TheMerchantofVenic莎翁著名喜劇威尼斯商人簡(jiǎn)介

1、by zhang xuanby zhang xuan icy icythe merchant of venicethe merchant of venicebackgroundcharacteristic and the relationshipbrief introductionanalysis of the main charactersmy opinionsthe backgroundtheatrical traditions of jewstheatrical traditions of jews roots of shakespearean drama begin with myst

2、ery and miracle plays of the middle ages, which were performed by the church for a largely illiterate audience about old and new testament （新舊約全書(shū)）stories. jews were often viewed as responsible for christs crucifixion(苦難). jews became the evil villains(反面角色) of elizabethan drama. they were one-dimens

3、ional(膚淺的，單面的) stereotypical characters. given the anti-jewish climate in elizabethan england and shakespeares portrayal of shylock as a negative stereotype, it would be reasonable to assume shakespeare was an anti-semite. after reading the whole play, you may find that it may be wrong.characteristi

4、c and the relationshipantonioshylockportiabassaniohatehelplovepunishshylock: hates antonio very much. antonio often lent money to others without charging the interest shylock demanded. bassinio as well as his friends, antonio and lorenzo planned a feast and a masque to invited shylock to be his gues

5、t; helped lorenzo run off with shylocks daughter, jessica and take part of the jews fortune. antonio didnt respect shylock at all. (lines)bassinio: a handsome man, wanted to marrybassinio: a handsome man, wanted to marryportia. but he had no money, so he went toportia. but he had no money, so he wen

6、t tohis best friend, antonio for help. luckily, he his best friend, antonio for help. luckily, he chose the right casket and married portia.chose the right casket and married portia.portia: a wealthy young lady, who was famous portia: a wealthy young lady, who was famous for her beauty. many people

7、wanted to marry for her beauty. many people wanted to marry her. but according to her fathers will, she had her. but according to her fathers will, she had to marry the person who chose the correct one to marry the person who chose the correct one from the gold, silver and the lead caskets.from the

8、gold, silver and the lead caskets.other relationshipsthe moorthe prince of arragonbassaniolorenzojessicagratianonerissabrief introductionfour contrasts in the play:four contrasts in the play: jew against christian jew against christian love against hate love against hate usury against venture tradin

9、g usury against venture trading mercy against justice mercy against justicebassanioportiaantonioshylockwants to marry wants to borrow money fromdoesnt have enough money; borrow fromhates him very much; makea contractthe ships on which his fortune depended has been wrecked at the seachoose the right

10、casket and win portiaknows that antonio would die and decides to punishfinally,shylock is punishedanalysis of the main charactersanalysis of the main charactersantonioantonio: is quite kind-hearted, generous to his friends, and never hesitates to do what is righteous.bassanio:bassanio: handsome, rom

11、antic portia:portia: beautiful, clever, active, capable and sympathy. shes the new women of the capitalistic class in shakespeares ideal.shylock:shylock: a miser, mean, cruel, selfish but poor. hes not poor materially but mentally. the ending of him is sad. he loses all his money, and has to become

12、a christian. many people think that shylock is cruel, mean and chary(吝嗇的). but i think hes pathetic. he just uses his own money to earn money. if this is to blame. how about todays commercial banks? and because hes a jew, he is disgraced by christians. and how about his daughter? he works hard to ea

13、rn money, while his daughter, jessica runs off with lorenzo, taking away much money, and lives luxuriously. he is told to be merciful, but who sympathize with him?my opinionsmy opinionsintolerance of the jews was a fact of 16intolerance of the jews was a fact of 16ththcentury life even in venice, th

14、e most century life even in venice, the most powerful and liberal city state in europe.powerful and liberal city state in europe.by law the jews were forced to live in theby law the jews were forced to live in theold walled foundary or “geto” area of the old walled foundary or “geto” area of the cit

15、y. after sundown the gate was lockedcity. after sundown the gate was lockedand guarded by the christians.and guarded by the christians.in the daytime any man leaving the in the daytime any man leaving the ghetto had to wear a red hat to mark ghetto had to wear a red hat to mark himhimas a jewas a je

16、wthe jews were forbidden to own property.the jews were forbidden to own property.so they practiced usury, the lending of so they practiced usury, the lending of money at interest. this was against money at interest. this was against christian law.christian law.the sophisticated venetians would turn

17、the sophisticated venetians would turn a blind eye to it but for the religious a blind eye to it but for the religious fanatics who hated the jews, it was fanatics who hated the jews, it was another matter. another matter. my opinionsmy opinions many people say that they have learnt many people say that they have learnt from the play that money is not the most from the play that money is not the most important thing in the world, there are important thing in the world, there are many other things that are valuable.many other things that are valuable. for me, its true