Question

The relevance of the position of ‘Outsiders’ or the Minority community in

certain countries when compared to certain characters or events of the play.​

Answer 1

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Answer 2

 

The idea of “outsiders” is a common concept

in plays of the Elizabethan period. In Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice”, the “outsider” is extremely crucial to the plot. The outsider in this case is Shylock, who is considered an “outsider” simply because he is not a Christian. He is Jewish by religion and that sets him apart from the rest of the characters in the play.  

Reasons why the concept of “outsider” is important:  

1. The characters are already against the “outsider”- The character, here Shylock, has been mistreated by the Christians to such an extent that even a gentleman like Antonio has abused him publicly. So, Shylock has been through a lot of discrimination because he is Jew. This has given him the motive to hatch a conspiracy against Antonio. Being an outsider makes a character a victim and an assailant at the same time.  
2. The audience is against the “outsider”- However, since the majority of the people who watched the plays during Shakespeare’s time were Christians, the end had to please the crowd. So, the outsider was punished for his deeds, though the Christians who had tormented him throughout his life, were not punished at all. Now however, the same ending throws up many questions about if justice was indeed served in the end or not.
3. Complicates the plot- Yet another complexity of being an outsider was that different rules were applicable to them. Portia calls him an “alien” who seeks to kill a “citizen”. These words indicate that his crime is much more serious simply because he is an “alien” and not one of them. So, though the actions may be the same, the gravity of the crime increases because of the “outsider” status.

Considering all these facts, it is evident that the play “The Merchant of Venice” cannot possibly exist without the “outsider”. Ironically, the “outsider” forms the spine of the plot.

(Do not write the answer in points. This is only for easy understanding. )