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Title: The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare
Description: Themes that are portrayed throughout the merchant of venice
Description: Themes that are portrayed throughout the merchant of venice
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Louise Conka
21222271
BA (Hons) Theatre Production
L4 Theatre in Practice
Weeks #15 to #17
Review
nsights
I i
–
the Merchant of Venice
or; opinion or fact personal insight of constructing an interpretation
a
The director, Michael Radford ade the decision to stay close to Shakespeare's original
,
m
depiction of
“The Merchant of Venice”
unlike Baz Luhrmann’s 1996 film version of
“Romeo and
Juliet”
where he incorporated modern society
...
” This is particularly evident during the
film where the notion of cultural misunderstanding is illustrated
...
Judaism and
Christianity are the two main religions but are also seen as racial identities
...
”
Other characters from Shakespeare’s time who had a dark ethnicity were often
associated with the devil and evilness, such as “Othello” and “Aaron the Moor”
...
Race and religion is accentuated further when Shakespeare
writes,
“If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us, do
we not die?”
Here, shylock insists that Jews and Christians both share a common humanity
...
This is particularly uncomfortable for contemporary audiences
as to a certain extent stereotypes are discouraged in modernday and our society has become
more multicultural and therefore has become more acceptive of other cultures and religions
overtime
...
In
“The Merchant of Venice” the theme of wealth is also immediately accentuated as the plot
revolves around a Venetian merchant who is unable to repay a loan
...
Wealth is further highlighted in the play when Shylock claims he dislikes
Antonio because he is a Christian and therefore lends out money free of interest creating a
negative impact on Shylock’s business
...
” The Christian characters frown upon charging
interest and making money off of loans, which mirrors the perceptions about usury in England
during the 16th century
...
This is derived from Deuteronomy
23:1923:
“You shall not lend upon interest to your brother, interest on money, interest on
victuals, interest on anything that is lent for interest
...
" Additionally, Bassanio gets himself in debt
and attempts to get out of his financial wreck by marrying Portia, a rich heiress who lives in
Belmont
...
In contrast to this, there is less of a wealth divide
in today’s society as there is less of a class system
...
Moreover, Radford's version of the
play particularly illustrates the role of women
...
She was almost imprisoned in the house because during that time period
women were seen as inferior to men
...
Radford
appears to have exported antisemitism and its criticisms in a direct response to a quotation
2
Louise Conka
21222271
BA (Hons) Theatre Production
L4 Theatre in Practice
Weeks #15 to #17
taken from Harold Bloom regarding the play
"One would have to be blind, deaf and dumb not to
recognise that Shakespeare's grand, equivocal comedy ‘The Merchant of Venice’ is
nevertheless a profoundly anti semitic work"
...
In contrast to this, Jack Gold's 1980 version
which was filmed for the BBC series ultimately reflects late 20th century critical concerns,
demonstrating the homoerotic nature of Antonio's friendship, the teenage rebellion in Jessica's
rejection of Shylock, and the problems of cultural and religious identity in Shylock's treatment by
the Christian mercantile society
...
An interesting comparison
between the play and film is Radford's ability to provoke sympathy from the audience more than
Shakespeare originally intended through his use of pathos and lack of comedy
...
This idea is further highlighted during the last scene
where audience members see Shylock alone and recognise that he is a tragic figure despite his
bloodthirsty nature
...
3
Title: The Merchant of Venice by Shakespeare
Description: Themes that are portrayed throughout the merchant of venice
Description: Themes that are portrayed throughout the merchant of venice