毕业设计（论文）-《威尼斯商人》中的人物分析.doc

The Analysis of Figures Characters in The Merchant of VeniceA paper submitted partial fulfillment ofthe requirements for literature classto Qinggong CollegeHebei United UniversityOctober 2011AbstractAs we known that the merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeares most important works. It is a comedy. The theme of this play is to extol kindheartedness, friendship and love. And also it reflects the conflicts between the capitalists and usurers at the beginning of the capitalist society. And it expresses the authors humanist idea on money, law and religion in capitalist society. This thesis analyzes the main figures in the play by using independent and contrast ways. It shows the heavily flavor of humanism at the beginning of capitalist society; and expresses some thoughts for society and human being. The thesis also makes a hard criticism to Shylock, who is a representative of feudalism, and puts a heavy humanism on Portia. It displays the thoughts of feudalism personality liberation, and stressing the great breakthrough of womans status and feminine consciousness in Elizabethan era.Key WordsCharacter analyzing; personality liberation; humanism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、和宗教信仰的人文主义观点。本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；个性解放；人文主义思想IntroductionThe Merchant of Venice is one of the Shakespeares famous comedies in his early time. Its theme is to extol kindness, friendship and love. It is the mirror of the contradiction between business bourgeois and usurer at the beginning of the Capitalist society. Its also expressed the authors humanism ideas on money, law and religion in this society. There, we mention Humanism-the main distinguishing feature of that period, also the brightness characteristic which is shown from the important role in this play.In this thesis, the author introduces the background of the play firstly. Reading the play, we can know that the social background in the play is according with the real society. We know at that time, the society was under the leadership of Elizabeth who was the symbol of power in England. Next the thesis gives an introduction of the main figures in the play. Antonio is rich and kindhearted. From him we can see the spirit of humanism. Portia plays the most important part in the play. The thesis talks about her character, her hobbies, and her attitude of love and the inner meaning-humanism of this figure. She is the center of all these figures the play refers to. Then the thesis compares the figures to give a highlight of the humanism spirit. Social Background of the Play the Merchant of VeniceAs is known, England is a developed country. Today, it also obtains very important status in the world. It is very necessary to talk about the history of the growth of capitalism in England, especially in 16th century.A. The Social Information in Elizabeth ThroneHenry VIII died in 1547 and his nine-year-old son succeeded him. The son was known in history, Edward . The boy-kings reign was a time of extreme Protestantism, for the Regency Council for him consisted almost entirely of the protestant faction. Edward died in 1553. only 15years old. Then his half-sister, Mary, a Catholic, became Queen. The new Queen came to the throne at the age of twenty-five. After the coronation, her parliament passed the necessary legislation to abolish the papal supremacy over the church, and gave Elizabeth all the powers over the church which her father had held, though with the more modest title of “Supreme Government” of the Church of England instead of “Supreme Head” Elizabeth died on 24 March, 1603 at the age of sixty-nine. Her forty-four-year reign had not only ensured the triumph of Protestantism in Britain and in Northern Europe, but had greatly increased the wealth, power and prestige of England. Her navy triumphed over the great Armada of the king of Spain; her sailors circum navigated the world, and established a colony on the North American continent which they named Virginia after their virgin queen. At home, the merchants were prosperous; the common people enjoyed a higher standard of living than in most other European countries, and her reign was also full of achievements in literature and other arts. After all, Elizabeth was one of the most successful despots to govern England in English history. (李超, 邓兴义:34-37)B. Special Social Background Reflecting in the Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice is one of the famous comedy plays written by Shakespeare in his early time. The theme of this play is to extol kindness, friendship and love. It is the mirror of the contradiction between business bourgeois and usurer at the beginning of capitalist society. Its also expressed the authors humanism ideas on money, law and religion in this society. There, we mention Humanism-the main distinguishing feature of that period, also the brightness characteristic which is shown from the important roles in this play. But, what is “humanism”? Humanism is the ideological weapon of bourgeois to fight feudalism at Renaissance, is also the core idea of the bourgeois advanced-literature in this time. Be directed against the world outlook of Medieval feudalism is the spearhead of struggle, especially the religion belief of Catholicism. Church refers to God as the centre of cosmos. At the heart of the Renaissance philosophy is the assertion of the greatness of man. And the elements of Humanism are to establish the central status of human, their dignity and value, to advocate the spirit of rationalism and science and to protest the supreme role of God admired in Middle Ages.Shakespeare was a man of the late Renaissance who gave the fullest expression to humanist ideas. The Merchant of Venice is one of the important works which finished in the First Flowering period of English Literature. In this play, heroes and heroines fight for their own ideas and mould their own life according to their own free will and bring us into happy and ideal world with singing, dancing, harmony with nature and freedom from the vices of the world. Analyzing the Heroes in the PlayIn this play, Shakespeare portrays many roles. The proportion that male figures taking is much more notable than females. So, its necessary to narrate and display their nature character and symbol.A. AntonioAlthough the plays title refers to him, Antonio is a rather lackluster character. He emerges in Act, sceneas a hopeless depressive, someone who cannot name the source of his melancholy and who, throughout the course of the play, devolves into a self-pitying lump, unable to muster the energy required to defend himself against execution. Antonio never names the cause of his melancholy, but the evidence seems to point to his being in love, and the most likely object of his affection is Bassanio. Antonio has risked the entirety of his fortune on oversea trading ventures, yet he agrees to guarantee the potentially lethal loan Bassanio secures from Shylock. He is willing to offer up a pound of flesh, signifying a union that grotesquely alludes to the rite of marriage, where two partners become “one flesh”. Further evidence of the nature of Antonios feelings for Bassanio appears later in the play, when Antonios proclamations resonate with the hyperbole and self-satisfaction of a doomed lovers declaration: “pray God Bassanio come/ To see me pay his debt, and then I care not” (Act , Scene III, 35-36) without a mate, he is indeed the “tainted wether”or castrated ramof the flock, and he will likely return to his favorite pastime of moping about the streets of Venice (Act , Scene I, 113). After all, he has effectively disabled himself from pursuing hid hobbyabusing Shylockby insisting that the Jew convert to Christianity. Although a 16th century audience might have seen this demand as merciful, as Shylock is saving himself from eternal damnation by converting, we are less likely to be convinced. Not only does Antonios reputation as an anti-Semite precede him, but the only instance in the play when he breaks out of his doldrums in his “storm” against Shylock(Act, Scene III, 132). In this play, Antonio proves his character is melancholy, cruelty and some seldom sayinghomosexual.B. BassanioIt is said Middle Ages is the most deathly stillness period in Europe. It also can be seemed its the time that west Europes culture and literature go to grave. As to the pillar of spirit, there is nothing except a total series of religious doctrine. In this environment, people used compliment and boast words to exchange their minds and thoughts. In that society, everyone remain under artificial mask wandered in different kinds of occasion. An absolutely undisguised money relationship makes the true human nature into ash during the masks scraped each other. Bassanio, a noble who is neatly dressed, whose speech and deportment is natural and graceful, gradually becomes a declining aristocrat by spending without restraint. He is a handsome and intelligent young man. But living in such a society, what his every days schedule is to squander money on different meeting and use blandishment speech to talk with other aristocrat. His property is limitation. Once he runs behind his expenses, he will ask his best friendthe wealth merchant in VeniceAntonio for money. From the context, it seems he never returned what he borrowed. To be such a man who wants of lofty aspiration. Maybe the best method frees himself from poverty is to get a profitable marriage. And we mostly can make sure; to obtain money is more important than to marry Portia. This can be improved in laterhe gives his brides ring to the clerk. Although his lover has declared that if he loses her ring, she will never pardon him.C. ShylockShylock in this play is the antagonist. He is the model of usurer. Most people read him as a bogeyman, a clownish Jewish stereotype. He is selfish, curtly, avaricious and niggard. Once he has the chance to revenge his foe. He will try his best to make the other into deathtrap. In the court, he is clam and wisdom, even fights for several Christians joint attack. But most of his speech is coarse, and sometimes “mean”. All of this makes people take unkindly to him. But with the several aspects sagacious with Antonio, it makes him be a mult-personality figure. Being a pagan who lives in Christian society he has strong emotion on racial constriction and the enthusiasm of raising Jewish peoples status. Living in this society, he suffers too much public humiliation and oppression as he says in the following:“He hath disgraced me, and hinderd me half a million; laught at my loss, mockt at my gains, scornd my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and whats his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heald by the same means, warmd and coold by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laught? If you porion us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” (Act Scene50-63)His frequently mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard for us to label him a natural born monster. Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for vengeance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venice citizens. In such condition, his “malicious” is much more reasonable.Besides the facial of Shylocks malignance, actually, he is a person whose sense of decency has been fractured by the persecution he endures. Comparatively, those kindness and wisdom Christian, in fact, have another hideous feature. So, in my mind, Shylock is a man who is worth sympathizing. III. A Comparative Study of Characteristic DifferencesAs we know, this comedy is very light and joyful. Also its theme is very clean. But many criticisms have analyzed the figures in different angles. So its inevitable to make a comparison among the roles.A. Portia and JessicaBoth of them are the important roles in this play. And both have a wealth father. The basic difference is Portia living in Belmont, a peaceful, quiet place. And Jessica lives in Venice, which is a city full of pedal, bourgeoisie and smell of money. As we saycircumstance creates human Portia is witty, brave, and humorous, and there is always a clever maid for company. They enjoy themselves and live a very happy life. By contrast, Jessica, a lonely girl, because of her fathers niggard and heartless, she has no friend. What she does everyday is just stay at home where is a place called gloomy jail. She cant go out to have a play; even cant open the window to have a breath. Her father always worry someone will steal their money and jewels. Shylock is the awful father to her. She never dears to say no to her father. So, when she encounters her love-a Christian young man, Lorenzo. She has nothing to do just packs some money and elopes with him:Jessica: Alack, what heinous sin is it in meTo be ashamed to be my fathers child!But though I am a daughter to his blood.I am not to his manners. Oh, Lorenzo,If thou keep promise, I will end this strife,Become a Christian and thy loving wife!( Act II ,Scene III, P64, 15-22)Here, we can say, the two girls have courage to pursue their own happiness. But Portias happiness is hinge on her wit. Although she is bound to her dead fathers will. She still helps Bassanio to choose the correct chest with her wit. To audience, its more gratification to be accepted. And its a pity for Jessica to choose the elopement for their love.B. Portia and ShylockPortia is a humanist and she is the embodiment of kind, clever, and bravery. She is the person who is leading the trend of society, also we call her “trendsetter”. By contrast, Shylock stands for usurer who is ignorant and backward. Absolutely, they are run in the opposite direction. This is the knot that they will conflict directly. The wonderful performance of their conflicts is shown on Scene the struggle on court. The way that Portia crosses sword with Shylock is similar to Duke with he. Both persuade him first. The little difference is Duke has no alternative and Portia has a well-thought-out plan. She wins the case with her wit. We cant hold ourselves to think Shylock is defeated by a girl who is as old as his daughter. At that time, he has just lost his daughter. What a pity it is! And at last, Shylock loses all he haswealth, daughter and religion. At that moment, Shylocks misfortunes tend to make him a more sympathetic figure than a comic one. “When you lost something, another one is retuning to you.” Maybe that is the true mighty of Shakespeare.C. Antonio and BassanioOne is the rich merchant of Venice. He is the representative figure of growing bourgeois. He is ostentatious and is generous in aiding needy people. He always lends his money to other without interest. So he obtains much good praise. The other one is a profligate son of the rich. He is the embodiment of powerful noble. Except Usurer and Feudalism, they are the dazzling figure in commercialized society. One obtains numerous money; the other has admirable class status. They are the bosom friend in reality. “Money” and “power” work quite well between their friendships. They are Antonio and Bassanio. We nearly can awaken there are some intimate relationship from their name. No matter if its the planned on purpose by author. Both they are very young and handsome. They always have some special smell scattered from their body that you can strike in their every breath. Is it purity kindness or bewitching eye light? Their friendship has been established firmly. Antonio helps Bassanio over his economic collapse. In turn, Bassanio usually to Antonios innermost feeling and the hitch on business. Before Portia goes up to the stage, they just like a pairs of “sweet lover”. But they arent lover, and not a combined community. Antonio is a merchant and he has worried so many affairs about his business. Maybe the only entertainment item is to scold every unmoral action acted by Shylock and to excoriate his curtness, selfishness, stinginess and berate. What these all would happen like that, the reason just because Shylock is Jew. They are the conflicts of two opposite ideas, identification, convention and religions. Bassanio although is a noble, actually he is a declining aristocrat. He has squandered his money at different meeting, gathering and on woman. Not to speak so tactful, he is a playboy who never plans to get a job or doing some business. Instead, he would like to life his head from a profitable marriage. When he borrows money from Antonio as chip to pursuing Portia. Antonio says: I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it; And if it stand, as you yourself still do, Within the eye of honour, be assured My purse, my person, my extremest means, Lie all unlockt to your occasion (Actscene,P12,135-140)And when his boats wreck on sea, he has had to obey the contract, and he says:Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow crule, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debates are cleared between you and I. if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure; if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. (Act Scene P132,315-321)From these words, we can confirm Antonio is the best friend of Bassanio.