn't want her to run away with a
Christian and get converted to Christianity.
Shylock can be considered as a normal human being who has been made cruel by
certain situations and has turned out to be a tragic figure.

The Merchant of Venice a play written by the famous poet and play writer, William
Shakespeare, in the year 1596 - 1598. It is based on both love and hate.
Shakespeare demonstrates the themes of love and hate clearly through various
character. The friendship love is shown through Antonio towards Bassanio, romantic
love is shown through Portia and Bassanio and self love is shown through shylock.
However Shakespeare also illustrates hates during the play through the characters
shylock and Antonio.