Good morning everyone,
Today, I'm here to talk about one of the most famous plays written by William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice. The play tells the story of a merchant, Antonio, who borrows a sum of money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, to help his friend Bassanio win the heart of Portia, a wealthy heiress. But when Antonio can't repay the loan, Shylock demands a gruesome payment: a pound of Antonio's flesh.
The message and theme of this play focus on the complex themes of venality, justice, and mercy. It shows the danger of antisemitism and the abuse of power over the minority, and it demonstrates the mask of greediness and hypocrisy presented by the Christian Venetians.
Now let's dive into the story analysis. Antonio is the protagonist of the story and a wealthy merchant, who is kind and generous to everyone around him, especially his friend Bassanio, who he helps finance for his journey to win Portia's love. Antonio is also an unrepentant and melancholic person as he has different business ventures from the shipping that bring great risks, which has caused him a lack of financial liquidities in the past.
On the other hand, Shylock is the antagonist of the story, who is a Jewish moneylender, hated by the Christian people of Venice. He is shown as a greedy man who values money above everything, hoping to use Antonio's pound of flesh as a means of revenge against some mistreatment he experienced from him in the past. Shylock represents the marginalized minority who faces discrimination and abuse because of their religious differences.
Then there's Bassanio, who is Antonio's best friend, the one who borrows money from him. He is portrayed as a young, charming nobleman who is "in love" with the rich heiress Portia. Portia is a clever, beautiful, and wealthy heiress, who is portrayed as an intelligent woman with incredible wit and intelligence.
In conclusion, The Merchant Of Venice is a touching story that highlights the themes of love, justice, mercy, equity, and the importance of seeing beyond cultural differences. Shylock's greed and the Venetians' irredeemable hypocrisies caused tragedy and pain in the play. Antonio has to suffer the consequences of his burden, which heavily outweighs the bonds of friendship. As a literary classic, the story also reflects on the old and yet still, present stereotypes and stigmas present in our society. Thank you for listening.
