Give your personal views on the themes:-
1. Justice and Mercy
2. Love of Wealth
With reference to the play -"The Merchant of Venice"
Each topic should be of 250 to 300 words.
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Justice and Mercy
According to my views, if the rule 'hand for a hand and eye for an eye' is followed, it will render the whole world blind. Justice should always be measured on the scale of righteousness and aptness. When we consider righteousness of an instance, it should not only be corrective for the accused but the suer should also feel that justice is meted out to him.
Justice is said to be blindfolded but in my opinion, the judge can't be a blind person who overlooks the important, not so evident facts which may be part of malice of the suer. Shylock held grudge against Antonio and Bassanio and in the face of his bond, he had connived to ruin Antonio. He is portrayed as merciless who wants nothing but the bond. On the other hand, the appeal of Portia for mercy strikes rightly, as she calls it, divine. Had Shylock acted upon her request, he could have saved a great deal his own skin. Bassanio agrees to give him double the amount but Shylock refuses as he was bitten by jealousy towards the Christian and Christianity. The reason that his own daughter had run away with a Christian deepens his hurt and he sees no reason to consider the option of mercy while looking at the fulfilling of the bond. He forgot the fact that every deed of a person boomerangs and if one sows evil, he cannot get good.
On the other hand, Antonio considers the penalty on Shylock with mercy. He doesn't want even a single penny from his wealth, rather he wants it to go to his own daughter so that she could live comfortably. Though Shylock is embittered due to the discrimination against Jews, the absence of mercy in his dealings with Antonio brings his own misfortune.
Love of Wealth
When it comes to the understanding of 'wealth', different people have different perspectives. Some consider their values and heritage a wealth, while others may consider their health and beauty as wealth. There are yet others who consider their knowledge as wealth. On an average, commoners take wealth as movable and immovable property they possess. Since there is no absolute right and no absolute wrong, one's love for wealth can't be outrightly termed as undesirable.
Since Shylock is a moneylender his love for wealth is evident from the very occupation he maintains. There is a very thin line between love and lust when one's love for someone or something converts into lust, he/she can't even realize. Then this lust governs all his thoughts and actions. The same happens with Shylock. Antonio being his rival, he wants to destroy him and writes the means of destruction in his bond in the name of 'a pound of flesh.' Then, his jealousy for him overrides all his actions, notwithstanding what was just and what not.
Harboring love for anything may be a person's choice according to his likes and dislikes but it should never become his priority to an extent where he even gets ready to harm others for his love. The moment it turns destructive for others, the person who seeks wealth in that manner paves a way for his own destruction.
According to my views, if the rule 'hand for a hand and eye for an eye' is followed, it will render the whole world blind. Justice should always be measured on the scale of righteousness and aptness. When we consider righteousness of an instance, it should not only be corrective for the accused but the suer should also feel that justice is meted out to him.
Justice is said to be blindfolded but in my opinion, the judge can't be a blind person who overlooks the important, not so evident facts which may be part of malice of the suer. Shylock held grudge against Antonio and Bassanio and in the face of his bond, he had connived to ruin Antonio. He is portrayed as merciless who wants nothing but the bond. On the other hand, the appeal of Portia for mercy strikes rightly, as she calls it, divine. Had Shylock acted upon her request, he could have saved a great deal his own skin. Bassanio agrees to give him double the amount but Shylock refuses as he was bitten by jealousy towards the Christian and Christianity. The reason that his own daughter had run away with a Christian deepens his hurt and he sees no reason to consider the option of mercy while looking at the fulfilling of the bond. He forgot the fact that every deed of a person boomerangs and if one sows evil, he cannot get good.
On the other hand, Antonio considers the penalty on Shylock with mercy. He doesn't want even a single penny from his wealth, rather he wants it to go to his own daughter so that she could live comfortably. Though Shylock is embittered due to the discrimination against Jews, the absence of mercy in his dealings with Antonio brings his own misfortune.
Love of Wealth
When it comes to the understanding of 'wealth', different people have different perspectives. Some consider their values and heritage a wealth, while others may consider their health and beauty as wealth. There are yet others who consider their knowledge as wealth. On an average, commoners take wealth as movable and immovable property they possess. Since there is no absolute right and no absolute wrong, one's love for wealth can't be outrightly termed as undesirable.
Since Shylock is a moneylender his love for wealth is evident from the very occupation he maintains. There is a very thin line between love and lust when one's love for someone or something converts into lust, he/she can't even realize. Then this lust governs all his thoughts and actions. The same happens with Shylock. Antonio being his rival, he wants to destroy him and writes the means of destruction in his bond in the name of 'a pound of flesh.' Then, his jealousy for him overrides all his actions, notwithstanding what was just and what not.
Harboring love for anything may be a person's choice according to his likes and dislikes but it should never become his priority to an extent where he even gets ready to harm others for his love. The moment it turns destructive for others, the person who seeks wealth in that manner paves a way for his own destruction.
AniketBest:
Your answer is very helpful.
Thank You
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