The Character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Essay

The Character of Shylock in The Merchant of Venice Victim or villain. These two words are the total opposites of each other. A victim is someone that we in general should, or may, feel sorry for and attempt to sympathise or empathise with. But a villain is the one person that people love to hate. The best example of this I feel is pantomime. The victims or heroes are clear-cut and the audience willingly cheers them. But as soon as the villain walks on stage he is hissed and booed, unfortunately it is not as simple as this in The Merchant of Venice and how the audience react to the characters is all important in making the distinction between victim or villain. Although the title of the†¦show more content†¦In contrast to this however, modern attitudes to racism, in particular anti-Semitism, are different. All throughout history Jews have been persecuted, most recently in the Holocaust in Germany. I would think that many people today would be affected by this, that such persecution could happen just because people stood up for their faith. It is this view that makes The Merchant of Venice, and particularly Shylock, so complex and still extremely relevant to modern society. Shylock is a Jew in a Christian city, isolated and vulnerable. This is a cause of great prejudice against Shylock and means his apparent villainy can begin to be understood. But, interpretation of Act 1:3 and the lines therein and underlying meanings accounts for many things. For example, when Bassanio invites Shylock to have a meal with them, If it please you to dine with us, it can be read as a kind offer rejected by Shylock or ignorance of the Jewish faith, either unintentionally or intentionally to patronise and provoke Shylock. But one point in this very important scene, Act 1:3, is when Shylock recounts all he has suffered at the hands of the Christians, epitomised in Antonio. Shylock has borne it with a patient shrug and goes on to demonstrate the hypocrisy of the supposedShow MoreRelatedMerchant Of Venice Shylock Character Analysis762 Words   |  4 PagesThe Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most widely known and controversial comedies. Written in the lat e 1590s, its’ controversy stems from the modern mindset between tolerance and prejudice. Shylock, who was â€Å"at once a fabulous monster, the Jew incarnate, and also a troubling human uneasily joined with the monster in an uncanny blend†, is now looked at as a victim in light of the prejudice bestowed upon him now being recognized. Shylock’s character is so stereotypically Jewish that he becomesRead MoreEssay On The Character Of Shylock In The Merchant Of Venice1395 Words   |  6 PagesShylock is the hated Jew character in The Merchant of Venice. Despite the presence of other, minor, Jewish characters, when The Jew is mentioned, he is instantly recognized as Shylock. The Jew accumulates several negative monikers throughout the play, and in act four, scene one, he is referred to as: an inhuman wretch, / uncapable of pity, void and empty / from any dram of mercy (Shakespeare 4.1.4-6), inexecrable dog (4.1.128), and a cruel devil (4.1.215). The society of Ve nice despisesRead MoreThe Character of Shylock as a Victim or Villain in The Merchant of Venice1527 Words   |  7 PagesThe Character of Shylock as a Victim or Villain in The Merchant of Venice Do you consider the character of shylock to be a victim or villain in the play The Merchant of Venice? Shylock is one of the most interesting, memorable and debated characters in the play â€Å"The Merchant of Venice†. In many ways this is because he is both a victim and a villain. Shylock was made a laughing stock of and is ridiculed by the Christians because he was Jewish. The Jewish communityRead MoreCharacter Analysis of Shylock from The Merchant of Venice469 Words   |  2 PagesWilliam Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice is a classic play that has also brought about some issues revolving around the antagonist of the story Shylock. The purpose of this essay is to discuss the character of Shylock in the play and also introduce the uses of that name throughout history down to the present day. Shylock in Shakespeares work is a money lending Jew who pursues money with strong vigor and attachment. Shylock is also portrayed as literally bloodthirsty as he demands punishmentRead More How The Character Of Shylock From â€Å"The Merchant Of Venice† Is2264 Words   |  10 PagesHow The Character Of Shylock From â€Å"The Merchant Of Venice† Is Presented To The Audience In Scenes 1.3, 3.1 and 4.1 Over the years, Shylock has been portrayed in many ways, for instance, in the Elizabethan time, Jews were seen as the cause of Christ’s death and were known moneylenders so they were persecuted, so Shylock normally came on stage wearing a bright red wig and portrayed as a comic villain due to this he was always mocked. However, after the holocaust was brought to light, JewsRead MoreCritical Essay: the Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare - Shylock Character Study1406 Words   |  6 Pages‘The Merchant of Venice’ - Shylock Character Study Shakespeare’s play ‘The Merchant of Venice’ starts off in Venice with Shylock as a simple money lender. His intentions seem reasonable to begin with, he sounds a nice man then he does a soliloquy saying how much hatred he has for Antonio, the Christian who treated him disrespectfully. Shylock conflicts his emotions again and speaks to Antonio in a joking manner which in his mind turns out to be the truth. In the play Shylock is aRead More Is The Merchant of Venice an Anti-Semitic Play? Essay1491 Words   |  6 PagesIs The Merchant of Venice an Anti-Semitic Play?      Ã‚   The Merchant of Venice features a Jewish character that is abused and slandered by nearly every character in the play. Throughout the play the behavior of these characters seems justified. In this way, The Merchant of Venice appears to be an anti-Semitic play. However, The Merchant of Venice contains several key instances, which can be portrayed in a way that criticizes anti-Semitism. The first instance occurs in Act 1, scene 3 whenRead MoreThe Theme Of Revenge In The Merchant Of Venice1118 Words   |  5 PagesRevenge is the central theme of The Merchant of Venice as the plot is centred around the theme of revenge, vengefulness is one of the main character traits present in a sizable number of characters and the main moral message is that revenge is a poor choice. While other themes in the play are present in the plot and moral message and the themes of love and friendship are more prevalent in the majority of the characters, revenge plays a more significant role in the play. These factors lead to a playRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice938 Words   |  4 PagesHate 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 AntonioRead MoreThe Two Worlds of Venice and Belmont Depicted in Shakespears The Merchant of Venice865 Words   |  4 PagesThe Two Worlds of Venice and Belmont Depicted in Shakespears The Merchant of Venice In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare explores two different yet similar worlds. The world of Venice and the world of Belmont. These two worlds have many differences and some similarities. For example, Venice is a completely different setting compared with Belmont. Also, the characters in Venice are different but also similar to the ones in Belmont. Furthermore, the society in Veniceis

Ethnicity and the Immigrant Experience Free Essays

Ethnicity and the Immigrant Experience When thinking about immigration, most individuals imagine all different types of ethnic groups traveling to a separate land away from their own. Most imagine America. Immigration, throughout history, has occurred within all types of ethnicities. We will write a custom essay sample on Ethnicity and the Immigrant Experience or any similar topic only for you Order Now When taking a closer look at the individuals living in America, it is apparent that everyone is not exactly like one another. Assimilation becomes a popular word used when discussing migration, and both positives and negatives come along with it. Two theorists that discuss the meaning of assimilation in their writings are Stephen Steinberg in his book, Ethnic Myth, and Milton Gordon in his book Assimilation in American Life. They discuss issues regarding assimilation and how they affect the nation as a whole. A novel written by Chang-Rae Lee titled, Native Speaker, gives specific examples as to how the assimilation process affects others and the migrants themselves, as also described in both Steinberg and Gordon’s books. In Steinberg’s book, Ethnic Myth, he discusses with his readers the issues regarding ethnic identity and assimilation. This is presented and explained in the chapter titled, The Atrophy of Ethnic Cultures. He first talks about the idea of the â€Å"melting pot† and how it should not be analyzed lightly. He gives a quote from John Higham that says, â€Å"Loud assertions of pluralism almost invariably betray fears of assimilation† (Steinberg, 59). This means that minority groups that try to maintain their cultural traditions may, in fact, risk assimilation by doing so. Another point he brings to the surface is that when looking back at second or third generations of a specific minority group, these people still can relate back to their original traditions and culture identity. He then says, â€Å"But can the same be said of the new generation which has known only the Americanized version of the original culture? † (Steinberg, 60). This is an obvious prevailing issue when it comes to preserving ones culture. An example within the novel, Native Speaker, would be when Henry, the main character described as a Korean immigrant, explains the history with his father. His father, living in America, would gather with friends and participate in ggeh’s, or â€Å"money clubs. † Here they would win money and eventually, that is all that mattered to the Korean group. The shift from typical Korean traditions to owning all this land and money in American became a vast transformation. Henry says about his father, â€Å"In America, he said, it’s even hard to stay Korean. These alterations from one ethnic experience and tradition to another can be lost very quickly and potentially never be replenished. Throughout both Steinberg and Gordon’s writing, they both have similarities and differences when regarding assimilation. Gordon talks about these â€Å"ethnic meetings† which refer to assimilation. Throughout Gordon’s chapter titled, The Nature of Assimilation, he gives a numerous amount of definitions from theorists and writers that differ in various ways. In an essay that Gordon leaves the author anonymous in this chapter defines assimilation as â€Å"the process by which different cultures, or individuals or groups representing different cultures, are merged into a homogenous unit. Here Gordon talks about assimilation as positive, whereas Steinberg takes a different approach. Steinberg suggests that assimilation is not always a positive aspect simply because it can result in the loss of a cultural identity. This is present in Native Speaker because Henry continuously tries indulging himself into American culture. He cannot fully accomplish this, which essentially results in his wife, Lelia, leaving him in the beginning of the novel. As there are differences within Steinberg and Gordon’s readings, they do agree upon their understanding of the nature within assimilation. Gordon says that cultural behavior changes â€Å"may take place in the cultures of either one of the two groups, or there may be a reciprocal influence whereby the cultures of both groups are modified† (Gordon, 62). Steinberg agrees with this statement because he suggests that the changing of one’s culture is at high risk when incorporated into a different culture. He says, â€Å"The ethnic crisis only begins with the fact that the core elements of traditional culture have been modified, diluted, compromised, and finally relinquished† (Steinberg, 62). Both writers describe this lack of identity in one way or another. Assimilation is apparent in any society, especially America. People of different backgrounds continuously trying to come together to create one nation is a crucial aspect in society today. Steinberg, Gordon, and Lee all discuss how assimilation has issues when it comes to preserving ones ethnic traditions and identity. What they all convey to readers however, is the fact that the merging of cultures will forever be essential and inevitable. Works Cited Steinberg, Steven. The Ethnic Myth: Race, Ethnicity, and Class in America. Boston: Beacon Press, 1978. Print. Lee, Chang-Rae. Native Speaker. New York: Riverhead Books, 1995. Print. Gordon, Milton. The Nature of Assimilation. Oxford University Press, 1964. eBook. How to cite Ethnicity and the Immigrant Experience, Essay examples

Marijuana as a Subculture free essay sample

A subculture is a group of people who share a distinctive set of cultural beliefs and behaviors that differ in some significant way from that of larger society. Marijuana smokers can be considered a subculture for many reasons. Marijuana is used by millions of people around the world, either for recreational, spiritual, or therapeutic reasons. Some call themselves the cannabis connoisseurs; people who respect cannabis and use it responsibly. Few drugs have been so politicized recently as marijuana has. It is frequently praised by one side and condemned by the other, on the basis of emotional issues rather than an objective view of research. It was 1920 when smoking began to catch on in the United States. Its recreational use was restricted to jazz musicians and people in show business. Reefer songs became the rage of the jazz world. Marijuana clubs, called tea pads, appeared in every major city across the country. Authorities tolerated these establishments because it was not illegal or considered a social threat. In the early sasss marijuana became stereotyped as a violent drug, and by 1936 was illegal in all states. Marijuana research was at a stand still and the thought of it being a violent rug faded and the idea that it was a gateway drug emerged in the late sasss early 1 asss. In the sasss marijuana became very popular among the young college crowd. This was looked at as a challenge to authority and the government. The effects of marijuana are minimal. The high has a feeling of euphoria, peacefulness and well-being. Dehydrogenations (TECH) is the active chemical in marijuana. Its estimated that a person would have to ingest a dose 20,000 to 40,000 times the average dose before death would occur. In the early sasss sophisticated research on marijuana began. The scientists discovered TECH stimulates special receptors in the brain. Researchers have now isolated a natural substance that appears to produce the same effects as TECH in the brain. Recently the medical uses of marijuana are being more and more accepted, and many marijuana smokers wonder how it can be harmful if it helps/treats patients. Marijuana smokers are a subculture because they share sets of beliefs, values, language, and other things that are different from the views of the larger society.They look at things another way because they are pro marijuana, which differs from the rest of society. It is the differences that distinguish part off culture from the rest. They speak the same language as the rest of the culture but they have a different set of definitions for certain words. On every marijuana related website I visited found there was a glossary. All of them were very similar. Some examples of different words contained in the glossary follow. The words high, stoned, blazed, and wasted are all defined as being under the influence of marijuana.Blades, skins, papers, and blunts are all synonyms for the paper used to roll marijuana. Joints and blunts are used to described as rolled marijuana, like a cigarette. The inhalation Of marijuana smoke is called taking a hit, drag, or toke. A bong or bowl is used to smoke marijuana. There are hundreds of different names for marijuana, some of the most popular are: pot, reefer, weed, bud, chronic, ganja, green, grass, Mary Jane, and herb. They also have some symbols that represent things. A very popular one is the marijuana leaf. It can be seen a lot of places such as a bumper sticker or in graffiti. 20 is another common one, it is the number used to represent marijuana or the smoking of it. The best explanation of this is its the California police code for possession of marijuana. Their subculture has a number of beliefs that differ from mainstream society as well. One belief is that marijuana use is increasing rapidly globally and The War on Drugs is a failure. This is one oftener strongest beliefs. They are very correct about both points. The unsuccessful War on Drugs is very costly, and is continuing to keep the tax rate high.A second belief is marijuana must be respected and used responsibly. Many marijuana smokers feel that teenager abuse it because they act so irresponsibly. Another strong belief is that pot is relatively less harmful than alcohol or tobacco. This is true if the facts and tactics are looked at. The last main belief is that marijuana should be decentralized and people should be free to grow and consume it in their own homes. Part of this is true in California, the Only State in which marijuana is decentralized.People are able to smoke marijuana without the legal penalties. Marijuana users have a certain etiquette they follow. Found a list of one hundred six of these, way too many to describe. The first five of these are: 1. Thou shall not turn down a smoke, never, 2. The person who rolls the joint (no matter whose weed it is) gets to spark it and take the iris hits, 3. If someone rolls a nice joint, its good to give the person a compliment on his or her rolling skills, 4. If someone starts hogging the bowl or joint because it is their pot that is definitely not cool, 5.If someone is too uncoordinated to light the bowl or bong they must give control of the lighter to someone able to get it lit. These are their cultures values and unwritten law to be followed. These rules vary throughout the country but remain basically the same. The members of this subculture share certain preferences and habits. The main reason people smoke pot is for the leasing feeling that helps rid them of the daily stress life brings. A man who works as an insurance agent describes this by stating; Smoking marijuana helps me see my life as a continuous whole.It allows me to step back from my daily concerns[] By removing myself temporarily I can see how certain little things are just not as important as I had once thought. This man uses marijuana to unwind from the day. Music also plays a big role in the consumption of marijuana. Smokers claim that music sounds better when they are high. The same with television and movies, they appear clearer and funnier. Social smoking allows for a better understanding of others and often facilitates intimate exchanges. And not to forget about the munchies (which is described in all the glossaries as well. The desire to eat is a direct result Of smoking and may be the closest thing to a universal response to marijuana. These things are particularly common among smokers. The rest of society views the marijuana smoking population in a disapprovingly way. There are a number of anti-drug activists out there tying to push stricter drug laws and end the use of illegal drugs altogether. Society imposed the stereotype that makers are pitheads and believes this to be very true. But the smokers do not want to be associated with the pithead stereotype.They want very much to destroy the connection of marijuana with the tie-dyed, hippy era. Society just assumes smokers are useless, lazy, uneducated bums; which is very inaccurate. There are many hard working people out there that smoke marijuana recreational to relieve stress. First, this cannot be true because there are an inestimable amount of marijuana smokers that successfully keep their habit a secret. These people are able to blend with society, allowing hem to make friends/acquaintances that dont agree with smoking marijuana.People who use marijuana do not look negatively upon the rest of society. They relate and form bonds with the whole culture as normal people would. Marijuana smokers are a subculture for the reasons previously described above. They share a different set of values, beliefs, and etc. From the rest Of society. For example, they have their own terms that describe their practices. They dont mind society but part of society minds them, maybe one day marijuana use wont be as frowned upon. All of these things make marijuana smokers a subculture.