Feelings and opinions concerning different characters from the play The Merchant of Venice Essay Example For Students

Feelings and opinions concerning different characters from the play The Merchant of Venice Essay As we read Shakespeares comedy play The Merchant of Venice we experience different emotions towards different characters at different times. This is deliberate on Shakespeares part throughout the play. One of the characters we feel most strongly about is Jessica, Shylocks daughter. When she enters the play in Act II Scene III, she immediately makes the audience feel sympathy towards her because of her situation. Although she herself wants to leave home, her father is forcing her into going. In this short scene there is much talk of Jewishness from which we conclude that Jessica is ashamed of her ancestry. As the audience has already met Shylock and know his character, its first impressions of Jessica may be that she has had an unhappy childhood. In line 17, Jessica says, To be ashamed to be my fathers child. Shylock is portrayed as a lone figure in the play, underlined by the fact that even his own daughter is ashamed of him. We feel sympathy for Jessica in this speech. At the end of Act II Scene V, Jessica exclaims to herself Farewell, and if my fortune not be crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost a rhyming couplet is used to add more emphasis to the statement, basically saying that Shylock has lost his daughter. It is at this point that Jessica, probably unintentionally, begins the gradual process of stripping Shylock of everything he possesses. Jessica does not confront Shylock however and in this respect may appear cowardly. She could also be seen as being unfair to her father and slightly black hearted. However, Jessica also appears very strong-willed and determined evidenced by her being prepared to abandon not only her father but also her religion in pursuit of her love for Lorenzo. In Act II Scene VI, Jessica is ashamed and embarrassed to be dressed as a boy. When Lorenzo states that Jessica must be his torchbearer, Jessica says What, must I hold a candle to my shames? Jessicas actions (leaving home and stealing her fathers possessions) may perhaps be justified by her desire to embrace Christianity. This would have been seen as a sign of moral excellence in Shakespeares time rather than an act of abandoning her faith. It might not be so favourable in todays modern society. Although Shylock should provide for his daughter, Jessica may be greedy in taking all of his money and valuables. However, when she does this, she is breaking two of the Ten Commandments by dishonouring her father and stealing. We feel that she is doing wrong and being sinful. We do not hear of Jessica again until Act III Scene I. Shylock is telling Tubal that he would rather his daughter was dead and that he had the jewels than for him to be in his current situation. This is a terrible thing to say about his own daughter and we can understand, maybe even justify, Jessicas wish to elope with Lorenzo and flee her father. All feelings of disgust about Jessicas actions, which may have been greedy, selfish and uncaring, are wiped out when we hear Shylocks words and actions. Even if Shylock is talking in the heat of the moment, his words are still unforgiving. This gives us reason to feel sorry for Jessica. However, when we learn that Jessica traded a very precious turquoise ring for a monkey, we feel that Jessica is cruel and selfish as she knew that it had sentimental value for Shylock (it was given to him by his late wife Leah). Her casual use of Shylocks money, as reported by Tubal, infuriates Shylock and could make us see Jessica as irresponsible and carel ess. Throughout these scenes, Shylocks prime concern seems to be for himself only. I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear. His actions throughout the play make us err on the side of Jessica. Moving on a scene, in lines 284 290, Jessica talks about Shylock and his countrymen. From her words we learn that Jessica no longer sees herself as a Jew. She has moved on and we recognise that Jessica is coping well and we admire her because she has been through a lot and has emerged well. When Shylock bemoans his loss publicly, much to the amusement of all (Salerio and Solanio in particular), it lessens the impact of what Jessica has done and helps to bias the audience against Shylock and towards Jessica. In Scene IV Portia leaves Lorenzo and Jessica in charge of her house in Belmont. As we recognise Portia as wise and clever, this strengthens our belief in Jessica. Jessica complements Portias trust with her generous and thoughtful character sketch of Portia in Scene V. For having such a blessing in his lady is just one of the compliments Jessica gives Portia. Act V is not just about lovers but about love itself. In Scene I we think of Jessica as romantic and loving but unloved herself in childhood. She exchanges words of love with Lorenzo but dislikes sweet music. Again, this makes us feel pity for Jessica. In this scene Lorenzo and Jessica conjure up classical images of love and relax in the moonlight a scene about peace and happiness. Their love for each other and the influence of their surroundings is unmistakable a vivid contrast to the drama of the previous scene. The lyrical poetry in scenes involving Jessica and Lorenzo epitomises the power of love a vital theme of the play. Because of her actions, we see Jessica as a romantic but she also evokes numerous other feelings. The light hearted tone of the concluding scenes helps us to look upon Jessica and her actions in a more forgiving light. Shylock should have been able to give his daughter his love and his wealth. The one thing that cannot be stolen by his daughter and which is worth far more than material things, he does not present at all his love. His wealth, which he values above all, she steals. We see this as Shylocks just reward. Very famous play Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare EssayIn the first scene of Act II, Morocco declares his love for Portia and she agrees to abide by her fathers terms. He seems very arrogant. She handles the situation diplomatically and we respect her for this. In Act II Scene VII, Morocco goes for gold because of its appearance and reality. Morocco is very arrogant, he says things like A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross, (referring to himself as having a golden mind). He believes he deserves Portia. In the end he picks Gold (the wrong casket) and leaves, disheartened. Portia ends the scene with a possibly racist rhyming couplet. A gentle riddance, draw the curtains, go. Let all of his complexion choose me so. We trust Portia a little less for this and start to feel unsure of her. The Prince of Arragon arrives to choose one of the three caskets. Shakespeare may have chosen his name to suit his arrogance, because, he, like Morocco seems to have this in abundance. An example of this is when he says, that many may be meant by the fool multitude that choose by show. He obviously considers himself to be above other men. He chooses silver after a lengthy conversation with himself. Portia is glad to see the back of him and just wishes they would just get on with choosing; O these deliberate fools, when they do choose, they have the wisdom to by their wit to loose. We can understand this and it shouldnt be held against her. At the end of the scene, a messenger arrives, speaking of a young Venetian. Nerissa and Portia hope that it will be Bassanio. This shows us that Portia likes Bassanio a lot. Our thoughts that Portia is fond of Bassanio strengthen when Portia declares she wants Portia to delay choosing a casket so she can spend some time with him. However, Portia does have trust in her fathers will. She realises that if Bassanio loves her, he will choose the right casket unlike her other unsuccessful suitors. This tells us that Portia does have common sense and that she does think quite clearly. This alters our feelings and opinions of Portia in her favour in this scene (Scene II). Portia asks for music to be played when Bassanio makes his choice but she did not do this with Morocco or Arragon. This could mean she prefers Bassanio to her other suitors, a point reinforced when the first three lines of the song: (Tell me where is fancy bred, or in the heart or in the head? How begot, how nourished?) rhyme with lead. Bassanios correct choice of casket is met with joy from Portia. They both talk of how willing they both are to get married and enjoy life. At this point we feel happy for Portia because she has got what she wants at last. In this same scene, Portia talks about herself as an unlessoned girl, unschooled, unpractised. This could be modesty. We respect her even more because she is not at all arrogant. Still in scene II, Portia gives Bassanio a ring. She tells him never to remove it. If he does, it will be the ruin of your love according to Portia. Portias intelligence, independence and moral sense have been apparent before, but shes not been very involved so far. In Act III Scene IV this changes completely. She now has to take risks and be deceptive. Portia reveals many other sides to her character in this scene. Then she suddenly reveals a youthful sense of fun and adventure with Nerissa, boasting like a child about what a fine-looking young man she will be. Ill prove the prettier fellow of the two. This may be boasting a little but our feelings of Portia do not dwindle and we are still very much intrigued into what is going to happen. In the Trial Scene Nerissa introduces Balthazar (Portia) Portia soon speaks her Beauty Speech but this has no effect on Shylock as he insists on his bond. Portia is very as she lets clever; letting Shylock think he is going to win, and then, once he has had his chance, she lets him down at the last minute. We respect her intelligence highly. We have to admire Portia as Shylock does for trying to change his mind but when she sees it is no use, she lets him sharpen his knife and walk up to Antonio. However, she declares that not one drop of blood may be spilt. Shylock, tries to take money instead but that is also refused. We have to admire Portias cunning in the scene. It is then stated that half Shylocks goods must go to Antonio and half must go to the State of Venice. His life is also in the balance. In Act IV Scene I, Portia and Nerissa ask Bassanio and Gratiano respectively for gifts. They agree to give their wives, who they think are the doctor and the messenger boy their rings. We admire Portias cunning once again in this scene but she also loses respect from the reader in light of here cruel and uncalled for actions. In the last Act, (Act V), Portia confronts Bassanio about the whereabouts of his ring. He tells the truth and eventually Portia tells him the truth, that she was teasing him. Her point that she has successfully made is that now Antonios life has been saved, the bond that matters now is the bond with Portia. Portias love for Bassanio, and therefore, his friend Antonio, overpowers Shylocks greed and defeats him. She demonstrates the power of love and friendship over greed.