The Merchant Of Venice As A Tragedy - 1363 Words

The Merchant of Venice is a tragedy Jean Racine, a French dramatist of the 17th century France, states, â€Å"Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel† (Goodreads). In the early days of its staging, the play The Merchant of Venice written by William Shakespeare is considered to be a comedy, but as the world develops there is controversy as whether to believe that the play is actually a tragedy. The play is centered on two main plots: the bond plot and the casket plot. The bond plot is about two best friends, Bassanio and Antonio, forming a high risk agreement with a Jew, Shylock. The casket plot is about Bassanio, a young Christian, trying to court a rich heiress, Portia. The Merchant of Venice can be ruled as a tragedy†¦show more content†¦Yet, after all that the Christians went through, even escaping death itself, they still reverted back to their old ways which can be seen when Gratiano taunts Shylock as soon as he loses his fortune: Beg that thou may’st have leave to h ang thyself- And yet thy wealth being forfeit to the state, Thou hast not left the value of a cord: Therefore thou must be hang’d at the state’s charge. (IV.i.362-365) The ‘Christians’ laugh and torment Shylock and while Shylock tries to take revenge, he loses everything and the ‘Christians’ win and walk away free as per usual. The ending was definitely unfair and ‘Christians’ did not improve their poor behaviour. The next aspect that contributes to The Merchant of Venice being classified as a tragedy is the role of women in the play. During the Elizabethan era, when the play was produced, women were highly under-estimated. This is presented in the play through Portia. Portia is a rich, beautiful and smart heiress. Many men travel to Belmont so that they may compete for her hand. However, she does not have much of a choice about who she will marry. Her dying father created a contest for her suitors. The contest includes them choosing one out of three caskets. The one who chooses the correct casket will win her hand. This is unfortunate for Portia whose future is at stake. Portia expresses her concerns about th e casket contest to her lady-in-waiting, Nerissa when different suitors travelShow MoreRelatedTragedy in The Merchant of Venice1472 Words   |  6 PagesAccording to dictionary.com, a tragedy is a form of art based on human suffering; furthermore, it is a dramatic composition, dealing with a serious or somber theme, typically that of a great person destined through a flaw of character or conflict with some overpowering force, as fate or society, to downfall or destruction. 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