In not more than 150 words, Discuss the title of the play the Merchant of Venice.
Answers
Answer:
The title of the play seems to refer specifically to Antonio, who is indeed the Venetian merchant of the story. This is odd, as Antonio is more of a secondary character, remaining offstage and silent through much of the story. Shylock, the Jewish moneylender, is far more central to the story. This raises the much-asked question of why Antonio is the title character and not Shylock or Portia, who also takes center stage in this play.
In fact, the play was first listed under a different title: "The Merchant of Venice, otherwise called the Jew of Venice." Perhaps the title was simplified when the play was later performed and published. It is possible that this was done to identify Antonio as the hero of the story. It has also been suggested that the title was clarified and shortened in order to avoid confusing it with Christopher Marlowe's play The Jew of Malta, which was published around the same time.
Answer:
In William Shakespeare's 16th-century drama The Trader of Venice, a Venetian merchant called Antonio fails on a huge debt given to him by Jewish moneylender Shylock.
Explanation:
In fact, the play's original title was for "The Merchant of Venice, otherwise known as the Jew of Venice." When the play was later performed and published, the title could have been shortened. It's possible that this was done to make it clear that Antonio is the story's hero. The title may have been simplified and condensed to avoid confusion with Christopher Marlowe's play The Jew of Malta, which was released about the same period.
Compare with the sad themes that predominate for a large portion of the play, the play finishes with a happy and lighthearted reunion. In order to rejoin with Portia and Nerissa, who have just arrived from Venice, Bassanio, Antonio, and Gratiano travel back to Belmont.
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