The Merchant Of Venice Theme Essay

          When lost, most of us look to a companion for guidance and strength through the rough patches in life, and when your resilience fails, someone else's will prosper. This two way street keeps people going in the roughest of times. In "The Merchant of Venice" written by William Shakespeare, Antonio found himself isolated from the rest of the world and couldn't put his finger on what brought about his sadness. Shortly after his pondered sadness, he found Bassanio, a man with a contemplated love for the lovely Portia and needed help to win her hand in marriage. And with that Antonio's void was filled he forgot about his lack of happiness for a moment and helped his friend conquer his despair. Although some of us may have many talents, or money, or luck, to offer the world, the best thing we have to offer is love and friendship because those are the two benefactions that will never be deficit. Despite all shortcomings in life, we will never not be able to offer love and friendship to the world. 
      One of the most significant character relationships in "The Merchant of Venice" that expressed the theme of love and friendship being the best gifts we can offer to the world is Antonio and Bassanio. In act one, Antonio could not describe nor define his discontent until he met with Bassanio and discovered enjoyment and helping his friend achieve the hand of his true love. However, they made a deal with the vile and rude merchant Shylock who tricked Antonio into a devil's trade. In the end, Shylock planned to kill Antonio for his racism towards him and when Bassanio tried to intervene Antonio replied; "Give me your hand Bassanio, fare you well! Grieve not that I am fall'n to this for you; for herein Fortune shows herself more kind than is her custom...Commend me to your honorable wife, tell her the process of Antonio's end, Say how I loved you, speak me in fair death; and when the tale is told, bid her be jude whether Bassanio had not once a love." Antonio was ready to die just for the love and friendship of his friend, he didn't need money to bring him satisfaction just knowing his friend would be happy, and that he helped him return to that state of contentment was payment enough. Seeing Antonio gave a mile and Bassanio only an inch, he argued, "But life itself, my wife, and all the world, are not with me esteemed above thy life, I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all, Here to this devil to deliver you." Friendship can only be earned with love and not bought or traded and therefore even for all the ducats in the world, Bassanio's friendship with Antonio was still more valuable to him. 
      Another relationship that illuminates the gift of friendship and love is Lorenzo and Jessica. Jessica, daughter of Jewish Shylock, left him for the Christian Lorenzo, leaving everything behind (except for some stolen money) to embark on a trial of love that was worth more than her father's money that he provided her with. "Beshrew me but I love her heartily, for she is wise, if that mine eyes be true, and true she it, as she hath proved herself: and therefore, like herself, wise, fair, and true,  shall she be placed in my constant soul." Although Jessica dressed as a boy to escape, and was the daughter of a Jewish man, he loved her for what was inside and still gave her a chance to love her for that while most people might have just passed her by. In return Jessica returned love with love and the two lived a prosperous life of love and happiness; "In such a night did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, stealing her soul with many vows of fait, and ne'er a true one." After trials and tribulations of the their love, they beat all the tests involving money, kin, and virtue, proving love was the greatest blessing they would earn from each other. 
      Every story must have the handsome man win the princess and Bassanio's quest for Portia's hand, confirmed that Bassanio's presence of love was the only thing that would help him pass the test and merit her love. "So may the outward shows be least themselves- the world is still deceived with ornament. In law, what plea so tainted or corrupt, But, be seasoned with a gracious voice, obscures the show of evil? In religion what damned error, but some sober brow will bless it, and approve it with a text, Hiding the grossness with fair ornament?...Thy plainness moves me more than eloquence, and here choose I- joy be the consequence! He didn't Portia to have beautiful things or money, for him to love her, just the simplicity of her being her was perfect for him. Therefore, he chose the lead casket and opened it to find her picture, and her heart. However, sometimes the gift has to be tested and tested to be proven true, and although very true, Portia was insecure and the gift of Bassanio's love became less valuable than his one to Antonio or Jessica's to Lorenzo. The gift of love or friendship shouldn't have to be tested to be proven true but evident day by random acts of kindness such as Antonio's deal with Shylock. 
       Life is a plane ride full of turbulence and many of us along the way can't find a way to make the shaking stop, like Shylock who was filled with revenge and greed that drove him to a life of solitude because he couldn't find it in his heart to offer friendship instead of vengeance. On the opposite side of the spectrum, the world handed Antonio what he put out in the world, acceptance, friendship, love and dedication and in return his sadness diminished from sight. Sometimes no matter how cliche it sounds, the best gifts in life are not tangible or visible but felt with the heart and "The Merchant of Venice" portrayed that very well by highlighting that the gift of friendship was far more valuable than the ducats or pound of flesh. "The greatest gift in life is friendship and I have received it" ~Hubert H. Humphrey. 

Merchant of Venice Questions #2

1) Portia doesn't have the power to choose her own husband because her parents want her to marry someone with a good fortune and security because back then, they believed that wealth and power will bring you happiness. Portia is the exact opposite, she compared most of the suitors that came to her as sponges and unworthy of her and she doesn't want a man with wealth or prospects but a man with a good heart and personality.
2) Shylock is a Jew that is in trade with Antonio who is a Christian and therefore there is a lot of recast tension between them from the very instant the two encountered each other. Antonio and Bassanio meet up with Shylock to ask money from him in hopes that Bassanio would go "woo" Portia and although unsure, Shylock agreed to their proposition.
3) In every story, there is always a "but" or strings attached and in the story Shylock agreed to lend the 2 friends money BUT they had to return the money to him within a month or else Shylock would get a pound of his flesh from Antonio.
4) Shylock is so hesitant towards and Antonio because they don't like each other because of religious beliefs and how they affect each other's businesses. For example, Antonio would spread rumors about Shylock not having quality products because he is a Jew or vise versa and that caused a lot of tension between the two and Shylock didn't want to trust Antonio with his money.
5) I wouldn't trust Antonio, if he had been racist towards me I wouldn't want to lend him any favors and I wouldn't trust him with my money because if he didn't like me, why would he return my money to me?