Prominent Themes in Western Civilization since the Renaissance. The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare and The Sorrows Of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang Goethe are considered to be classics of the World Literature. Shakespeare and Goethe touched in their works the universal topics as Love, Religion, Nature and Man’s relationships with God and his fellow men that remain relevant in the contemporary society. The Merchant of Venice and The Sorrows Of Young Werther were written in different literary styles and in different time epochs, which helps the reader to compare the changes in the society outlooks between 1596 or 1597 when The Merchant of Venice was written and 1972, when The Sorrows Of Young Werther was written. One of the main themes of these two books is love. Antonio from The Merchant of Venice and Werther from The Sorrows Of Young Werther are two characters around the main plots of both works are built.
Antonio is melancholic and depressive person who never offers a reason for his moodiness: In sooth, I know not why I am so sad – It wearies me; you say it wearies you (Shakespeare, I.i.12), but he always walks around the streets of Venice in melancholy. Antonios Best friend is Bassanio and for his friend Antonio is willing to do anything he can, even put a pound of his own flesh as guarantee for Bassanios loan. When Bassanio mentioned to Antonio, that it was an act of profitable investment, Antonio replied that he was doing it only out of Friendship. Antonios mood and his attitude towards Bassanio allow the reader to decide that Antonio felt unrequited love towards Bassanio. One pound of flesh here is the allusion to the marriage pledge, when the couple becomes one. Such unrequited love which could not be consummated not only due to lack of response from Bassanio but also due to the society and church repudiation of homosexual relations resulted in Antonios depression and near death due to the lack of good judgment. Werther is also suffering from the unrequited love to Lotta who is engaged to Albert.
The Essay on Merchant Of Venice – Love at First Sight
In Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare brings two people together in love, Portia and Bassanio. Portia and Bassanio are alike by their love, their own friendship, and the caskets that brought them together. “But when this ring parts from this finger, then parts life from hence : O, then be bold to say Bassanio's dead!” (II, ii). Bassanio and Portia are madly in love with each other, and you ...
Werther is suffering because in his society his love is wrongful. Werther is searching for the outcome of this situation and between murdering his competitor, insanity and suicide murder he chooses the latter. Shakespeare and Goethe reveal what a great role emotions play in life of a person and how they dictate their behavior. Shakespeare and Goethe also reveal that the surrounding of the person and his relationships with other people might help the person to overcome the life troubles or they might push him further to the idea of suicide. Circumstance and support or rejection of surrounding society greatly influences the actions of people. When depressed and melancholic person finds support in his friends, like Antonio found support from Portia and Nerissa who defended him in court, he may found strength to live further. But when person is rejected by the society, as Werther was rejected by high society, which rejected his efforts to become a nobleman. This situation is closely related to another important theme of these works, religious and social oppressing.
The Merchant of Venice and The Sorrows Of Young Werther raise problems of social inequity based on religious oppression in The Merchant of Venice and class oppression in The Sorrows Of Young Werther. Shylock from The Merchant of Venice is a Jewish moneylender, who was continuously abused by Antonio for his religion. Shylock harbored deep hatred for Antonio for such attitude and grasped for the opportunity of revenge. Despite of representing the classical villain character Shylock symbolizes the anti-Semitism in 16th century England. The main reason of Antonios attitude is not Shylocks religion, which is obvious at the end of the play, when Antonio denies the half of Shylocks of the latter is bound to Change his religion. Shakespeare shows the society, which accepted the former outlaw, but only at the price of his religion. Religion is of the most important aspects in the lives of Jews and by betraying his religion Shylock betrayed himself.
The Essay on The Role Of Shylock In the Merchant Of Venice
Shakespeares portrayal of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice is more complex than is originally thought. He is not only seen by the audience as the traditional stock villain; I hate him-p13, but he also evokes the audiences empathy such as in his famous speech: hath not a Jew eyes? -p47. Shylock is caricature to fit the profile of a typically villainous character in the eyes of an Elizabethan ...
Werther in The Sorrows Of Young Werther confronted with the open rejection of the upper society. There was the Baron F, in an entire suit that dated from the coronation of Francis I.; the Chancellor N, with his deaf wife; the shabbily dressed I, whose old-fashioned coat bore evidence of modern repairs: this crowned the whole. I conversed with some of my acquaintances, but they answered me laconically. (Goethe, p. 112 ).
Werthers former acquaintances feared to be seen in his company. Such attitude robbed Werther off last chance to lead the normal life according to his views and values, to follow his ideals.
Without support Werther concentrated on his problems that lead him to suicide. Despite the seeming difference in the outcome of social suppression in The Merchant of Venice and The Sorrows Of Young Werther, Shylock and Werther are deprived of their rights to be themselves, to be free and profess their ideals. Morally Shylock became as dead as Werther became dead physically. One more similar topic of these two works is religion. In The Merchant of Venice there are recurrently used the Christian themes. In the story of three caskets the Christian dogmatic notions can be traced: one should not trusting the outer appearance of things, everyone will get what he deserves.
In the scene of the court Portia applies to the Christian mercy when she assures Shylock to forgo from taking one pound of flesh and accept money. The religion is mostly used as a means for solving problems or punishing, as in case with Shylock. Religion is the means to achieve the desired result. In The Sorrows Of Young Werther Werther feels his link to the God through surrounding beautiful nature. The nature changes according to the changes of Werthers mood As Nature puts on her autumn tints, it becomes autumn with me and around me. My leaves are sear and yellow, and the neighboring trees are divested of their foliage Why should I continue to give you occasion to pity and blame me? But no matter: this also is part of my destiny. (Goethe, p.
The Essay on Moby Dick Religion Judeo Christian
"In the beginning when God created the heavens and the Earth, the Earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light." Such was the beginning of creation. Creation continued with the sky and the waters, the Earth and the vegetation, the lights and the animals, and on ...
118).
Through his closeness to the nature Werther feels the response to his feelings. Despite the fact that Werther feels the God in surrounding nature, he is more spiritual them religious, because he does not follow the Christian rules. He defends suicide and he considers the murder of Arthur. The topic of religion is the main theme that shows the difference of time period between two literary works. In the times of Shakespeare people were more religious, but they tended to use religion either for gaining advantage or for excusing misdeeds.
In the times of Goethe people became more spiritual, religion played less role in their everyday life, but there appeared new means for covering social injustice with moral norms and laws. Bibliography Von Goethe, Johann Wolfgang. The Sorrows of Young Werther. Penguin Books Ltd., 1989. Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Penguin Books Ltd., 1994..
