by Karamo Nimaga

Created on: October 16, 2008

" The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare is perhaps one of his best dramatic piece of art ever written by him. The main characters of the play ,Shylock and Antonio two wealthy merchants both had different ways to conduct their trade. Shylock who was greedy and unfaithful lends money and ask for interest while Antonio a honest and kind gentleman had his own way of making money.The play it self is seen by many scholars as one of the plays where William Shakespeare tells his British audience how merchants elsewhere around the world conduct their trade.The play also continued to tell any one how bitter conditions in those days could be between two rival merchants. So Shylock who saw Antonio as a treat to his trade finally got his chance when Antonio came to him and asked for a loan which he will pay back when he receive his goods that were at sea. Shylock who wants to get Antonio out of his way decided to lend him the money but on the condition that he must pay the loan at the date he gave or will cut a pound of flesh from his body. Antonio who was confident that his goods will arrive on time, signed the bond.

So when the due date to pay back the loan arrived, and Antonio did not fulfilled his promise Shylock took that as his final chance to harm him .He refused any offer from Antonio and said he just want his pound of flesh. So Antonio who want to fulfill his promise and to keep his faith, had no choice but to let Shylock have his ways. At the court the judge demanded Shylock to show mercy and give Antonio some time to wait untile his goods arrive. But when Shylock refused, the judge who did not want to give him the chance to use Antonio's failure in meeting the due date came with an idea. He ordered Shylock to carry out the judgement as stated in the bond. The judge then told Shylock to cut his pound of flesh but whatever he cut, must not be more than a pound and that there should not be a drop of blood and also must bring along a surgeon to stop any blood flow. So knowing that it will be impossible to cut a pound of flesh without a drop of blood and cutting the flesh to a pound was impossible Sylock decided to forsake the idea and decide that he would take the money instead. The judgement taught Shylock a lesson and also proof to him that sometimes justice granted could not be carried out if mercy has the outmost power within.

William Shakespeare is and will always be the most sensetive writer of all times. His Merchants of Venice tells us that the Jews were one of the best buisness tycoons of generations and the play itself is seen by many jews as an attempt to tarnish their reputation.But I think Shakespeare here is trying to tell his audiance the importance of the jews in term of trade at that time. From the time Shapespeare wrote this play to the present, the jews are still the must powerful and successful business men in the world today. I think Shakespeare did not mean to cause any racism by choosing his character Shylock as a jew. That is one of the morals of Merchants of Venice.The rest of the play is just as important as any of the wonderful plays of the Shapespearan world

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