TMOV HSC ESSAY

intro

thesis- human experience is inherently complex and multifaceted, marked by inconsistent behaviours and paradoxical identities, shaped by sociocultural paradigms

context- william shakespeare’s 1596 ‘problem play’ or tragicomedy ‘the merchant of venice’ dramatises the social dynamics of his elizabethan context and transposes them onto a venetian stage

point 1- systemic prejudice translates from macro level institituions to micro level experiences, xenophobia

point 2- economic structures influence the commodification of interpersonal relationships

point 3- societal narratives and hierarchies widen the dichotomy between mens and womens experiences

ending- transcends context, compels audiences to reflect on what they value in life and their understanding of lives and cultures of others, how this is shaped by personal experience and wider social forces

para 1 thesis

within xenophobic societies, systemic prejudice shapes the experiences of those deemed ‘the other’, subsequently stripping them of control over their narrative, while shakespeare presents storytelling as a means to challenge this harmful rhetoric

para 1 context

shakespeare influenced by values and attitudes of his time, fear of the other, expulsion of jews in 1290

para 1 evidence

1. act 1 scene 3 portia refers to prince of morocco as having “complexion of a devil” (metaphor reveals the inconsistency of status and power juxtaposed with vilification)

2. act 2 scene 8 solanio and salarino “o my ducats o my daughter” (caricature of shylocks jewish identity, social isolation, dominant narratives suppress lives and cultures)

3. shylock monologue act 3 scene 1 shakespeare humanises him, allows him to reclaim identity “if you wrong us shall we not revenge?” (series of rhetorical questions, reactions weaponised, cycle of prejudice and distortion of identity)

4. act 4 scene 1 climactic trial scene “you’ll ask me why i rather choose to have a weight of carrion flesh than to receive three thousand ducats?” (juxtaposes visceral imagery of decaying meat with high economic value, emotional motivation for shylock, defies mercantile logic)

para 2 thesis

economic systems foster greed and the commodification of interpersonal relationships, undermining authentic human connection

para 2 context

transition of elizabethan city from land based wealth to modern mercantile capitalism, in shakespeare’s england, venice celebrated as centre of european commerce, trade hub

para 2 evidence

1. act 1 scene 1 bassanio to antonio “in belmont is a lady richly left” paired with intertextual reference to golden fleece from greek mythology (economic objectification, human experiences centered around money, marriage seen as transactional)

2. act 3 scene 3 antonio to salarino and jailer “for the commodity that strangers have/with us here in venice if it be denied/ would much impeach the justice of the state” (any acceptance of those seen as ‘the other’ is from a purely profit driven motivation, Christians and Jews are only able to coexist for the purpose of exchanging goods and services, exposes moral failings of Venetian society)

3. act 3 scene 3 bassanios correct choice of lead casket exacerbates importing of contractual relationships into marital sphere with portia’s line “only to stand high in your account, i might in virtues, beauties, friends/exceed account” (herself as an investment which increases in value over time, perceptions of relationships in terms of debts and credits)

4. act 4 scene 1 “you have among you many purchased a slave, Which like your asses, dogs and mules, You use in abject and slavish parts Because you bought them” (contradiction in Venetian society, while they pride themselves on individualism and liberty, Venice’s freedom is conditional, highlighting the lack of individualism and how people are bound by collective societal expectations)

   
   

   
   

para 3 thesis

mercantile society as inherently patriarchal structure, dichotomy of mens and womens experiences

para 3 context

Characterisation of portia comes from limited autonomy of women in elizabethan england especially relating to marriage

para 3 evidence

1. act 1 scene 2 portia “my little body is aweary of this great world” despite being of higher status, isolated from mercantile society, metropolitan city vs idyllic yet isolated Belmont

2. act 3 scene 2 in reference to casket “i am locked in one of them” symbol for existence governed by male agency, vulnerability despite being Venetian elite

3. act 4 scene 1 shylocks exclamation “O wise judge! O upright judge! How elder art thou than thy looks!” irony, disguise is the only way women can gain genuine respect for their intellect, ambiguity of truth, appearances appease our desire to conform with societal biases despite conflicting reality

4. Act 4 scene 1 Portia’s line “Down, therefore, and beg the mercy of the Duke” to shylock, despite the paradoxical nature of her own identity, Portia wields her power as part of the Venetian hegemony over Shylock