Contemporary Issues in The Merchant of Venice Essay -- Merchant of Ven

Contemporary Issues in The Merchant of Venice Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice is soothe relevant today because it deals with fill outs which cool off affect us. Throughout the play a distinction is made between how things appear and how they are in reality. The issue of display versus reality is demonstrated in varied ways, mainly by the use of real-life situations. The first representation of this is Shylocks generosity with his money and eagerness to bring on friends with Antonio when he says, I say, to buy his favour, I extend this friendship, when all he wants is to take a pound of Antonios flesh and end his life, If I john catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him. Shylock pretends to want to be friends with Antonio, only if only wants revenge against the Jew-hater. The choosing of the three coffins is used as the main translation of appearance versus reality. The suer of Portia must choose either a gold, silver gra y or lead casket, where the right choice will allow the suitor to marry her. The Prince of Morocco, on choosing the beautiful gold casket with the inscription, Who chooseth me shall gain what more men desire, sees the message, All that glisters is not gold, and is thus turned away by Portia. The Prince of Arragon, on choosing the silver casket with, Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves, receives a fools head, and is told that that is what he deserves. Bassanio however, on correctly choosing the lead casket with the inscription, Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath, says, The world is still (constantly) deceived with ornament. ... ...actions with one another throughout the play. Appearance versus reality is explored when Shylock pretends to be Antonios friend, with the choosing of the caskets, and when Portia and Nerissa go to court in disguise to help out Antonio and Bassanio. racial discrimination is shown in depth with the confrontations of An tonio and Shylock. Overall The Merchant Of Venice explores both appearance versus reality and racial prejudice, which are two issues that still hold greatness in present-day society. Works Cited and Consulted Barnet Sylvan. Introduction. The Merchant of Venice Ed. Sylvan Barnet. New tee shirt Prentice-Hall Inc., 1970. 1-10. Granville-Barker, Harley. The Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare Ed. Leonard F. Dean. Princeton Princeton University Press, 1947. 37-71.