Shylock A Ruthless Villain or a Persecuted Victim.

A villain in a play is a â€Å"character whose evil actions or motives are important to the plot† and a victim in the terms of this play is â€Å"a person who has come to feel helpless and passive in the face of misfortune or ill-treatment†. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is a Jewish moneylender and Jewish people during Shakespearean time were looked down upon, treated unfairly with no respect. Shylock in Merchant of Venice is portrayed as how a stereotypical Jew would be portrayed as, a villain and an antagonist. In Act 1 Scene 3, Shylock is presented as clannish and austere because of Antonio’s and the Christians unfair and ill treatment towards him, Shylock accuses Antonio for calling him a â€Å"misbeliever, cut-throat dog†, Shakespeare’s use of the phrase â€Å"dog† has a negative connotation which indicates to the reader that Shylock is seen as being beneath the Christians and shows the ill-treatment and discrimination that Shylock endures where he is treated like an animal instead of a human. This clearly portrays to the audience the day-to-day problems a Jew would encounter and the phrase is effective because it makes the audience feel sympathy for Shylock. However the sympathy for Shylock is short-lived as Shylocks greedy and villain side makes an appearance. Shylock is furious with Antonio as he â€Å"lends out money gratis and brings down the rate of usance†, â€Å"usance† is commonly known as interest, this shows the audience how profiteeri ng and greedy Shylock is for money, as he alwaysShow MoreRelatedEssay about Shylock in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare1704 Words   |  7 PagesShylock in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice contains an array of interesting and complex characters. From the alternately generous and grasping Antonio to the alternately love stricken and exploitative Bassanio to the vulnerable and manipulative Portia, this play has an abundance of multi-layered personalities. However, one of the most intriguing characters is also the most oft-vilified and minimized in the work. This characterRead MoreShakespeares Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice1458 Words   |  6 PagesShakespeares Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is continually involved in the bond plot. This plot is probably the most intense story-line in this Shakespeare play. Bassanio borrows money from Shylock in Antonios name in order to impress Portia, however after a tragic incident involving all of Antonios ships crashing; the money has failed to be returned. According to their bargain Antonio must now give Shylock a pound of hisRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s The Merchant Of Venice2269 Words   |  10 Pages12.15.14 The Question of Shylock It is hard to read The Merchant of Venice without finding at least one character to sympathize with. The unforgettable villain Shylock as well as Portia, Shakespeare’s first and one of his most famous heroines are arguably some of this plays most beloved characters. But, is Shylock really the villain? Or is he a victim of circumstance? Shylock’s insistence for a pound of flesh has made him one of literatures most memorable villains, but many might be inclined

Analysis Of The Play Oedipus The King - 963 Words

Shereen Abdelrazzak English 101-170 Professor Steinkoler Hubris Midterm Paper â€Å" No, man s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.† John Locke. Knowledge is definitely power. To have power over anyone or anything out †¨there you must know what you are doing. Knowledge gives you options, Knowledge enables bigger and better weapons. A sense of higher status. Very often will you find knowledge allows one to recognize opportunity. One character in the play Oedipus the King, Tiresias carries a great sense of knowledge. That he knows how to stay humble with. Which does not lead to his downfall unlike Oedipus the King.†¨ Knowledge means one has the resources to obtain and be flexible with useful and informative information in order to become well informed citizens who can make intelligent decisions based upon their understanding and awareness of everyday situations. Does this make them powerful? Not always. Although he was blind Tiresias was the wisest in the whole village. He would be the one that anyone came to for advice. He had a lot of knowledge but no power. With time we came to learn that Oedipus has power without any knowledge to help him carry out any plans. I believe people often mix up hubris with self confidence. The first definition of hubris in the Merriam Webster dictionary is â€Å"a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence†. Oedipus is basically drenched in hubris. This man lives off of his pride. In the begging of the play when Oedipus was addressingShow MoreRelatedPlay Analysis: Oedipus the King1353 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Oedipus the King is one of the most representative plays of ancient Greek theater and has contributed greatly to the development of the theatrical concept and influenced the writing techniques to this day. Sophocles made use of a story that was well known for the Greek audience in the 4th century BC. The subject is rather complex for the time and focuses on the tragedy of a man from Thebes, a Greek city, who becomes king after a series of events that lead to t he salvation of the city from theRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King 1127 Words   |  5 Pages For A Life Of Regrets Oedipus the King is a play written by Sophocles. Oedipus is the main figure and legend of Sophocles play. After Oedipus birth into the world, his father King Laius of Thebes heard from a prophet that his own child was destined to kill him. Sophocles play begins from past to present and starts to unravel the journeys Oedipus goes through. Oedipus isn t an evil character as one would think while reading the story. He neverRead MoreOedipus the King by Sophocles1393 Words   |  6 Pages Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great dealRead MoreHamlet vs. Oedipus Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Prince Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus in Oedipus King by Sophocles In Aristotles literary discourse, Poetics, he discusses his theory of tragedy, wherein he introduces the concepts of tragic flaw or hamartia, which serves as the catalyst for the protagonists downfall or the tragedy of the story to happen. He determines a tragedy as a drama that brings about a sorrowful conclusion, arousing fear and pity in the audience (Roberts and JacobsRead MoreSexism In Oedipus The King1395 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy, Oedipus the King, is not sexist. The prominent play portrays both men and women justly. The events presented by Sophocles exemplifies a level of admiration and respect for women that was not ordinary in ancient Greece. This is predominantly achieved through the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, illustrating a corresponding relationship. In addition, the behavior of Jocasta, analysis of other literature, as well as the bad fortune of the male characters reaffirm that the Oedipus the King is notRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Oedipus The King1025 Wo rds   |  5 PagesCritical Analysis: Oedipus the King Oedipus the King is a tragic play showing a shift from the belief of fate to freedom of choice. Therefore, Oedipus the king is a great example of those who run from fate ends up fulfilling their fate After reading this type of tragic play â€Å"Oedipus the King† written by Sophocles you can see that the author did a very outstanding form of presenting a tragedy that has the characteristics of mimesis and a tragic hero. Specifically, the writer written the play thatRead MoreOedipus Essay734 Words   |  3 PagesThis analysis of Oedipus’s character shows how Oedipus, the protagonist and the antagonist against himself, dealt with unfortunate situations which sealed his fate. Oedipus was a strange round character that was really interesting and mysterious. Oedipus’s life was a good example of a true Greek tragedy; he worked himself up to be a great king and ultimately in the end he died with only his perception on life. Oedipus was once a man of power who falls impoverished. He goes from having much respectRead MoreOedipus The King As A Tragic Hero Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagesgreatest dramas of all time, Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King follows the t ragic life of Oedipus, king of Thebes. Considered a Satyr play, the Oedipus trilogy is perhaps the most famous of Sophocles’ plays. Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy that was first performed somewhere around 429 BC in Athens, Greece. Originally, the Greeks referred to the play as simply â€Å"Oedipus,† as that was what Aristotle referred to it as in the Poetics. Perhaps what makes this play so memorable, is Sophocles’ uses ofRead MoreReligion In Oedipus The King1012 Words   |  5 PagesIn Oedipus, the King, the main character, Oedipus, starts the play in the highest prestige, he is the King of Thebes and is held in high regard to almost all citizens for his prosperous reign. By the end of the play, Oedipus is vilified by his citizens and almost all the people of Thebes. I argue that Oedipus’ downfall is directly linked to his rejection of religious guidance and omens; namely, the Gods and the oracle. One could argue that no divine entity openly a cts out toward Oedipus, howeverRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Oedipus The King1419 Words   |  6 Pages26 September, 2017 Ignorance Can Lead to Great Agony Plays were of great importance in early Greek culture. Plays were the main source of entertainment, and one of the most prominent examples is Oedipus the King written by Sophocles. The drama is uplifted by the character development and excellent structure Sophocles has put forward. Interactions between characters and each character’s motivations generate brilliant themes throughout the play. Sophocles uses a technique called recognition, which

Analysis Of The Play Oedipus The King - 963 Words

Shereen Abdelrazzak English 101-170 Professor Steinkoler Hubris Midterm Paper â€Å" No, man s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.† John Locke. Knowledge is definitely power. To have power over anyone or anything out †¨there you must know what you are doing. Knowledge gives you options, Knowledge enables bigger and better weapons. A sense of higher status. Very often will you find knowledge allows one to recognize opportunity. One character in the play Oedipus the King, Tiresias carries a great sense of knowledge. That he knows how to stay humble with. Which does not lead to his downfall unlike Oedipus the King.†¨ Knowledge means one has the resources to obtain and be flexible with useful and informative information in order to become well informed citizens who can make intelligent decisions based upon their understanding and awareness of everyday situations. Does this make them powerful? Not always. Although he was blind Tiresias was the wisest in the whole village. He would be the one that anyone came to for advice. He had a lot of knowledge but no power. With time we came to learn that Oedipus has power without any knowledge to help him carry out any plans. I believe people often mix up hubris with self confidence. The first definition of hubris in the Merriam Webster dictionary is â€Å"a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence†. Oedipus is basically drenched in hubris. This man lives off of his pride. In the begging of the play when Oedipus was addressingShow MoreRelatedPlay Analysis: Oedipus the King1353 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Oedipus the King is one of the most representative plays of ancient Greek theater and has contributed greatly to the development of the theatrical concept and influenced the writing techniques to this day. Sophocles made use of a story that was well known for the Greek audience in the 4th century BC. The subject is rather complex for the time and focuses on the tragedy of a man from Thebes, a Greek city, who becomes king after a series of events that lead to t he salvation of the city from theRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King 1127 Words   |  5 Pages For A Life Of Regrets Oedipus the King is a play written by Sophocles. Oedipus is the main figure and legend of Sophocles play. After Oedipus birth into the world, his father King Laius of Thebes heard from a prophet that his own child was destined to kill him. Sophocles play begins from past to present and starts to unravel the journeys Oedipus goes through. Oedipus isn t an evil character as one would think while reading the story. He neverRead MoreOedipus the King by Sophocles1393 Words   |  6 Pages Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great dealRead MoreHamlet vs. Oedipus Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Prince Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus in Oedipus King by Sophocles In Aristotles literary discourse, Poetics, he discusses his theory of tragedy, wherein he introduces the concepts of tragic flaw or hamartia, which serves as the catalyst for the protagonists downfall or the tragedy of the story to happen. He determines a tragedy as a drama that brings about a sorrowful conclusion, arousing fear and pity in the audience (Roberts and JacobsRead MoreSexism In Oedipus The King1395 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy, Oedipus the King, is not sexist. The prominent play portrays both men and women justly. The events presented by Sophocles exemplifies a level of admiration and respect for women that was not ordinary in ancient Greece. This is predominantly achieved through the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, illustrating a corresponding relationship. In addition, the behavior of Jocasta, analysis of other literature, as well as the bad fortune of the male characters reaffirm that the Oedipus the King is notRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Oedipus The King1025 Wo rds   |  5 PagesCritical Analysis: Oedipus the King Oedipus the King is a tragic play showing a shift from the belief of fate to freedom of choice. Therefore, Oedipus the king is a great example of those who run from fate ends up fulfilling their fate After reading this type of tragic play â€Å"Oedipus the King† written by Sophocles you can see that the author did a very outstanding form of presenting a tragedy that has the characteristics of mimesis and a tragic hero. Specifically, the writer written the play thatRead MoreOedipus Essay734 Words   |  3 PagesThis analysis of Oedipus’s character shows how Oedipus, the protagonist and the antagonist against himself, dealt with unfortunate situations which sealed his fate. Oedipus was a strange round character that was really interesting and mysterious. Oedipus’s life was a good example of a true Greek tragedy; he worked himself up to be a great king and ultimately in the end he died with only his perception on life. Oedipus was once a man of power who falls impoverished. He goes from having much respectRead MoreOedipus The King As A Tragic Hero Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagesgreatest dramas of all time, Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King follows the t ragic life of Oedipus, king of Thebes. Considered a Satyr play, the Oedipus trilogy is perhaps the most famous of Sophocles’ plays. Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy that was first performed somewhere around 429 BC in Athens, Greece. Originally, the Greeks referred to the play as simply â€Å"Oedipus,† as that was what Aristotle referred to it as in the Poetics. Perhaps what makes this play so memorable, is Sophocles’ uses ofRead MoreReligion In Oedipus The King1012 Words   |  5 PagesIn Oedipus, the King, the main character, Oedipus, starts the play in the highest prestige, he is the King of Thebes and is held in high regard to almost all citizens for his prosperous reign. By the end of the play, Oedipus is vilified by his citizens and almost all the people of Thebes. I argue that Oedipus’ downfall is directly linked to his rejection of religious guidance and omens; namely, the Gods and the oracle. One could argue that no divine entity openly a cts out toward Oedipus, howeverRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Oedipus The King1419 Words   |  6 Pages26 September, 2017 Ignorance Can Lead to Great Agony Plays were of great importance in early Greek culture. Plays were the main source of entertainment, and one of the most prominent examples is Oedipus the King written by Sophocles. The drama is uplifted by the character development and excellent structure Sophocles has put forward. Interactions between characters and each character’s motivations generate brilliant themes throughout the play. Sophocles uses a technique called recognition, which

Analysis Of The Play Oedipus The King - 963 Words

Shereen Abdelrazzak English 101-170 Professor Steinkoler Hubris Midterm Paper â€Å" No, man s knowledge here can go beyond his experience.† John Locke. Knowledge is definitely power. To have power over anyone or anything out †¨there you must know what you are doing. Knowledge gives you options, Knowledge enables bigger and better weapons. A sense of higher status. Very often will you find knowledge allows one to recognize opportunity. One character in the play Oedipus the King, Tiresias carries a great sense of knowledge. That he knows how to stay humble with. Which does not lead to his downfall unlike Oedipus the King.†¨ Knowledge means one has the resources to obtain and be flexible with useful and informative information in order to become well informed citizens who can make intelligent decisions based upon their understanding and awareness of everyday situations. Does this make them powerful? Not always. Although he was blind Tiresias was the wisest in the whole village. He would be the one that anyone came to for advice. He had a lot of knowledge but no power. With time we came to learn that Oedipus has power without any knowledge to help him carry out any plans. I believe people often mix up hubris with self confidence. The first definition of hubris in the Merriam Webster dictionary is â€Å"a great or foolish amount of pride or confidence†. Oedipus is basically drenched in hubris. This man lives off of his pride. In the begging of the play when Oedipus was addressingShow MoreRelatedPlay Analysis: Oedipus the King1353 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿Oedipus the King is one of the most representative plays of ancient Greek theater and has contributed greatly to the development of the theatrical concept and influenced the writing techniques to this day. Sophocles made use of a story that was well known for the Greek audience in the 4th century BC. The subject is rather complex for the time and focuses on the tragedy of a man from Thebes, a Greek city, who becomes king after a series of events that lead to t he salvation of the city from theRead MoreAnalysis Of Oedipus The King 1127 Words   |  5 Pages For A Life Of Regrets Oedipus the King is a play written by Sophocles. Oedipus is the main figure and legend of Sophocles play. After Oedipus birth into the world, his father King Laius of Thebes heard from a prophet that his own child was destined to kill him. Sophocles play begins from past to present and starts to unravel the journeys Oedipus goes through. Oedipus isn t an evil character as one would think while reading the story. He neverRead MoreOedipus the King by Sophocles1393 Words   |  6 Pages Sophocles’ play, Oedipus the King, has risen many questions concerning the main character and whether or not he acts on free will or if his future is predestined by the gods. I am going to test the theory that although Oedipus believes he is acting on his own free will, he is in fact a victim of the gods. I will analyze several different sources that discuss fate and human agency in Oedipus the King and then proceed to build my original argument on the archaic debate. There has been a great dealRead MoreHamlet vs. Oedipus Essay898 Words   |  4 PagesCharacter Analysis of Prince Hamlet in Hamlet by William Shakespeare and Oedipus in Oedipus King by Sophocles In Aristotles literary discourse, Poetics, he discusses his theory of tragedy, wherein he introduces the concepts of tragic flaw or hamartia, which serves as the catalyst for the protagonists downfall or the tragedy of the story to happen. He determines a tragedy as a drama that brings about a sorrowful conclusion, arousing fear and pity in the audience (Roberts and JacobsRead MoreSexism In Oedipus The King1395 Words   |  6 Pagestragedy, Oedipus the King, is not sexist. The prominent play portrays both men and women justly. The events presented by Sophocles exemplifies a level of admiration and respect for women that was not ordinary in ancient Greece. This is predominantly achieved through the dialogue of Jocasta and Oedipus, illustrating a corresponding relationship. In addition, the behavior of Jocasta, analysis of other literature, as well as the bad fortune of the male characters reaffirm that the Oedipus the King is notRead MoreCritical Analysis Of Oedipus The King1025 Wo rds   |  5 PagesCritical Analysis: Oedipus the King Oedipus the King is a tragic play showing a shift from the belief of fate to freedom of choice. Therefore, Oedipus the king is a great example of those who run from fate ends up fulfilling their fate After reading this type of tragic play â€Å"Oedipus the King† written by Sophocles you can see that the author did a very outstanding form of presenting a tragedy that has the characteristics of mimesis and a tragic hero. Specifically, the writer written the play thatRead MoreOedipus Essay734 Words   |  3 PagesThis analysis of Oedipus’s character shows how Oedipus, the protagonist and the antagonist against himself, dealt with unfortunate situations which sealed his fate. Oedipus was a strange round character that was really interesting and mysterious. Oedipus’s life was a good example of a true Greek tragedy; he worked himself up to be a great king and ultimately in the end he died with only his perception on life. Oedipus was once a man of power who falls impoverished. He goes from having much respectRead MoreOedipus The King As A Tragic Hero Essay1491 Words   |  6 Pagesgreatest dramas of all time, Sophocles’ play Oedipus the King follows the t ragic life of Oedipus, king of Thebes. Considered a Satyr play, the Oedipus trilogy is perhaps the most famous of Sophocles’ plays. Oedipus the King, is an Athenian tragedy that was first performed somewhere around 429 BC in Athens, Greece. Originally, the Greeks referred to the play as simply â€Å"Oedipus,† as that was what Aristotle referred to it as in the Poetics. Perhaps what makes this play so memorable, is Sophocles’ uses ofRead MoreReligion In Oedipus The King1012 Words   |  5 PagesIn Oedipus, the King, the main character, Oedipus, starts the play in the highest prestige, he is the King of Thebes and is held in high regard to almost all citizens for his prosperous reign. By the end of the play, Oedipus is vilified by his citizens and almost all the people of Thebes. I argue that Oedipus’ downfall is directly linked to his rejection of religious guidance and omens; namely, the Gods and the oracle. One could argue that no divine entity openly a cts out toward Oedipus, howeverRead MoreCharacter Analysis Of Oedipus The King1419 Words   |  6 Pages26 September, 2017 Ignorance Can Lead to Great Agony Plays were of great importance in early Greek culture. Plays were the main source of entertainment, and one of the most prominent examples is Oedipus the King written by Sophocles. The drama is uplifted by the character development and excellent structure Sophocles has put forward. Interactions between characters and each character’s motivations generate brilliant themes throughout the play. Sophocles uses a technique called recognition, which

Public Police and Private Security Free Essays

The public police industry has never had a close relationship with the private security profession. Public police officers have typically viewed private security as â€Å"law enforcement wanna-bes† (p. 247, Clifford, 2004). We will write a custom essay sample on Public Police and Private Security or any similar topic only for you Order Now Private security is viewed this way because the training requirements are different and in many ways less extensive than what is required of public police officers (Australian Institute of Criminology, 1998). This has been a controversial issue in the past but in recent years has been changing for the better. Private and public security agencies have begun to bridge the gaps between the two industries. Private security professionals have been given a bad reputation in the past because of the many abuses of power and the misunderstandings of the main goals of private security. Take for example, Allan Pinkerton started his own security firm in the 1800s and was not very well liked by many for the program he devised to protect railroad companies from internal threats (Clifford, 2004). Many people thought he and his company were out to get them which brought about negative feelings toward him. This very same feeling that security companies are out to get people is still alive today and some security professionals are even less respected today. Many people view private security in a negative light because they believe them to be minimum wage help and uneducated. This feeling toward private security has led to stereotypes in which they are called â€Å"Rent-a-Cops† and other derogatory names. Currently, many individuals are working to change the negative image that is associated with private security. Police officers also have been given a bad reputation because of the actions of some people who have been on-the-job in the past. Many law suits and uprisings have been a result of the American people’s inability to trust and their dislike of police officers. However, like the security industry, they too, are working to make the industry more professional and regain the trust of the people. There has been an increase in the training as well as the policies and procedure which police officers must follow while performing their duties in order to protect the communities and the constitutional rights of each individual. The two industries have made few attempts to integrate in the past but this fact is changing (Gunter Kidwell, 2004). There has been a shift toward increasing public and private security cooperation and abilities to work together in recent years which has been increasing the level of safety that both industries have been able to provide. The private security industry has almost unlimited funding has made available resources for new technology which it has begun to share with law enforcement to increase the efficiency of both operations. One example is Bank of America and their security professionals working with government agencies to provide information and resources regarding identity theft including strategies and training to detect and prevent this crime from happening (White, 2008). Another example, Target has built its own crime labs in an effort to thwart crime against their company which have also made available to local police agencies to aid in the investigation of crime (International Association of Chiefs of Police, 2012). These cooperative efforts are helping to prevent crime as well as bringing the two industries together for a common goal. Public and private policing agencies, however, have different objectives and liabilities in mind with respect to their duties (Li, 2009). Public policing has the safety and security of the public and property in an entire jurisdiction in mind (Li, 2009). They are not focused on just one property in general but all properties and individuals in that particular jurisdiction. Private security on the other hand, is only concerned with the property or area they contracted to protect. The often look out for the interests of the people or businesses that employ them and must remain profitable businesses themselves (Clifford, 2004). Public police are employed by the government and must uphold the Constitution and funding is done with taxpayer money. They have many restrictions which have been derived from the Constitution and they must strictly adhere to the document (Clifford, 2004). Private security companies are not governed by the constitution and are afforded more freedoms when it comes to their policies and procedures (Clifford, 2004). Also, the personnel who employed by the private security industry are not nearly as liable for their actions as public police officers. Public police officers can actually be sued directly for violations of an individual’s constitutional rights. These differences and others have been the differences that have divided the public and private security industry for years. A good cooperative relationship is what the public and private security industry needs. I believe this may begin to be achieved by more government regulation on private security companies as far as employee training and education. Many private security firms do not pay their employees well, they do not train them well, and they hire low class individuals. This must stop if the two industries will ever fully be cooperative. Likewise, public policing agencies must work toward involving private security companies in the safety of the community on a regular basis. More interaction between both industries will help develop a relationship of mutual respect between officers and agencies. How to cite Public Police and Private Security, Essay examples