The Merchant of Venice Essay example -- Merchant of Venice Essays

William Shakespe bes The Merchant of Venice is one of his most controversial plays for a figure of reasons. Written in sixteenth-century England, where anti-Semitism was common and the presence of Jews was not, the play poses some questions concerning racial, religious and human difference. The play is especially tricky to examine in todays society, as its anti-semitic themes and language can be uncomfortable to face in a world post-Holocaust. Additionally, the depiction of the descent between Jews and Christians, which has always been an ambivalent one, adds a very interesting albeit tight dimension to this play. Ultimately, through dramatic plot and distinctive characters, The Merchant of Venice explores what it kernel to be Jewish and what it means to be Christian. A closer analytic thinking of these opposing groups unearths inconsistencies between what the characters preach versus what they practice, as well as their involved notions of justice, mercy and love.Though he c learly fulfills the role of the villain and important antagonist in this play, the character of Shylock is extremely complex and multi-dimensional. He seems to have two sides that can be emphasized or compete up in order to create a fundamentally contrary play, as has been done many times throughout history post-Holocaust reproductions, for example, are obviously radically unlike than ones that may have come in front (Rich 1). In most modern adaptations, Shylock is seen as a clement character, perhaps due in part to the widespread acceptance in most modern societies of those from varying religious and racial backgrounds. However, it is entirely contingent that Shakespeare, who was a genius playwright famous for his complex and multi-faceted characters, del... ... actually considered this a happy ending for the Shylock character (4) by converting he is saved from the possibility that misfortune may cross / a faithless Jew (2.4.35-37).This paper however scratched the surface of the religious and moral complexity that is The Merchant of Venice, but it is clearly a complicated play and for many reasons the racially charged tension, the anti-Semitic language and the morally ambiguous characters. What makes this play so exciting is that it provides incomplete answers nor apologies, provoking the ongoing disagreement as to what is really happening in this play. Shakespeares multi-layered characters and complicated representations of mercy, justice, love, religion and difference produce a noteworthy piece of work that has kept people talking and guessing for centuries, and is authoritative to continue to for centuries to come.