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. Tragedy elements are that in which a protagonist agonizes disconnection from society and also, he or she makes an error or shows awful decision making. There are typically deathsRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice : Comedy Or Tragedy? Essay1416 Words   |  6 PagesDecember 2015 The Merchant of Venice: Comedy or Tragedy? Intro: William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a perplexing story of dark humor, race, religion, identity, love, and justice. Generally, most people understand The Merchant of Venice as a comedy about a bitter and outcasted Jewish moneylender named Shylock who seeks revenge against a Christian merchant who has failed to pay his loan back. However, there are many different perspectives on whether The Merchant of Venice is a comedy orRead MoreCharacteristics Of Tragedy In The Merchant Of Venice939 Words   |  4 PagesThe Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare is often called a problem play because it does not neatly fit the characteristics of either a comedy or a tragedy. A tragedy is a drama or literary work in which one of the main characters is brought to ruin or suffer extreme sorrow, especially as a tragic flaw or moral weakness. The Merchant of Venice has a character that is brought to ruin. It also has many other characteristics of a tragedy. Most of the events being serious is one of the characteristicsRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice : Tragedy, Comedy Or Tragicomedy1363 Words   |  6 PagesProfessor Silva English 200 13 January 2017 The Merchant of Venice: Tragedy, Comedy or Tragicomedy Can time and historical events affect the categorization of a literary piece? William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a play that is difficult to classify in a specific genre. It is often referred to as one of his problem plays. This means that it does not easily fall into a single category. Most literary sources categorize The Merchant of Venice as a comedy because it fits the description byRead MoreThe Tragedy of Shylock, a Critical essay on Shakespeares Merchant of Venice2008 Words   |  9 PagesRaymond Schmit ï ¿ ½ PAGE * MERGEFORMAT ï ¿ ½6ï ¿ ½ Shakespeare The Tragedy of Shylock I had not read the _Merchant of Venice_ before this class. All of my familiarity with the play was based on hearsay, and for some reason I got the idea in my heads that it was a tragedy. I thought that Shylock_did_ receive a pound of flesh from Antonio, but that it was just skin removed from his back. This gruesome image was what I was waiting for during my entire reading of the play. But I was pleasantly surprised toRead MoreThe Merchant Of Venice : A Story Of Despair And Pain714 Words   |  3 PagesLogan Steenstra Mrs.Kleinmeyer Gifted Communication Arts II 29 April 2016 The Merchant of Comedy The Merchant of Venice, a story of despair and pain. Wait, nevermind it’s a comedy. There are too many humorous scenes for it not to be a comedy. It may not seem very funny but, in this time period this play would have been very humerous. I still think this play is a comedy because what isn’t funny about women pretending to be men, how Shylock and if you compare this play to Shakespeare’s other worksRead MoreThe Merchant of Venice Is a Tragicomedy....I Got 32/35 so Its a Good Essay1558 Words   |  7 PagesA tragedy is a drama or literary work in which the protagonist is brought to ruin or suffers sorrow, especially as a consequence of tragic flaw or moral weakness. Where as, a comedy is a drama or literary work, that is light and often humorous or satirical in tone and it usually contains a happy resolution of the thematic conflict. Thus, a tragicomedy is a fictional work that blends aspects of the genres tragedy and comedy. In Shakespeare’s time a tr agicomedy referred to a serious play with a happyRead MoreXenophobia in Othello and the Merchant of Venice1541 Words   |  7 Pagesand Tragedies From 1589 to 1613 William Shakespeare produced some of the most original, thought-provoking and emotionally compelling plays, sonnets, and poetry. Two of his finest pieces of work, Othello and The Merchant of Venice feature dynamic characters, and insights into the chivalry and the xenophobic disposition of the English people at the time. Throughout these two stories, three primary female characters emerge, Desdemona from Othello, and Portia and Jessica from The Merchant of VeniceRead MoreRole of Women in Shakespeares Plays - a Case Study of Macbeth and the Merchant of Venice1499 Words   |  6 PagesRoman and Italian models and history plays in the popular chronicle tradition. His second period begin in about 1595 with the tragedy â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† and ended with the tragedy of â€Å"Julius Caesar† in 1599. During this time, he wrote what are considered his greatest comedies and histories. From about 1600 to about 1608, his â€Å"tragic period†, Shakespeare wrote mostly tragedies, and from 1608 to 1613, mainly tragicomedies called romances. (â€Å"WilliamRead MoreCommon Features of a Shakespeare Comedy1745 Words   |  7 PagesCommon Features of a Shakespeare Comedy What makes a Shakespeare comedy identifiable if the genre is not distinct from the Shakespeare tragedies and histories? This is an ongoing area of debate, but many believe that the comedies share certain characteristics, as described below: * Comedy through language: Shakespeare communicated his comedy through language and his comedy plays are peppered with clever word play, metaphors and insults. 1. Love: The theme of love is prevalent in every

Feminist Literary Criticism Feminism Feminist Wome Essay Example For Students

Feminist Literary Criticism Feminism Feminist Wome Essay n Criticism Feminist Literary Criticism As a pragmatic critical endeavor, most forms of Feminist literary criticism share a fundamental assumption that the historical subjugation of women has definite and deleterious effects upon both women and men. The critical project of Feminist critics is thus concerned with uncovering the contingencies of gender as a cultural, social, and political construct and instrument of domination (Jehlen 265). Whether by focusing on the evolution of literature written by women or by reevaluating or reinterpreting previous works by men, Feminist critics challenge the eternal opposition of biological and aesthetic creativity which past and present notions of gender promote (Showalter 1105). The first step in attempting to change such deep seeded cultural assumptions is to acknowledge and identify their existence and impact. One has to read for gender; unless it figures explicitly in story or poem, it will seldom read for itself (Jehlen 273). Feminist literary criticism is not exclusionary, however. Gender is one of a number of salient critical terms long neglected, an additional lens, or a way of lifting the curtain to an unseen recess of the self and society (Jehlen 265). By allowing Feminist critics to see both deeper and more broadly into a text, investigations into gender aspire to produce more meaningful interpretations and a more demanding generation of interpreters (Jehlen 272). Works Cited Jehlen, Myra. Gender Critical Terms for Literary Study. Ed. Frank Lentricchia and Thomas McLaughlin. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1995. .

Roman And Greek Mythology Essays - Mythological Kings, Deities

Roman And Greek Mythology Greek and Roman mythology have many similarities between them. Each type has there own set of Gods and Goddesses, although they were worshiped for similar reasons. The following will explain each God or Goddess and explain how they compare to each other. The King of Gods in Greek Mythology is known as Zeus. Zeus was the ruler of the sky, and had the power to create thunderstorms and lightning as well as earthquakes. He was the child of Cronus and Rhea. As the story goes he was their sixth child, and the father to protect him from being overthrown had eaten the five previous children. Zeus was taken to a city called Crete and hidden from his father. As Zeus grew older and learned of what happened he found a potion to make his father regurgitate the other children. Once this happened they all teamed up and killed their father. Zeus then became the ruler of Mount Olympus, and head of the new line of Gods. Jupiter was the predominant power holder of Roman Gods. He was ruler of the sky, the daylight, all the weather, and even the thunder and lightening. Jupiter helped drive back the Sabines. His temple was built in the Capitol, and newly elected counsels offered their first prayers to him. Hera was the wife and sister of Zeus, and the High Goddess of the Greeks. She was extremely jealous of the affairs that her husband was having and often tormented or harmed the mistresses he was fooling around with. Although, when she went too far, or tried to cause death, Zeus would intervene and stop her. Hera tried to ship wreak Heracles on his return from Troy, and with that Zeus had her hung by the wrists from top of the mountain with an anvil tied to each ankle. The two had four children together. Juno, Hera's counterpart, was the wife of Jupiter. Juno was the protector of women, especially those who are married. Women often gave offerings to Juno to help with their childbirth. The God of the Underworld, Hades, was the brother of Zeus. He gained Hell, as his share in conquering their father. He is most known for kidnapping his wife, Persephone, while she was picking flowers in a field. As the story goes, Hades had her eat a piece of food in the Underworld, therefore she could not live on the Earth again. Her father, Zeus, made arrangements for her to be allowed on Earth for two-thirds of the year and in the Underworld as Hade's wife for the rest of the time. This is used as the cause of spring and winter. When she returns to the surface she brings spring with her and when she returns to the Underworld she leaves winter behind her. Pluto, the Roman God of the Underworld, who's name also means rich. It reflects the rich mineral resources beneath the ground and the rich resources above the earth. In art he is shown with the Horn of Plenty. This horn is most likely why we associate the Devil, or Satan, as having a horn on top of his head. His name was thought of to be bad luck, and therefore was hardly mentioned in myths. Ares was the child of Zeus and Hera. He was the God of War. Whenever he was seen or portrayed he would be fully armed and ready for battle. Any cause to fight or go to war would bring him out and about. He was the discomfited lover of Aphrodite. Almost all of his children by mortal women were of a violent nature. Mars, The Roman God of War and Agriculture, was the second most important god after Jupiter. The month March was named after Mars, and was also the first month of the Roman calendar. March was the month when agriculture was reborn and when most people engaged in war. Mars was given his own priest and altar in Rome. The wolf and woodpecker were the sacred animals of Mars. A festival in October was held in his honor and all farmers and soldiers would lay aside their weapons and had a celebration. The Greek Goddess of Love and Beauty was Aphrodite. She was married to the Smith God, Hephaestus, but left him for the God of War. She favored the Trojans during the Trojan War. She was known to have angry mood swings and all the gods and mortals paid dearly for it. Aphrodite and Venus were counterparts

According To Kizlik (2014), objectives That Are Used In Education,

According To Kizlik (2014), objectives That Are Used In Education, According To Kizlik (2014), objectives That Are Used In Education, Whether They Are Called Learning – Coursework Example Educational Objectives in Health Provision Health providers, nurses in particular, always have to design programs that are aimed at educating the community; the patients and their various families. These objectives can either be long term or short term. The relevance of such programs is in the creation of awareness to the community on different health issues. The objectives formulated by the health must comply with Kizlik (2014) idea that objectives are terms that refer to descriptions of observable behavior that are used to make the judgment about learning. In designing the educational objectives that articulate the needs of both the patients and the families, Kizlik’s postulate of condition, verb and criteria parts of the objective must be strictly adhered to. All the three parts of the objective must be flexible, doable and achievable by the patient. Health providers must also consider engaging the patient and the family to take part in formulation of the educational progra m objectives. By engaging the community, the health providers open up the avenue for obtaining the real situations on the ground. For example, if the educational program was intended to change the behavior of the patient, the family must be involved since they will be with the patient most of the time. In the case of changing the behavior of the whole community, the health providers would want to come up realistic and achievable objective. This is where the community comes in; both the directly affected and the indirectly affected groups. Nurses must, therefore, establish the main behavior problems by inviting the suggestions of the community. This way, the educational objectives shall be relevant and attainable.ReferenceKizlik, B. (2014). How to Write Learning Objectives that Meet Demanding Behavioral Criteria. Retrieved from adprima.com/objectives.htm

Business-writing radio launched - Emphasis

Business-writing radio launched Business-writing radio launched Free podcasts offer expert help with writing reports, proposals, emails and more A new source of free help is at hand for anyone who has ever grappled with writing a make or break proposal or report, or wondered how best to handle sensitive customer correspondence. It comes in the shape of a series of podcasts that give expert advice on how to improve your business-writing skills. The podcasts, called Write On, offer help with everything from creating effective reports and proposals to writing speeches and emails. The high-quality programmes have been produced by leading business-writing trainers Emphasis and are presented by BBC radio presenter Clare McDonnell. They offer a wealth of practical tips and advice, as well as interviews with executives from major public and private-sector organisations about the latest thinking on business writing. They are just one of the many resources available on the Emphasis website that enable everyone to access business-writing advice, free of charge, in their own time. Companies can lose millions of pounds every year through poorly written proposals or badly worded customer service letters, explains Rob Ashton, Emphasis Chief Executive. But often people dont know how to improve their written work and may not want to admit publicly that they struggle with writers block or grammar, for instance. The beauty of the podcasts is that you acan listen to them in private, anywhere improving your writing skills even while travelling to work, for example. The podcasts are available to download here, where users can subscribe through iTunes or RSS feed to automatically receive each show as its released. They play equally well on an iPod or computer. Press enquiries For more information, please contact us 01273 738 888 or email us here. For information on training courses or to access free online resources, visit emphbootstrap.wpengine.com. Notes for editors Emphasis Training Ltd are the UKs leading business-writing trainers, providing bespoke courses for a huge range of private and public sector organisations, both in the UK and internationally. Since 1998, they have helped thousands of people in government departments, law firms, blue-chip companies, universities and charities to produce first-class business writing. With headquarters in Brighton, East Sussex, Emphasis have a dedicated team of experienced, specialist trainers who run bespoke courses on-site for organisations across the UK. They also run open courses for smaller groups or individuals throughout the year in London.

Meaning behind a Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Meaning behind a Speech - Essay Example As many Americans are faced with the responsibility of electing a President every four years, one of the highlights of the process would be the Inaugural speech given by the newly sworn in chief executive on their inauguration day. From George Washington, all the way to the present day with Barack Obama, each individual who has resided in the chair of the President has found themselves with the opportunity to creatively craft their message through interviews given to members of the mainstream press, as well as speeches given to an even wider audience. Going farther than the words written within the pages of their statements, the power of these deliveries, are further enabled by the presence of the passion within the person saying the words. Taking the time to effectively present essential points of whatever case may need to be made, through increases in tone to emphasis crucial aspects, all the way to something as day-to-day, as the choice of clothing that would be worn. One of the most relevant speech examples in recent memory would be the inaugural speech delivered by John F. Kennedy in January 1961. Being a man who sought to introduce youthful vigor and passion into the role of the nation's chief executive, President Kennedy's speech would convey the inherent desire he would possess for the powerful role of both the American government and its citizens, as well as the power of the rest of the world. Through the strength in his delivery by means of the elevation and passion of his voice, Kennedy would enhance the meaning of his message for the nation. In speaking of the presence of power held by man but also the presence of a higher being, President Kennedy states, "The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe--the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God," (Kennedy, 1961). With his delivery, the new President would convey to his audience that, within all humans, they do hold the potential to enact great change around them. All the while remembering that, to stay true to history and the revolutionary forefathers of the nation, would be to remember the significance given to the influence of God. The more an individual may believe and feel passionate about what they are saying, the evidence will show in the choice of words to be spoken and the elevation of their voice, to better illustrate those very same words. For example, "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty,' (Kennedy, 1961). To assess the greater intended meaning of this, Kennedy would seek to further underline the strength of the American conviction for that which we believe in. With the delivery of this speech occurring in less than two decades since the end of World War II and just before the start of the Vietnam war, which would begin only a few short years later, the meaning behind the following portion of the President's speech, would be amplified through his eloquent delivery. "In the long history of the world, only a few generations have been granted

The New Synagogue, Berlin, Germany Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

The New Synagogue, Berlin, Germany - Essay Example The building has defied time, having been constructed in early 20th century, following its demolition in the Second World War. Otto Von Bismark, the Prime Minister of Prussia by then, opened the building in 1866. It is one of the few synagogues that survived Kristallnatch-a revenge attack that involved the Nazi youths. The current building is a reconstruction of the former building. Its street frontage was ruined and the current building is a renovated version of the older building. The entrance has a new outlook; the domes and the towers have been repainted and redesigned, perhaps using the newest architectural designs, this time round blending modern designs and architecture with the mediaeval Roman architecture used before the demolition (Simms 43). Only some few rooms were left behind. The synagogue was meant to serve the growing Jewish population in Germany, especially the immigrants who came from the East. The building had a capacity to house 3000 worshipers in one sitting. The building was also used for public concerts; the most notable being the violin concert featuring Albert Eistein in 1930. The religious services included organ and choir, reflecting liberal developments among the Jewish community then. The building was set ablaze in the infamous Kristallnatch on November, 1938, in the e vent that saw the Torah scrolls debased, furniture destroyed, and combustible property within the building set ablaze (Simms 98). A brave police officer, Lieutenant Otto Bellgardt, arrived on 10th Nov, the following day and ordered the Nazi mob to disperse, arguing that the building was a historical landmark that was protected. He upheld the law to protect the synagogue from further damage by the Nazi youths. Therefore, the fire was distinguished before it could spread to other parts of the buildings. The New Synagogue remained intact and was rebuilt by the congregation who used the building up until 1940. Apart from prayers, the