1. a)In the Merchant of Venice, external forces (society ... | Study notes Religion

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1. a)IntheMerchantofVenice,externalforces(society)influenceJessicatoquestion

herbeliefs.Asshownwhen,”Here,catchthiscasket;itisworththepains./Iamglad

‘tisnight,youdonotlookonme,/foriammuchasham’dofmyexchange:/butloveis

blind,andloverscannotsee/theprettyfolliesthatthemselvescommit”(2.6.3438).

Thisshowsthatsheisquestioningherjewishbeliefduetothefactthatsociety

discriminatesagainstit.

b)LancelotisbeinginfluencebyhisconsciencetostayasShylock'sservant,butheis

miserableandwantstorunaway.Heexplainshisconscienceinfluencewhenhesays“

CertainlytheJewistheverydevilincarnation;and,/inmyconscience,myconscienceisbut

akindofhard/conscience,tooffertocounselmetostaywiththe/Jew,”(2.2.2528).

c)ShylockisbeinginfluencedbyhisangertowardsAntonio,thesociety,andwhathis

daughterhasdone.EventhoughAntonioisnotinvolvedwithShylockdaughter,shegoeson

hisboatwhichShylockassumesthatAntonioisinvolved.Hemakesavowtogetrevenge

whenhesays“LetgoodAntoniolookhekeephisday,?Orheshallpayforthis”(2.8.2526).

d)AnotherexampleofJessicabeingcompelledbyexternalforcesiswhenshesays

“Alack,whatheinoussinisitime/Tobeasham’dtobemyfather'schild!...Ifthoukeep

promise,Ishallendthisstrife,/BecomeaChristian,andthylovingwife.”(2.3.1620).

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2.ThedesireforpowerisanevidentdrivingpointwithintheplayThe

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MerchantofVenice.

Specifically,thedesireforpowercausingsocialinjusticeisevidentwithinthesettingofthe

play.Theexampleswhichprovethisare;theChristianreligion’sdesireforpoweroverthe

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a)In the Merchant of Venice, external forces (society) influence Jessica to question her beliefs. As shown when,”Here, catch this casket;it is worth the pains./I am glad ‘tis night,you do not look on me,/for i am much asham’d of my exchange:/but love is blind, and lovers cannot see/the pretty follies that themselves commit”(2.6.34 38). This shows that she is questioning her jewish belief due to the fact that society discriminates against it. b) Lancelot is being influence by his conscience to stay as Shylock's servant, but he is miserable and wants to run away. He explains his conscience influence when he says “ Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation; and, / in my conscience, my conscience is but a kind of hard / conscience, to offer to counsel me to stay with the/ Jew,” (2.2.25 28). c) Shylock is being influenced by his anger towards Antonio, the society, and what his daughter has done. Even though Antonio is not involved with Shylock daughter, she goes on his boat which Shylock assumes that Antonio is involved. He makes a vow to get revenge when he says “Let good Antonio look he keep his day,? Or he shall pay for this” (2.8.25 26). d) Another example of Jessica being compelled by external forces is when she says “Alack,what heinous sin is it i me/ To be asham’d to be my father's child!... If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife,/ Become a Christian, and thy loving wife.”(2.3.16 20).
The desire for power is an evident driving point within the play The Merchant of Venice. Specifically, the desire for power causing social injustice is evident within the setting of the play. The examples which prove this are; the Christian religion’s desire for power over the

Jewish faith, the Prince of Morocco’s desire for power over Portia’s life causes social injustice, and Shylock’s desire for money and power causes Jessica to feel alienated and unfaithful to her father.

Firstly, the desire for power causing social injustice is shown through the Christian religion’s attitude towards the Jewish faith. This is shown evidently in the conversation between Shylock and Antonio, as Shylock points out things like, “You call me a misbeliever,”(1.3.107) and “spit upon my Jewish gaberdine,”(1.3.108), showing how being a Christian, Antonio believes it is okay to treat Shylock this way because he is Jewish, and it empowers Antonio to treat him as such. This evidently causes some emotional damage towards Shylock.

Secondly, the desire for power causes social injustice is shown through the Prince of Morocco’s treatment of “peasants” in order to gain power over them, causing their injustice. The example for this is when he is testing Portia’s strong will, as well as trying to make himself look powerful and important in Belmont: “Miss that which one unworthier may attain”(2.1.37). This example demonstrates how his desire for power over others whom he considers unworthy, is causing social injustice towards others’ chances with Portia.

Lastly, Shylock is an example of the desire for power causing social injustice, because his desire for the power for money has overcome his love for his own daughter, forcing her to run away. This is shown in two events within the book, as when Jessica is speaking and also when Shylock is running through the streets, looking for his stolen money: “But though I am a daughter to his blood,/ I am not to his manners.”(2.3.18 19) and, “Justice! Find the girl!/ She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats.”(2.8.21 22) These examples show how he values the power of money and desires it so much, that it is causing injustice towards his daughter and his disregard for her.

A)In The Merchant of Venice, symbolism is used to develop the theme of corruption of innocence. An example of this is after prince of Arragon opens the silver casket and states, “Do I deserve no more than a fool’s head?/ Is that my prize?”(2.9.58 59) This shows how his greedy decision for money and power has guided him to making the wrong decision for the marriage to Portia. The fool’s head symbolises that he who values money and power is a fool. B)Belmont symbolizes morality, in the book Merchant of venice. C)Shylock is running in the middle of the street yelling,” my daughter…. And the ducats” (2.8.15 22) symbolizes the greed corrupts Venice, with the wealth and power of people like Shylock, Antonio.
The juxtaposition between Belmont and Venice displays the theme Good vs Evil, in Belmont obsession over money and power is frowned upon while in Venice it is prioritized. In Venice everyone focus’ on earning money and status this is proven by Prince Arragonś ¨To cozen fortune, and be honourable without the stamp of merit?¨ This shows how even the

1. a)In the Merchant of Venice, external forces (society ..., Study notes of Religion

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of venice which causes them to say racist remarks that they

may not have said under normal circumstances. Conformity

leading to the destruction of innocence is also shown through

the example of Jessica conforming to the racist society towards

Jewish people. This is shown through the quote, “Alack, what

heinous sin is it in me/ To be asham’d to be my father’s child!”

(2.3.16 17), this shows the destruction of innocence of

Jessica, because, she conforms to the prejudice ways of

Venice, and hating her father just to conform to the normal,

which in turn destroys her innocence. Finally, conformity leads

to the destruction of innocence of Shylock. The destruction of

innocence is finally shown when Shylock conforms to society's

greedy personality, wanting power which is shown when

shylock says, : “My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!

Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! Justice! the law!

my ducats, and my daughter! A sealed bag, two sealed bags of

ducats, Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter! And

jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones Stolen by my

daughter! Justice! find the girl; She hath the stones upon her,

and the ducats” (2.8.75 78). This shows the destruction of

innocence, because Shylock would always love his daughter,

and care for her more than “ducats”, but his conformity to

greedy society makes him favor money over his daughter,

therefore destroying his innocence.

3. Portia demonstrates to the theme of morality because of her loyalty to

her father's morals. “Never speak to a lady afterwards in a way of

marriage: therefore be advis’d.” (2.1.41 42) This shows the theme of

morality because she is trying to be loyal to her father but she also wants

to chose for herself on who she marries. She choses her father’s moral

tradition for her to find a husband which proves the theme of morality.