An Interpretation of Multiple Values in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Journal: Journal of Higher Education Research DOI: 10.32629/jher.v3i1.643

Qi Sun

Fuyang Preschool Teachers College, Fuyang 236015, Anhui, China; Lyceum of the Philippines University, Philippines

Abstract

The Merchant of Venice is a satirical play by William Shakespeare, written during the Renaissance. The rise of humanism in this period gave rise to equality, freedom, tolerance and self-worth. However, the traditional thinking in the Medieval Ages and the reality of social development had fettered humanism and made the social values full of contradictions and conflicts. The Merchant of Venice is a true reflection of the society at that time under such historical background. The story involves rich and diversified social values. This paper tries to interpret the diversified values in The Merchant of Venice drama from several aspects such as love, friendship, money, gender and religion

Keywords

Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, outlook on values

References

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