Hamlet themes essays

Hamlet themes essays There are many themes throughout The Merchant of Venice; one is the discrepancy between love and wealth. The suitors and their pick of caskets serve as a good example. Each suitor is given the choice to discover the portrait of Portia from one of three boxes: gold, silver, and lead. The two suitors prior to Bassanio choose the caskets of the more precious metals and are unsuccessful because the scroll clearly states, You that choose by the view, chance as fair and choose as true. When it comes times for Bassanio to pick a casket, he picks the least precious one. Selecting this one makes it apparent that Bassanio is choosing his love for Portia, rather than her wealth. Consequently, this is also shown through the relationship of Jessica and her father Shylock. It is made apparent that Shylock is too concerned with his money, rather than his daughter. When Shylock hears news of his daughters marriage he comes out saying, "My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!...My ducats and my daughter." By saying this, he puts his daughter and his money on the same level and shows off his nebulous values. Interestingly though, Jessica feels the opposite about her father. She is ashamed to have exchanged her love and loyalty to her father for the love of a Christian, Lorenzo. Also, Shylock does not like music and believes people who do should not be trusted. When Jessica says, I am never merry when I hear sweet music, this statement indicates that music has made her think of her father and reflect upon her own actions. Therefore, in Jessicas case theres love but in Shylocks case there is love versus wealth. On the other hand, another theme in this writing is friendship, which goes through a few different pairs of characters. Ironically, the play opens with friendship, friendship is an important aspect in the trial scene, and the play ends indicating what friendship will do. Tubal is ...