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

William Shakespe atomic number 18s The Merchant of Venice is one of his most controversial plays for a variety of reasons. create verbally in sixteenth-century England, where anti-Semitism was common and the presence of Jews was not, the play poses some(prenominal) 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 relationship between Jews and Christians, which has always been an incertain one, adds a very interesting albeit difficult dimension to this play. Ultimately, through dramatic plot and distinctive characters, The Merchant of Venice explores what it means to be Jewish and what it means to be Christian. A closer analysis of these opposing groups unearths inconsistencies between what the characters preach versus what they practice, as well as their problematic notions of just ice, mercy and love.Though he clearly fulfills the character reference of the villain and main 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 played up in order to create a fundamentally different play, as has been done many times throughout history post-Holocaust reproductions, for example, are obviously radically unlike than ones that may have come before (Rich 1). In most modern adaptations, Shylock is seen as a sympathetic character, mayhap due in part to the widespread acceptance in most modern societies of those from varying religious and racial backgrounds. However, it is entirely possible that Shakespeare, who was a booster 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 print / a faithless Jew (2.4.35-37).This paper barely 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 neither answers nor apologies, provoking the ongoing disagreement as to what is very happening in this play. Shakespeares multi-layered characters and complicated representations of mercy, justice, love, religion and difference produce a remarkable piece of work that has kept people talking and suppose for centuries, and is sure to continue to for centuries to come.