威尼斯商人中的人物形象分析

　　Abstract
　　AsweknownthatthemerchantofVeniceisoneofShakespeare’smostimportantworks。Itisacomedy。Thethemeofthisplayistoextolkindheartedness，friendshipandlove。Andalsoitreflectstheconflictsbetweenthecapitalistsandusurersatthebeginningofthecapitalistsociety。Anditexpressestheauthor’shumanistideaonmoney，lawandreligionincapitalistsociety。Thisthesisanalyzesthemainfiguresintheplaybyusingindependentandcontrastways。Iandexpressessomethoughtsforsocietyandhumanbeing。ThethesisalsomakesahardcriticismtoShylock，whoisarepresentativeoffeudalism，andputsaheavyhumanismonPortia。Itdisplaysthethoughtsoffeudalismpersonalityliberation，andstressingthegreatbreakthroughofwoman’sstatusandfeminineconsciousnessinElizabethanera。
　　KeyWords
　　Cwomenconsciousness
　　摘要
　　众所周知，《威尼斯商人》是莎士比亚著名喜剧之一。该剧的主题被定义为对善良、友谊和爱情的颂扬。本剧不但反映了资本主义早期资产阶级同高利贷者间的矛盾冲突，也揭示了作者对资本主义社会金钱、法律和宗教信仰的人文主义观点。本论文采用了个案分析法以及对比分析法对该剧的主要人物形象作了一一剖析，展示了资本主义萌芽时期人文主义的浓厚气息，表达了莎士比亚对社会、对人类生活的反思，并寄以自己的理想。课题对封建旧势力的代表夏洛克作了无情的批判，而对形象鲜明、富有光彩的鲍西娅则添上了浓厚的人文主义理想色彩。文章彰显了女性个性解放，突显了文艺复兴时期伊丽莎白当权期，女性地位、意识的重大突破。
　　关键词
　　人物分析；人文主义思想；个性解放；女性意识
　　Introduction
　　TheMerchantofVeniceisoneoftheShakespeare’sfamouscomediesinhisearlytime。It’sthemeistoextolkindness，friendshipandlove。ItisthemirrorofthecontradictionbetweenbusinessbourgeoisandusureratthebeginningoftheCapitalistsociety。It’salsoexpressedtheauthor’shumanismideasonmoney，lawandreligioninthissociety。There，wementionHumanismthemaindistinguishingfeatureofthatperiod，alsothebrightnesscharacteristicwhichisshownfromtheimportantroleinthisplay。
　　Inthisthesis，theauthorintroducesthebackgroundoftheplayfirstly。Readingtheplay，wecanknowthatthesocialbackgroundintheplayisaccordingwiththerealsociety。Weknowatthattime，thesocietywasundertheleadershipofElizabethwhowasthesymbolofpowerinEngland。Nextthethesisgivesanintroductionofthemainfiguresintheplay。Antonioisrichandkindhearted。Fromhimwecanseethespiritofhumanism。Portiaplaysthemostimportantpartintheplay。Thethesistalksabouthercharacter，herhobbies，andherattitudeofloveandtheinnermeaninghumanismofthisfigure。Sheisthecenterofallthesefigurestheplayrefersto。Humanismisanideologicalweaponforcapitalismtofightthefeudalismcombat，andalsoitisthecoreideaofcapitalismadvancedliteratureinRenaissance，anditscombatreferstotheidealofFeudalisminMiddleAge，especiallythereligionbeliefofCatholics。Afterthat，thethesisgivesmoredetailsabouttheinformationmentionedabove。Thenthethesiscomparesthefigurestogiveahighlightofthehumanismspirit。
　　。SocialBackgroundofthePlaytheMerchantofVenice
　　Asisknown，Englandisadevelopedcountry。Today，italsoobtainsveryimportantstatusintheworld。ItisverynecessarytotalkaboutthehistoryofthegrowthofcapitalisminEngland，especiallyin16thcentury。
　　A。TheSocialInformationinElizabethThrone
　　B。SpecialSocialBackgroundReflectingintheMerchantofVenice
　　TheMerchantofVeniceisoneofthefamouscomedyplayswrittenbyShakespeareinhisearlytime。Thethemeofthisplayistoextolkindness，friendshipandlove。Itisthemirrorofthecontradictionbetweenbusinessbourgeoisandusureratthebeginningofcapitalistsociety。It’salsoexpressedtheauthor’shumanismideasonmoney，lawandreligioninthissociety。There，wementionHumanismthemaindistinguishingfeatureofthatperiod，alsothebrightnesscharacteristicwhichisshownfromtheimportantrolesinthisplay。But，whatishumanism？HumanismistheideologicalweaponofbourgeoistofightfeudalismatRenaissance，isalsothecoreideaofthebourgeois’advancedliteratureinthistime。BedirectedagainsttheworldoutlookofMedievalfeudalismisthespearheadofstruggle，especiallythereligionbeliefofCatholicism。ChurchreferstoGodasthecentreofcosmos。AttheheartoftheRenaissancephilosophyistheassertionofthegreatnessofman。AndtheelementsofHumanismaretoestablishthecentralstatusofhuman，theirdignityandvalue，toadvocatethespiritofrationalismandscienceandtoprotestthesupremeroleofGodadmiredinMiddleAges。
　　ShakespearewasamanofthelateRenaissancewhogavethefullestexpressiontohumanistideas。TheMerchantofVeniceisoneoftheimportantworkswhichfinishedintheFirstFloweringperiodofEnglishLiterature。Inthisplay，heroesandheroinesfightfortheirownideasandmouldtheirownlifeaccordingtotheirownfreewillandbringusintohappyandidealworldwithsinging，dancing，harmonywithnatureandfreedomfromthevicesoftheworld。
　　。AnalyzingtheHeroesinthePlay
　　Inthisplay，Shakespeareportraysmanyroles。Theproportionthatmalefigurestakingismuchmorenotablethanfemale’s。So，itsnecessarytonarrateanddisplaytheirnaturecharacterandsymbol。
　　A。Antonio
　　Althoughtheplay’stitlereferstohim，Antonioisaratherlacklustercharacter。HeemergesinAct，sceneasahopelessdepressive，someonewhocannotnamethesourceofhismelancholyandwho，throughoutthecourseoftheplay，devolvesintoaselfpityinglump，unabletomustertheenergyrequiredtodefendhimselfagainstexecution。Antonionevernamesthecauseofhismelancholy，buttheevidenceseemstopointtohisbeinginlove，andthemostlikelyobjectofhisaffectionisBassanio。
　　B。Bassanio
　　ItissaidMiddleAgesisthemostdeathlystillnessperiodinEurope。Italsocanbeseemedit’sthetimethatwestEurope’scultureandliteraturegotograve。Astothepillarofspirit，thereisnothingexceptatotalseriesofreligiousdoctrine。Inthisenvironment，peopleusedcomplimentandboastwordstoexchangetheirmindsandthoughts。Inthatsociety，everyoneremainunderartificialmaskwanderedindifferentkindsofoccasion。Anabsolutelyundisguisedmoneyrelationshipmakesthetruehumannatureintoashduringthemasksscrapedeachother。Bassanio，anoblewhoisneatlydressed，whosespeechanddeportmentisnaturalandgraceful，graduallybecomesadecliningaristocratbyspendingwithoutrestraint。Heisahandsomeandintelligentyoungman。Butlivinginsuchasociety，whathiseveryday’sscheduleistosquandermoneyondifferentmeetinganduseblandishmentspeechtotalkwithotheraristocrat。Hispropertyislimitation。Onceherunsbehindhisexpenses，hewillaskhisbestfriendthewealthmerchantinVeniceAntonioformoney。Fromthecontext，itseemsheneverreturnedwhatheborrowed。Tobesuchamanwhowantsofloftyaspiration。Maybethebestmethodfreeshimselffrompovertyistogetaprofitablemarriage。AtoobtainmoneyismoreimportantthantomarryPortia。Thiscanbeimprovedinlaterhegiveshisbride’sringtotheclerk。Althoughhisloverhasdeclaredthatifhelosesherring，shewillneverpardonhim。
　　C。Shylock
　　Shylockinthisplayistheantagonist。Heisthemodelofusurer。Mostpeoplereadhimasabogeyman，aclownishJewishstereotype。Heisselfish，curtly，avariciousandniggard。Oncehehasthechancetorevengehisfoe。Hewilltryhisbesttomaketheotherintodeathtrap。Inthecourt，heisclamandwisdom，evenfightsforseveralChristian’sjointattack。Butmostofhisspeechiscoarse，andsometimesmean。Allofthismakespeopletakeunkindlytohim。ButwiththeseveralaspectssagaciouswithAntonio，itmakeshimbeamultpersonalityfigure。BeingapaganwholivesinChristiansocietyhehasstrongemotiononracialconstrictionandtheenthusiasmofraisingJewishpeople’sstatus。Livinginthissociety，hesufferstoomuchpublichumiliationandoppressionashesaysinthefollowing：
　　Hehathdisgracedme，andhinder’laughtatmyloss，mocktatmygains，scorn’dmynation，thwartedmybargains，cooledmyfriends，andwhat’shisreason？IamaJew。HathnotaJeweyes？HathnotaJewhands，organs，dimensions，senses，affections，passions？Fedwiththesamefood，hurtwiththesameweapons，subjecttothesamediseases，heal’dbythesamemeans，warm’dandcool’dbythesamewinterandsummer，asaChristianis？Ifyouprickus，dowenotbleed？Ifyoutickleus，dowenotlaught？Ifyouporionus，dowenotdie？Andifyouwrongus，shallwenotrevenge？（ActScene5063）
　　HisfrequentlymentionsofthecrueltyhehasenduredatChristianhandsmakeithardforustolabelhimanaturalbornmonster。ShylockarguesthatJewsarehumansandcallshisquestforvengeancetheproductoflessonstaughttohimbythecrueltyofVenicecitizens。Insuchcondition，hismaliciousismuchmorereasonable。
　　BesidesthefacialofShylock’smalignance，actually，heisapersonwhosesenseofdecencyhasbeenfracturedbythepersecutionheendures。Comparatively，thosekindnessandwisdomChristian，infact，haveanotherhideousfeature。So，inmymind，Shylockisamanwhoisworthsympathizing。
　　III。AnalyzingtheCentralCharacterintheNovelPortia
　　ThegirlembodiesthevirtuesthataretypicalforShakespeare’sheroinesithasnosurprisethatsheemergesastheantidotetoShylock’smalice。Sheistheprettywittedaristocratyounggirl。Swealthyandbeautiful。Sheistheperfectfemalewhoglittersthehumanismidealinherlife。ThisisPortia。
　　A。TheEssentialNatureofPortia
　　Atthebeginningoftheplay，however，wedonotseePortia’spotentialforinitiativeandresourcefulness，assheisanearprisoner，feelingherselfabsolutelyboundtofollowherfather’sdyingwishes。Thisopenappearance，however，provestobearevealingintroductiontoPortia，whoemergesasthatrarestofcombinationsafreespiritwhoabidesrigidlybyrules。WhenBassanioasksBelmonttochoosehischest，sheprovesherselftobehighlyresourceful，beggingthemanshelovestostayawhilebeforepickingachest，andfindingloopholeinthewill’sprovisionthatweneverthoughtpossible。Also，inherdefeatofShylock，sheprevailsbyapplyingamorerigidstandardthanShylock，agreeingthathecangetapoundofflesh，butaddingthatitdoesnottoallowforanylossofblood。Anybodycanbreaktherules，butPortia’seffectivenesscomesfromherabilitytomakethelawworkforher。AfterdeprivingBassanioofhisring，shestopstheprankbeforeitgoesfar，andsheeveninsinuatesthatshehasbeenunfaithful。TheseentirecanprovesPortia’swit，resource，andhumor
　　B。TheHumanismSpiritShownbyPortia
　　Portiaisthemaincharacterinthisplay。SheembodiesthevirtuesthataretypicalforShakespeare’sheroines。Beingawealthyounggirl，sheisbeautiful，gentleandtender，andfullofstratagems。ShelivesinBelmontapeacefulworld，andrecruitsthenewestideologicaltrends。So，hermindisequippedbyhumanism。Sheisacutegirl，evenherfather’shewouldliketoabideby。Humanismhasseveralcontents。OneofthemistheRationalismobjecttoObscurantism。Itadvocatestreasuringpeopleintelligent。Anditissaidthemostreasonofpeopleisdignitydependingonthepowerofrational。Rationalishuman’snature，scienceisthesourceofjoyful。So，whenBassanioarrives，Portiauseherresourcefulmindtocallhisattentiontopickthecorrectchest。
　　Iprayyou，tarry：pauseadayortwo
　　Bfor，inchoosingwrong，
　　Ilostyourcompany：therefore，forbearawhile。（ActScene15）
　　Beforeyouventureforme。Icouldteachyou
　　Howtochooseright
　　Theseemingtruthwhichcunningtimesputon
　　Toentrapthewisest。Therefore，thougaudygold，
　　HardfoodforMidas，I
　　Nornoneofthee，thoustaleandcommondrudge，
　　Tweenmanandman：butthou，thoumeagerlead，
　　Whichratherthreatenestthandostpromiseaught，
　　T
　　AndherechooseI：Joybetheconsequence！（ActScene100107）
　　ThisistheevidencethatPortianeverresignsherselftoherfate。Inordertoperuseherownhappinessandlove，shemakesuseofherwisdomobeyedherfather’swillaswellasmarrywiththeMr。Right。Thisisoneaspect。TheotheroneisthatwhenshearguedwithShylocktoactdefenseasameansofattackonthecourt，andconsolidateateverystep。Shylockthoughtheencounteredbosomfriendatbeginning。Andlater，suddenlyherealizedhehaslosthispreponderance。Portia’sbrilliancetalentandShylock’sweakeneddefense，bothmakepeoplecannothelplaughing。Consideredherattitudetowardsloveandtheperformancesheactsoncourt。Thereisnodoubtthatsheisaremarkablehumanist。
　　C。PortiaaSelfconsciousFemale
　　Portiaisabeautiful，dignityandwealthgirl。Andthemostimportantthingissheobtainsstronglyfemaleselfconsciousness。Sheknowswhatissheneeds，andtryherbesttopursue。Shehasaninsightintotheworldwhichsheexiststhecodeofethics，thevalue，sheknowswhat’stherolesheplays。So，shecanvacillatefreelyinthemalesociety，getshergoalandnottogoagainsttherules。Inthisplay，itseemsshejustdoestwothings：helpherhusbandtorescueAntonio。Bothofthemhavefullydemonstratedherintelligence，andrevealherantitraditionfigure。It’sthetimewhenshechoosesherhusbandtoshowherabilitytosuitmalesociety。Portianotonlyhasthefemaleselfconsciousness，butalsounderstandsthoroughlywhatisthestatusandrolewomanobtainsinmalesociety。Sheknowsthemethodwhichkeepsawayfromconflicts。Toherhusband，sheisanangle：sheepish，tenderandobedient。WhenBassaniochoosesthecorrectcasket，sheimmediatelysayssheisanunwise，lackeducationgirl。Isshereallysohumble？No。Portiaknowsveryclearlythatmandislikeswomanismoresensibleandpriorthanmenthemselves。Soshemakeshermodestonpurpose。ButatthesameshewouldliketoshowherimportantrolewhenshegivesherringtoBassanio，shesays：
　　Myselfandwhatisminetoyouandyours
　　Isnowconverted：butnowIwasthelord
　　Ofthisfairmansion，masterofmyservants，
　　QueenO’andevennow，butnow，
　　Thishouse，theseservants，andthissamemyself，
　　Areyours，mylord：I
　　Whichwhenyoupartfrom，lose，orgiveaway，
　　Letitpersagetheruinofyourlove，
　　Andbemyvantagetoexclaimonyou。
　　TheaimtobesaidlikethatistoremindBassaniosheistheveryonethat’sthe
　　realmasterinherfamily。Inotherwords，sheistheprotagonistintheplay，andthemaleisthecostarwhostandsonthepasive，subordinaryrim，andtheyalwaysdoasoneistold。Thisfigureportraydeniedthetraditongenderrelationshipmakesfemalegofromrimtocenter，fromobjecttosubject。Istodenythetraditionalfemaleconception。Andontheotherhand，allofthoseshowsPortiaisapersonalityliberationwoman。
　　D。AnExplanationonPortiaMasqueradingasMan
　　TheperiodwhentheMerchantofVenicewascreatedwascalledShakespeare’scomedyperiod。DuringthisperiodShakespeareshapedhumanitiesandthearts。BritishQueenElizabethIisintheheydayoftherule，monarchysolidandeconomicprosperity。Shakespeareinthesocialrealityoftheidealsofhumanismwillbeachievedconfidence，optimismworksfilledwithforthrightandbrightcolors。ThereisanidiomsaidBritishistheparadiseforwoman，andthehellforsteed，whichmeansBritishfemaleenjoymorefreethanmale，andusuallymaleshouldadheretotheirwife。Andthefactrelatedtothisiswomanbenefitedmoreeducation，especiallyhumanism。MostofShakespeare’sheroineshavebeenconsideredthemodelofQueenElizabeth。IntheMerchantofVenice，Portiaisamissinanoblefamily。Sheisboredwithspoon。Hernatureislovely，smart，andwittyandevenssomenaughty。Herhomelandissplendidandluxurious。Havingsomeproprietystatus，Portiaworriesaboutnothing，andevenlatewhenshechoosesherhusband，shedoesn’tthinkit’snecessarytochoosesomeonewhohavetheequalsocioeconomicstatus。ThisisonereasonwhyPortiawouldshowherhearttoBassanioadecliningnoble。Absorbingthelatestideology，herideologicallevelhasbeenimprovedveryhigh。Sheisintelligentandresourceful。Whenshehasknownherhusband’sbestfriendhavebeenaccused。Inhermind，agoodideahasbeenemergedpriortogotocourtandfightagainstShylock。
　　ButthereisthekeyproblemwhydoesPortiamasqueradeasman？Wouldn’tshegotothecourtwithherowndress？Whyshouldshedisguiseherselfasablackrobedjudge？Thesearethecomplicatedquestionsinthecontext。Inmyopinion，therearethreereasonstoexplainthisphenomenon。
　　Itisthefactthatwoman’sstatushasbeenimprovedalot，especiallyatElizabeth’s
　　realm。ThereisanotherimportantfactoraboutShakespeare’scomedyisheroesindressasonesays：Britisharetheparadiseforwomanandthehellforsteed。InShakespeare’scomedy，femalenotonlyistheprotagonist，butalsoholdsthethreadofdetails，andveryerudite。Portiadressesinblackrobe，thefirstfunctionistopilecomedyeffecton，andthrowsthecomedyatmosphereintosharprelief。Thesecondfunctionisthefollowing：becausehumanismconsiststhattheworldtheyinhabitisnottodespisebuttoquestion，explore，andenjoy。Thus，byemphasizingthedignityofhumanbeingsandtheimportanceofthepresentlife，theyvoicetheirbeliefsthatmandoesnotonlyhavetherighttoenjoythebeautyofthislife，buthastheabilitytoperfecthimselfandtoperformwonders。Andadvocatethatwomanshouldbetreatedequaltoman。Humanisboredequal。ShakespearecreatesPortia，andgiveshertheendowmenttodressupasman。Andbyusingherunrulyfemalespeech，thefunctionistoemphasizewomanshouldbetreatedequallytoman。Evensometimeswomanismuchmoreexcellentthanman。MaybethisistheShakespeare’s（asahumanist）expectation。Thelastbutnottheleastfunctionis：althoughwoman’sstatushasbeenpromoted，andthehumanismideologicalwaveisstickingstronglyoutatthefeudalism。Malesandfemalestreateddifferentlyhavedeeprootsineverybody’smind，includingfemalesthemselves。Portiaiscleverenough。Butshestillisapeopleintheworld。Shealsomustobeytherulesofconvention。Somecriticssay：WhenElizabeth，ruledtherealm，themajorityofwomanfoundtheiraccesstothepublicspheredecreasing，astheeconomicrolestheyplayedinthelatemedievalperiodcontracted。Recurrentinflation，landshortagesandpovertycombinedtocreatea‘crisisoforder’，thoughitdevelopednew，andinsomecasesquitesubtle，tacticsforenforcingthesubordinationofwoman。Althoughtheprotestantbeliefinthespiritualequalityofmenandwomenaccordingsomewomengreaterspiritualdignityandpower，andfosteredaswellamore‘companionate’andaffectionatemodeofmarriage，thesegainsdidnottranslateintoeconomic，political，orsocialequality（SusanAmussen，1988andMerryE。Weisner，1993）
　　AtthebackofPortia’simmortality，theplayshowsusthewoman’sbitterwhichtheyhavebeardsolong。Asanexcellentgirl，shecan’tentercourtnaturally，insteadshemasqueradesasman。Toestablishthecentralstatusofhuman，andofthesearejusttoworkfortheexpectationanddemandofman，thereisnobusinessofwoman。Aboveall，thereistheplotthatPortiamasqueradesasmanintheplay。
　　IV。AComparativeStudyofCharacteristicDifferences
　　Asweknow，thiscomedyisverylightandjoyful。Alsoitsthemeisveryclean。Butmanycriticismshaveanalyzedthefiguresindifferentangles。Soit’sinevitabletomakeacomparisonamongtheroles。
　　A。PortiaandJessica
　　Bothofthemaretheimportantrolesinthisplay。Andbothhaveawealthfather。ThebasicdifferenceisPortialivinginBelmont，apeaceful，quietplace。AndJessicalivesinVenice，whichisacityfullofpedal，bourgeoisieandsmellofmoney。Aswesay‘circumstancecreateshuman’Portiaiswitty，brave，andhumorous，andthereisalwaysaclevermaidforcompany。Theyenjoythemselvesandliveaveryhappylife。Bycontrast，Jessica，alonelygirl，becauseofherfather’sniggardandheartless，shehasnofriend。Whatshedoeseverydayisjuststayathomewhereisaplacecalled‘gloomyjail’。Shecan’evencan’topenthewindowtohaveabreath。Herfatheralwaysworrysomeonewillstealtheirmoneyandjewels。Shylockistheawfulfathertoher。Sheneverdearstosaynotoherfather。So，whensheencountersherloveaChristianyoungman，Lorenzo。Shehasnothingtodojustpackssomemoneyandelopeswithhim：
　　Jessica：Alack，whatheinoussinisitinme
　　Tobeashamedtobemyfather’schild！
　　ButthoughIamadaughtertohisblood。
　　Iamnottohismanners。Oh，Lorenzo，
　　Ifthoukeeppromise，Iwillendthisstrife，
　　Here，wecansay，thetwogirlshavecouragetopursuetheirownhappiness。ButPortia’shappinessishingeonherwit。Althoughsheisboundtoherdeadfather’swill。ShestillhelpsBassaniotochoosethecorrectchestwithherwit。Toaudience，it’smoregratificationtobeaccepted。Andit’sapityforJessicatochoosetheelopementfortheirlove。
　　B。PortiaandShylock
　　Portiaisahumanistandsheistheembodimentofkind，clever，andbravery。Sheisthepersonwhoisleadingthetrendofsociety，alsowecallhertrendsetter。Bycontrast，Shylockstandsforusurerwhoisignorantandbackward。Absolutely，theyarerunintheoppositedirection。Thisistheknotthattheywillconflictdirectly。ThewonderfulperformanceoftheirconflictsisshownonScenethestruggleoncourt。ThewaythatPortiacrossesswordwithShylockissimilartoDukewithhe。Bothpersuadehimfirst。ThelittledifferenceisDukehasnoalternativeandPortiahasawellthoughtoutplan。Shewinsthecasewithherwit。Wecan’tholdourselvestothinkShylockisdefeatedbyagirlwhoisasoldashisdaughter。Atthattime，hehasjustlosthisdaughter。Whatapityitis！Andatlast，Shylocklosesallhehaswealth，daughterandreligion。Atthatmoment，Shylock’smisfortunestendtomakehimamoresympatheticfigurethanacomicone。Whenyoulostsomething，anotheroneisretuningtoyou。MaybethatisthetruemightyofShakespeare。
　　C。AntonioandBassanio
　　OneistherichmerchantofVenice。Heistherepresentativefigureofgrowingbourgeois。Heisostentatiousandisgenerousinaidingneedypeople。Healwayslendshismoneytootherwithoutinterest。Soheobtainsmuchgoodpraise。Theotheroneisaprofligatesonoftherich。Heistheembodimentofpowerfulnoble。ExceptUsurerandFeudalism，theyarethedazzlingfigureincommercializedsociety。Otheotherhasadmirableclassstatus。Theyarethebosomfriendinreality。Moneyandpowerworkquitewellbetweentheirfriendships。TheyareAntonioandBassanio。Wenearlycanawakentherearesomeintimaterelationshipfromtheirname。Nomatterifit’stheplannedonpurposebyauthor。Boththeyareveryyoungandhandsome。Theyalwayshavesomespecialsmellscatteredfromtheirbodythatyoucanstrikeintheireverybreath。Isitpuritykindnessorbewitchingeyelight？Theirfriendshiphasbeenestablishedfirmly。AntoniohelpsBassaniooverhiseconomiccollapse。Inturn，BassaniousuallylistentoAntonio’sinnermostfeelingandthehitchonbusiness。BeforePortiagoesuptothestage，theyjustlikeapairsofsweetlover。Buttheyaren’tlover，andnotacombinedcommunity。Antonioisamerchantandhehasworriedsomanyaffairsabouthisbusiness。MaybetheonlyentertainmentitemistoscoldeveryunmoralactionactedbyShylockandtoexcoriatehiscurtness，selfishness，stinginessandberate。Whattheseallwouldhappenlikethat，thereasonjustbecauseShylockisJew。Theyaretheconflictsoftwooppositeideas，identification，conventionandreligions。
　　Bassanioalthoughisanoble，actuallyheisadecliningaristocrat。Hehassquanderedhismoneyatdifferentmeeting，gatheringandonwoman。Nottospeaksotactful，heisaplayboywhoneverplanstogetajobordoingsomebusiness。Instead，hewouldliketolifehisheadfromaprofitablemarriage。WhenheborrowsmoneyfromAntonioaschiptopursuingPortia。Antoniosays：
　　Iprayyou，goodBassanio，
　　Andifitstand，asyouyourselfstilldo，
　　Withintheeyeofhonour，beassured
　　Mypurse，myperson，myextremestmeans，
　　Lieallunlockttoyouroccasion（Actscene，P12，135140）
　　Andwhenhisboatswreckonsea，hehashadtoobeythecontract，andhesays：
　　Fromthesewords，wecanconfirmAntonioisthebestfriendofBassanio。Healwayshelpsothernottoaskforreward，evensacrificehislife。WhenBassaniohearsthenewsthatAntoniowilllosehislifeforhim。Hereturnsimmediatelyandgiveshislover’sringbacktotheclerktoshowhisthanks。Theirfriendshiphasbeenprovedsoperfect。
　　Conclusion
　　TheperiodthatShakespearecreatedtheMerchantofVenicewasthereignofElizabeth。WhatwasthenameofthatperiodcalledtheFirstFloweringPeriodofEnglishLiteratureandthegreatestchangebeganwithdrama。Shakespearewastherepresentativeatthattime。Inhisromanticcomedies，Shakespearetakesanoptimisticattitudetowardloveandyouth。TheMerchantofVenice，inwhichhehascreatedtension，ambiguity，aselfconsciousnessandselfdelightingartificethat，isatonceintellectuallyexcitingandemotionallyengaging。
　　TherearetwocomiccharactersexistsintheMerchantofVenice。Thefirstoneiscomedyunitedwithmock。Aswesee，whatthecenterplacethisstoryhappenedisacityfullofthesmellofcommercializeandcapitalism。Differentrace，identification，religion，lawandsomeideasaboutfairandunfairareallshowedout。Inthisplay，JewShylockperformsgreatgreedformoney。Whenheisresultedandtreatedunfair，heisbrewingastronglydissatisfactiontorevengetheChristianandgracefulgentlemanandappealingforequaltreatment。Infact，Shylock’scharacteristichasmanyaspects。Heisausurer。Heisavariciousandstingy。Buthealsohasthepitypoint：beinghumiliatedbyAbeingtreatedunfairinChristiansociety，andhisendlessmissforhiswife。AllofhisroleactionhassurpassedthefriendshipbetweenAntonioandBassanio，andthepropagationofChristianbyPortia。Sointhethesis，theauthorarguesShylocknotonlyasacurt，greedyandslyperson，butalsoasasympatheticfigure。
　　Theseconddistinguishingfeatureiscomedyunitedwiththeidealofhumanism。OnecriticsaysthatShakespeare’scomediesandromancestendtofocusondaughterswhoseageandrankmakethemdesirablespousesformenseekingtoimprovetheirsocialstanding。ThereisnoexceptionofShakespeare’scomediestakesloveasthetheme。Andthemostusedexpressiontodescribethelover’srelationshipindebate。Theymatchwithintelligent，mindsandsentiments。Womanalwaysemergesthevictor。Theyarenotonlychaste，beautiful，youngandmoresensible，cuterandwiserthantheonewhomtheyadore。Andtheirabilitytoadaptthemselvestochangingconditionsalsoissurpassesoverman。Everythingthattheywanttodowillbeactedverywell，includingstrivesforhappiness，inwhichtheyaremoreactivethanman。Atthesametime，Portiaisanindependentwomanwhohasattainedsomemeasureoffinancialindependence。Inthisplay，therearetwomainhumanistswhohavebeentalkedabout。OneisAntonio。Aswesay，heisawealth，kindheartedmerchantinthebeginningperiodofCapitalistsociety。Althoughhehasbeendescribedasaweak，melancholyandlacklustercharacterinmyformerparagraph。Butwecan’tdenythathisindeed，actually，canbeseemedtheactionofarealtruehumaninthatbloodstainedeconomicalsystem。HeissinceretoBassanio，andkindtohisotherfriends。Alloftheideologyshowedbyhimputshimattheplatformofhumanism。Andhestandsforthesuperiorcapitalist，bourgeoiswhichisagainstusurerandthefeudalbarons。TheotherhumanistisPortia。Sheistheembodimentofwisdom，beauty，strategy。SheisalsoconsideredtheveryonewhocanrepresenttheliberatedwomaninRenaissanceinShakespeare’splay。Nomatterwhatrolesshedisplayed：richheritage，tendernesslover，wiseandfarsightedlawyeranddevotedwife。Shegetsnumerouspraises。Manypeoplereferhertotheintelligent，brave，liberatedhumanist，buteverycoinhastwosides。AtthebackofPortia’sradianceexistssomethingthatwouldmakeusdeepinthought。Issherealliberatedthoroughly？Utterlytheanswerisnegative。Becauseshestillcan’tentercourtnaturallyinherdressbutdisguisesherasamaninblackrobe。So，wecangettheconclusionthatdiscriminationongenderandsexisstillaproblemthatcan’tbesolvedeasilyinanyperiod。
　　AnanalysisofShakespeare’stheMerchantofVenicefromtheperspectiveofthefeminismtheorymanifeststhefactthattheShakespeareanheroinesdonotfallsimplyintotwostereotypes，namely，thegoodorthebad。Instead，endowedwiththemodernantipatriarchalspirit，theyareinthecenterofthestagewhereasthemenareinasubordinateandmarginalpositionBydoingso，Shakespearehassuccessfullyunderminedthepatriarchalideologyandfacilitatedthedemonstrationofthetraditionaldefinitionofwomenbyamencenteredsociety，therebyofferingaclearsilhouetteofhisfeministideas
　　Inaword，theMerchantofVeniceisacomedyplay。Nomatterhowsophisticatethecharacterexpressed。IthinkthefundamentalofShakespeareistopunishtheevilandpraisethegood。Themainmelodyofthisplayisstillverylightandjoyful。
　　Notes
　　。李超，邓兴义主编新编英美概况〔M〕。汕头：汕头大学出版社，2004：3437。
　　。朱生豪译。李尔王〔M〕。北京：外文出版社，1999：8。
　　。张伯香。SelectedReadingsInEnglishAndAmericanLiteratures〔M〕。北京：外语教学与研究出版社，2002：8。
　　。Amussen，Susan。AnOrderedSociety：GenderandClassinEarlyModernEngland〔M〕。Oxford：Blackwell，1988。
　　MerryE。Weisner。WomenandGenderinEarlyModernEurope〔M〕。CambridgeUniversityPress，1993。
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