The Merchant of Venice Self-Interest versus Love Essay

While there are many fundamental themes in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, only one seems to drive the play to its inevitable conclusion. There is a constant theme of self-interest versus love. On the surface, this seems to be the dividing factors between the Christians and the Jew. Shylock is portrayed to only care about money and profits, while the Christians are shown as people who value human relationships more. Examples of this theme are shown through Shylock’s behaviour, the many weddings of the Christian characters, and the relationship between Antonio and Bassanio. The Christian characters view Shylock as someone who only cares about money and business. Shakespeare’s portrayal of Shylock is a cold-hearted man, who†¦show more content†¦This shows that some human relationships do indeed matter to Shylock more that money. However, Shylock wants revenge for the loss of his daughter through the fulfillment of the bond. In court, he is defeated because of his selfishness. Moreover, his insistence that he have a pound of flesh rather than any amount of money shows that this resentment is much stronger than this greed. The Christian characters also present an inconsistent picture. There are many loving relationships in this play such as the one between Bassanio and Portia, Jessica and Lorenzo, and Gratiano and Nerissa. When one looks deeply into these relationships, they would see parallels to the ones of today. For instance, the three marriages will probably not last. One of the main reasons for this is because they all got married too fast, leaving no time to realize that they are probably not meant for each other. This is evident in two – and possibly three – of the relationships. Gratiano and Nerissa get married after knowing each other for only several hours and Bassanio and Portia get married before they get to know each other. Jessica and Lorenzo’s marriage might split for other reasons, such as their different religion. These all show true love in The Merchant of Venice. When we first meet Bassanio, he is with his good friend Antonio asking for money. Antonio has previously lent money to Bassanio and he hasShow MoreRelated Self Interest versus Love in The Merchant of Venice Essay610 Words   |  3 PagesSelf Interest versus Love in The Merchant of Venice While there are many fundamental themes in The Merchant of Venice, only one seems to drive the play to its inevitable conclusion. There is a constant theme of self interest versus love. On the surface, this seems to be the dividing factor between the Christians and the Jew, as Shylock is supposed to only care about money, profits, and such, while the rest of the cast value human relationships more. Men such as Antonio and BassianoRead MoreThe Principal Conflict Of Merchant Of Venice By William Shakespeare2081 Words   |  9 Pages The principal conflict of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare is man versus man between the title character Antonio the merchant and the Jewish moneylender Shylock. Shylock despises Antonio for his cruel treatment toward him and Antonio dislikes Shylock because he is a Jew (49). This causes greater conflict later on when Shylock demands repayment from Antonio in the form of his flesh. The Duke must decide between doing what is morally right or doing what is required by law. Shylock facesRead More Appearance vs. Reality in The Merchant of Venice Essay1058 Words   |  5 PagesAppearance vs. Reality in The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice explores the theme of Appearance versus Reality. The theme is supported with many examples in the form of characters, events and objects. 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Additionally, the depiction of the relationship betweenRead MoreImpact of Emerging Markets on Marketing15122 Words   |  61 Pagesfaithbased sociopolitical institutions in which public policy matters. They also suffer from inadequate infrastructure and chronic shortage of resources. Most of the competition comes from unbranded products or services, and consumption is more of a make versus buy decision and less about what brand to buy. Therefore, many beliefs that are fundamental to marketing, such as market segmentation, market orientation, and brand equity, are at odds with the realities of emerging markets. At the same time, theRead MoreInternational Management67196 Words   |  269 Pagesprovide hands-on experience. A new dimension of the eighth edition of International Management is the all-new chapter-opening discussions called â€Å"The World of International Management† (WIM) based on very recent, relevant news stories to grab readers’ interest and attention. These timely opening discussions transition the reader into the chapter topic. At the end of each chapter, there is a pedagogical feature that recapitulates the chapter’s subject matter: â€Å"The World of International Management—RevisitedRead MoreMarketing Management130471 Words   |  522 Pagesthe customer won’t actually use? How and where will the customer use it? What does it look like? How will customers experience it? What size(s), color(s), and so on, should it b e? What is it to be called? How is it branded? How is it differentiated versus your competitors? What is the most it can cost to provide, and still be sold sufficiently profitably? (See also Price, below). Place †¢ †¢ †¢ †¢ Where do buyers look for your product or service? If they look in a store, what kind? A specialist

Racial Profiling And The United States - 1348 Words

In today’s world we deal with multiple cases of racial profiling seemingly on a daily basis. Turn on the television, check the internet, or simply have a discussion with someone and you’ll hear about it. Racial Profiling describes discriminatory practices by law enforcement officials who target people for suspicion of crime based on their ethnicity, race, origin, or religion. The term first came about during the War on Drugs in the 1970’s and 1980’s when law enforcement were accused of pulling over motorists simply because of their race, then unlawfully searching their vehicles for illegal substances. There are varying opinions about this topic and as the year’s progress, it seems acts of racism, labeling, and profiling increase. Many of the instances of racial profiling that occur today involve criminal justice. Racial profiling in the U.S began when Native Americans were forced out of their homeland as part the mindset of Manifest Destiny. Ideas o f white supremacy and manifest destiny divided the people in the United States throughout the 1800s, and into the 20th century, shockingly even among those of the same race. Immigrants from Ireland and Eastern Europe, especially were seen as non-whites to the Anglo-Saxon community around the turn of the 20th century and were barred from jobs, housing areas, and were incarcerated at a higher rate than other Caucasians. The racial/ethnic group that has suffered arguably as much as the Native American have been African-Americans.Show MoreRelatedRacial Profiling : The United States Essay1326 Words   |  6 PagesRacial Profiling The United States of America, a country founded on diversity, remains ingrained with hypocritical ideas with respect to its very foundations of freedom and independence. America shows no mercy in the prejudice actions towards its minorities. The United States of America contributes greatly towards the injustice of minorities and giving privilege towards its â€Å"native† people yet not all â€Å"natives† are greatly loved in the country as Neil Foley, author of Becoming Hispanic: MexicanRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1111 Words   |  5 Pagesbrutality on these individuals solely based on the ethnicity they possess. Racial profiling can be said to be synonymous with stereotypes. In fact, as Gross states, â€Å"In 1999, 81 percent of surveyors in a national poll agreed that racial profiling was an issue in the United States. â€Å"From Samuel R. Gross, â€Å"Racial Profiling Under Attack†, (June 2002): 1413. However, there is no end in sigh t, 16 years later, and the United States is still the same. On September 11, 2001 America was in shock because ofRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1465 Words   |  6 PagesRacial Profiling Racial Profiling is just what it is. Targeting individuals for suspicion of a violation determined by the individual’s race, ethnicity, religion or national origin. Race and location are the supreme characteristics law enforcement visually examine when engaging in this type of profiling. African-American males are the primary victims of racial profiling in the United States. The phrase â€Å"driving while black† derive from African Americans protesting that they are pulled over by policeRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1657 Words   |  7 PagesThe 11th of September, 2001 was a momentous day in American history. 19 members of the terrorist group Al-Qaeda hijacked American Airlines Flight 11 United Airlines Flight 175, and crashed into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City. Hijackers crashed the third plane into the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. The fourth jet, United Airlines Flight 93, crashed into a field near Shanksville, Penn sylvania. Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives on 9/11 due to the terrorist attacks onRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States1160 Words   |  5 Pagesby police and many other people for committing crimes. This is called racial profiling, and it is an issue going on around us. Some considers racial profiling a new phenomenon, and it is important to examine it because it is a foundational aspect of law and law enforcement in the United States. Glover in the book Racial Profiling: Research, Racism, and Resistance defines racial profiling in contemporary times â€Å"as the use of racial and or ethnic status as the determinant factor in decision to stop motoristRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States2227 Words   |  9 Pagessociety. This is the mind frame of the average American in the United States. Every African American individual in this country who has traveled, walked to the store at night or simply going shopping, either knowingly or unknowingly has been a victim of some type of racial profiling. People need to realize that racial profiling happens very often to innocent people that are targeted based on race and sometimes religion. Racial profiling can be defined as when an individual is stopped or detained becauseRead MoreRacial Profiling A nd The United States1949 Words   |  8 Pages Racial Profiling Post 9/11 Rusat Ramgopal CRJBS 101 John Jay College Professor Gary Wright August 4, 2016 Racial Profiling Post 9/11 On September 11, 2001, nineteen hijackers associated with the terrorist group Al-Qaeda attacked the United States. They flew two planes into the World Trade Center and also attacked the Pentagon resulting inRead MoreRacial Profiling And The United States2903 Words   |  12 PagesRacial profiling still exists in America. 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African Heroes free essay sample

An examination of various African heroes and related rituals and customs. An analysis of Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Efuru by Flora Nwapa. The author examines these two novels that center around the lives of the Igbo people of East Africa. The writers reveal religious beliefs and social customs through the daily habits of the protagonists, Okonkwo and Efuru. A discussion of both. From the paper: Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Efuru by Flora Nwapa center around the lives of the Igbo people of East Africa. In both novels, the authors reveal religious beliefs and social customs through the daily habits of the protagonists, Okonkwo and Efuru. Both are faced with challenges that involve questioning the validity of Igbo traditions. Notable characters are usually remembered for their unconventionality or tendencies to push the envelope. From Achebes novel, the reader ascertains the development of a male point of view in Igbo civilization through Okonkwos character. We will write a custom essay sample on African Heroes or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page

Skepticism and Relativism

In general terms, skepticism is considered to be an approach or outlook of uncertainty or distrust towards a specific object. Based on the concept of classical philosophy, skepticism is considered to be the ideas, principles, beliefs and attributes of Skeptikoi. Skeptikoi is considered to be the group of philosophers who concentrated on speaking out on particular subject but stated nothing.Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Skepticism and Relativism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More On the grounds of faith and religion, skepticism is described as the uncertainty or disbelieve regarding fundamental values and ethics of religion. Relativism is considered to be the property of a particular object which can be segregated and distributed to several, distinct views. This paper seeks to investigate and analyze Socrates and Protagoras position on skepticism and relativism respectively in the lights of diverse and b road academic resources. The paper will define these two concepts and then critically analyze the viewpoints of the two philosophers. Concept of Skepticism Skepticism is considered to be the uncertainty or doubt in a specific area of a doctrine. It is distinguishes itself from dogmatism by opposing dogmatic principles and values. It is considered to be the combination of two Greek movements in the field of Greek philosophy. Academic skepticism has been developed by Socrates and Plato and Pyrrhonism was brought by Pyrrho of Ellis (Rachels, 56). On the basis of philosophy, skepticism is considered to be composed of several propositions which include an investigation, examination, a way of seeking knowledge with the help of methodical and organized doubt and recurrent investigation, randomness, unpredictability or partisanship of ethical principles and values, restrictions on intelligence or wisdom, a way of logical caution and balanced decision or opinion, etc. Concept of Relativism T he concept of relativism is related to the idea that certain features, characteristics or aspects of experience, incidents, customs or culture are relative to one another. It is not a distinct or separate set of beliefs but incorporates several values which have common theme. For instance, criteria for justification, ethical values and reality are relative to one other. Even though relativism leads to improbable or doubtful conclusions, they have captivated several philosophers from different traditions. Analysis of Dialogue According to Socrates, virtue cannot be thought. He clearly asserts that technical way of thinking can be taught and conveyed to students but understanding and knowledge are innate quality of human beings. He quotes the example of Pericles who was unsuccessful in implanting knowledge and intelligence to one of his sons.Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More He then quotes the example of Clinias who was the younger brother of Alcibiades. He was isolated from his family because there was fear that he might get corrupted by Alcibiades. However, he was returned to his family when it was realized he was a hopeless case. According to Protagoras, virtue is the characteristic of a human being which can be taught and implanted inside a person by teaching him with a story rather than giving him arguments. He proves his point by giving quoting the origin of human beings. He asserts that Epimetheus was responsible for distributing assets which were for survival. However, he forgets and his twin brother Prometheus was responsible for stealing the fire. According to Prometheus, this is the example of practical wisdom. He also gives the example of Hermes who had distributed shame and justice uniformly. According to Protagoras, Hermes distribution of shame and justice is the response the limitation of wisdom. He further asserts that people have sympathy and compassion for feeble, weak and ugly because they cannot help the way they look (Plato, pp3). Secondly, he asserts that people command tyrants to perform righteous deeds. They are asked to perform acts of kindness so that they become pious. He gives the example of parent’s upbringing and how they raise their children. The task of upbringing is further carried out by teachers (Stumpf Fieser, 86). Socrates argues that if virtue can be taught that why offspring of virtuous men are deficient in virtue. Protagoras refutes that a skilled flute player fails to teach his son to play the flute because he does not have the inclination towards music. It may be possible that the flute player’s children maybe more skilled in playing the flute as compared to children who have never studied music. However, their skill is lesser than that of their parents. This is applicable in the case of teaching virtue. Socrates Skepticism According to Socrates, virtue is cannot be taught. In the dialogue between Socrates and Protagoras, it is evident that Socrates believes that ignorance is the first step towards seeking knowledge. He believes that truths can be known by constantly asking questions and answers. He believes that terms should be firmly defined because they are the first method of resolving a problem (Rachels, 86). Protagoras Relativism It is evident that Protagoras relativism is the answer to several metaphysical statements which have been made by several of his contemporaries. It is quite evident that he wanted to refute skeptic claims of his contemporaries by asserting that things or objects exist because of appearance of something. His relativism seeks to concentrate on appearance side. From his view, all human beings are accountable for determining the magnitude of faithfulness and honesty of reality (Standford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, pp5).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on Skepticism and Relativism specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Conclusion This paper has discussed and compared Protagoras and Socrates views of relativism and skepticism respectively. The dialogue between Protagoras and Socrates have been studied and reviewed to analyze their diverging points of view towards virtue. According to Socrates, virtue is innate quality of human being. Protagoras believes that virtue can be taught by means of moral stories. Skepticism is considered to be an approach or outlook of uncertainty or distrust towards a specific object. Relativism is considered to be the property of a particular object which can be segregated and distributed to several, distinct views. Academic skepticism has been developed by Socrates and Plato. The concept of relativism is related to the idea that certain features, characteristics or aspects of experience, incidents, customs or culture are relative to one another. According to Socrates, virtue cannot be thought. He clearly a sserts that technical way of thinking can be taught and conveyed to students but understanding and knowledge are innate quality of human beings. According to Protagoras, virtue is the characteristic of a human being which can be taught and implanted inside a person by teaching him with a story rather than giving him arguments. He proves his point by giving quoting the origin of human beings. It is evident that Protagoras relativism is the answer to several metaphysical statements which have been made by several of his contemporaries. Works Cited Plato. Protagoras. Online Dialogue. Web. Rachels, James. The Elements of Moral Philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2006. Moral Relativism.† Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2004. Web. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/moral-relativism/.Advertising Looking for research paper on philosophy? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Stumpf, Samuel Enoch and Fieser, James.Socrates to Sartre and beyond a History of Philosophy. New York: McGraw-Hill,2007. This research paper on Skepticism and Relativism was written and submitted by user Sherlyn Q. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.