If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? (The Merchant of Venice)
Thank you for mentioning this quote: it highlights the physical similarities that Shylock, and by extension all Jewish people, share with the Venetian Christians; and it also highlights a difference - his commitment to revenge, which in reality a Christian should not pursue: whether or not some of these Christians are pursuing revenge before others of them decide to be merciful (Antonio and Portia) is of course another matter!
Daisy: I have today published the first of a series of four new videos on the key themes in Romeo and Juliet. Here is the link if you would like to take a look: th-cam.com/video/ofX_ytQ4AcY/w-d-xo.html
You say: "Shylock knows that the Venetian Christians are not truly merciful: they preach mercy, but don't practice it". What was merciful about Shylock's monomaniacal intent to kill Antonio by means of the bond? Was that not an act of murderous revenge? Shylock wanted to use the law in order to kill Antonio - law which he saw in terms of his Old Testament absolutism. He was ignorant, or wilfully contemptuous of the Christian beliefs of mercy and forgiveness - both of them central themes in the New Testament. Was Shylock's life ever at risk at the hands of the Venetian Christians, whose law certainly permitted the death sentence for Shylock's actions? No, Venetian Law was the antithesis of Shylock's faith in rigid, uncompromisingly cruel Old Testament law. The law in Venice had by then been enlightened by the reforming influence of Christianity, and it saw his undoing. Notwithstanding the letter of the law, the Duke invoked his lawful power of Christian mercy, and Shylock's life was spared. Is that not practising, rather than preaching, mercy?
Thanks again for this observation. On the subject of mercy I would agree with you that Shylock is not merciful, but he is not meant to be merciful. We as an audience are implicitly asked to consider what happens when people are not merciful - and whether we think this is a good thing. We might also want to think about whether the social conditions Shylock exists in have made any contribution to his outlook on life - being treated as an outsider and spat upon for being a Jew and a moneylender, for example. Some people would argue that these conditions have affected him. His daughter has also left him alone, taken his money and jewels and the ring he gave his late wife - these might also give him cause to be vengeful. In contrast to Shylock, a central tenet of Christianity is that a person should practice mercy and the actions of the Venetian Christians can be examined in this light. If we take mercy to be 'compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm' you are right to say that they do eventually spare his life - in this sense they are merciful. But I'm not convinced they are all truly forgiving or compassionate. In Act 4 Scene 1 Graziano suggests the only mercy Shylock should receive is a 'halter gratis' - or a free rope to hang himself. He says this again later, saying he would have liked to bring Shylock to the 'gallows'. He also mocks Shylock. In addition, they force him to convert to Christianity - I don't think this shows compassion - at least not as we might practice it today. In summary, I would agree that mercy is shown to some degree, but my overriding impression is that the solution is not totally merciful. However, as always this is worth arguing about because this is the essence of literary criticism! So thanks again for taking the trouble to make these comments and I hope that what I've said is of some use to you.
Of course Shylock was not merciful but all he wanted was a form of justice for the amount of mental and verbal abuse he had received thus resulting in him continuously pressing for his bond. In other words what he wanted was revenge and he didn't want to forgive Antonio at all.
I have considered this, but don't think so. The word "love" in Shakespeare is as applicable to non-sexual relationships as to romance. "Lover" usually, if not always, refers to a friend rather than what we would call a lover now. Bassanio certainly was not in love with Antonio, anyhow, though he loved him as a friend or kinsman. My guess is that Antonio is Bassanio's godfather or something like it. But Shakespeares plays are all capable of varied interpretations, and so can be produced to suit the director.
Good question. They are only there as a visual reminder of where we are in the story. We begin at the bottom left of the triangle (Act One) get to Act Three at the top of the triangle and then descend to Act Five. I hope that makes sense.
Anyone else studying the day before the exam here or nah
Me
Yesssss help I wanna die
day of exam hahw
@@blendedperception it went okay :)
me-
Man! You were actually right ,you explained complete merchant of Venice with only 10 quotes. Looks like they are v.imp.
I’m using this video to study for my exam. Thank you Dr. Aidan 🙏 👍
Thank you for these videos. They are extremely helpful. Please never stop making them.
Jiano : thank you! I’m very pleased that you are finding them useful.
Thanks! Really helpful for my gcse this afternoon
Dr aiden I can't live without your videos thank uuuuuuuu
If ur watching on the day of exam. Thoko like👇👇
Thanks, I got an exam on English and we didn't do a test version of this but we did tkamb, this'll help my knowledge more on the quotation analysis
If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? (The Merchant of Venice)
Thank you for mentioning this quote: it highlights the physical similarities that Shylock, and by extension all Jewish people, share with the Venetian Christians; and it also highlights a difference - his commitment to revenge, which in reality a Christian should not pursue: whether or not some of these Christians are pursuing revenge before others of them decide to be merciful (Antonio and Portia) is of course another matter!
Tickle tickle
Good choice of quotes. Of course the play is much more complex, but this is a good basic start.
Thank you so much for your effort you've helped me alot in my study please continue ❤️❤️
Thank you for your kind words. I'm pleased the video was helpful.
Do my exam please
Could you do more Romeo and Juliet videos, please? Your last one helped me so much!
Daisy: thank you. I’m actually working on another Romeo and Juliet video right now; I hope to make it available soon!
Daisy: I have today published the first of a series of four new videos on the key themes in Romeo and Juliet. Here is the link if you would like to take a look: th-cam.com/video/ofX_ytQ4AcY/w-d-xo.html
@@DrAidan Thanks so much!
Excellent video 👍
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed it.
Tried watching the movie n reading the book.fell asleep both times legit in the morning of the test thx for this
Thanks a lot sir it helped me a lot.have no words to appreciate.
I’m very pleased to hear that the video was useful and thank you for taking the time to let me know.
the explanations from the quotes are very good keep it up m8
Lol your pfp of Moe is the best m8
bro, your explanation is good enough but what does the triangle in the right corner indicate?
Thank you: the triangle just gives you a visual indication of which Act the quotation comes from.
You say: "Shylock knows that the Venetian Christians are not truly merciful: they preach mercy, but don't practice it". What was merciful about Shylock's monomaniacal intent to kill Antonio by means of the bond? Was that not an act of murderous revenge? Shylock wanted to use the law in order to kill Antonio - law which he saw in terms of his Old Testament absolutism. He was ignorant, or wilfully contemptuous of the Christian beliefs of mercy and forgiveness - both of them central themes in the New Testament. Was Shylock's life ever at risk at the hands of the Venetian Christians, whose law certainly permitted the death sentence for Shylock's actions? No, Venetian Law was the antithesis of Shylock's faith in rigid, uncompromisingly cruel Old Testament law. The law in Venice had by then been enlightened by the reforming influence of Christianity, and it saw his undoing. Notwithstanding the letter of the law, the Duke invoked his lawful power of Christian mercy, and Shylock's life was spared. Is that not practising, rather than preaching, mercy?
Thanks again for this observation. On the subject of mercy I would agree with you that Shylock is not merciful, but he is not meant to be merciful. We as an audience are implicitly asked to consider what happens when people are not merciful - and whether we think this is a good thing. We might also want to think about whether the social conditions Shylock exists in have made any contribution to his outlook on life - being treated as an outsider and spat upon for being a Jew and a moneylender, for example. Some people would argue that these conditions have affected him. His daughter has also left him alone, taken his money and jewels and the ring he gave his late wife - these might also give him cause to be vengeful.
In contrast to Shylock, a central tenet of Christianity is that a person should practice mercy and the actions of the Venetian Christians can be examined in this light. If we take mercy to be 'compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm' you are right to say that they do eventually spare his life - in this sense they are merciful. But I'm not convinced they are all truly forgiving or compassionate. In Act 4 Scene 1 Graziano suggests the only mercy Shylock should receive is a 'halter gratis' - or a free rope to hang himself. He says this again later, saying he would have liked to bring Shylock to the 'gallows'. He also mocks Shylock. In addition, they force him to convert to Christianity - I don't think this shows compassion - at least not as we might practice it today.
In summary, I would agree that mercy is shown to some degree, but my overriding impression is that the solution is not totally merciful. However, as always this is worth arguing about because this is the essence of literary criticism! So thanks again for taking the trouble to make these comments and I hope that what I've said is of some use to you.
I think this is a good take on how the audience would have felt at the time
Of course Shylock was not merciful but all he wanted was a form of justice for the amount of mental and verbal abuse he had received thus resulting in him continuously pressing for his bond. In other words what he wanted was revenge and he didn't want to forgive Antonio at all.
bassanio and antonio are in love with each other
Thanks mate
They Gay
Batty
I have considered this, but don't think so. The word "love" in Shakespeare is as applicable to non-sexual relationships as to romance. "Lover" usually, if not always, refers to a friend rather than what we would call a lover now. Bassanio certainly was not in love with Antonio, anyhow, though he loved him as a friend or kinsman. My guess is that Antonio is Bassanio's godfather or something like it. But Shakespeares plays are all capable of varied interpretations, and so can be produced to suit the director.
Today is my....and i am sure that I will fail...😂💯
Me to
the merchant of Venice is a nice topic please am advising to anyone who is a student going to grade 9 please try to choose literature in English
A day before literature exam and here I am
Thank you so much! My final grade thanks you
Thank you: hope the exams go well.
Thanks
Thank you: I’m glad you found it useful.
Tqsm 💜💜🌺🌹
what are those triangles on the right about?
Good question. They are only there as a visual reminder of where we are in the story. We begin at the bottom left of the triangle (Act One) get to Act Three at the top of the triangle and then descend to Act Five. I hope that makes sense.
@@DrAidan thank you so much
Thanks sir
I am preparing for group 4 exam
Can you please guide me
What would you like to know?
@@DrAidan Mark scoring areas in part B and part C in English bro
20 min before exam 🥰🥰
Watching 1.5hr before video
we stan
i have am exam tomorrow and i have till ACT3 T-T
I'm dead
Oop here the day before the exam
thank 😂👍👣
Thank you: glad you liked it.
Me exams coming up!
summer school anyone?? lol
Cmon gcse tmr
aqa? if so what was the question?
@@eman.7z it was about trust in the play, so where trust was shown and the effects it had
@@oscarbradley7751 bro aqa hasn't had this exam yet
@@alexlyon3833 i do edexcell then
rip me
ليه مفيش ترجمه
Oy vey lechaim
FYI Jesus did not die on the cross, but he used to forgive people and show mercy.
Yes he did
Life saver honestly
I’m very pleased you found it useful and thank you for letting me know.