George Orwell s Novel, Animal Farm - 881 Words

ENG 2602 Assignment 01 Student number 55447600 Student: K Ganesh The following essay will discuss an extract from George Orwell’s novel, Animal Farm: 1945. Persuasive proses will be discussed with the use of linguistic features such as lexical cohesion, metaphor, hyperbole, mood, pronouns, quoted speech, polarity and tense. This will be based on the persuasion and the creation of an alliance, focussing on the freedom and concern of similar parties. The entire extract has made use of quoted speech using scare quotes, drawing attention to the speaker’s ideas and message of freedom and a possible rebellion. The quoted speech is directed to the second party within the extract, making use of persuasive language. â€Å"...those of us who are capable of it are forced to work to the last atom of our strength; and the very instant that our usefulness has come to an end we are slaughtered with hideous cruelty.† Using persuasion in this sense is to incise the audience to feel empathy along with the speaker. The speaker is directing his speech using a dictator styled approach to his allies, whom he refers to continuously as â€Å"comrades† with the intension of persuading them to listen and think deeply about that which he says. â€Å"... I feel it my duty to pass on to you such wisdom as I have acquired,† Therefore, convincing his audience of his importance and knowledgeable role in their community. Pathos is used to evoke pity and remorse, by making reference to death. â€Å"I do notShow MoreRelatedAnimal Farm, By George Orwell876 Words   |  4 Pagesrebellious animals think no man means freedom and happiness, but they need to think again. The animals of Manor Farm rebel against the farm owner, Mr. Jones, and name it Animal Farm. The animals create Animalism, with seven commandments. As everything seems going well, two of the animals get into a rivalry, and things start changing. Food starts disappearing and commandments are changed, and the power begins to shift. Fath er of dystopian genre, George Orwell writes an interesting allegory, Animal FarmRead More Biography George Orwell Essay1135 Words   |  5 Pagesopinions like George Orwell. Orwell got to express his opinions in his writings. He wrote about the sociopolitical conditions of his time. For a man whose career started as a dishwasher, he came a long way to be known as the great author he is known as today. In this paper George Orwells early life, his variety of jobs before becoming a writer, his many successes and failures and some of his best known novels and critiques of them, and his sad death will all be discussed. George Orwell was born inRead MoreThe Literary Impact Of George Orwell . George Orwell, Born1375 Words   |  6 PagesThe Literary Impact of George Orwell George Orwell, born as Eric Arthur Blair, was a British journalist and author. His works were compelling, especially, when it comes to his strong political beliefs. He is considered one of the most widely admired English-language essayists of the twentieth century. 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Orwell is, ironically, revolutionary in hisRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm1392 Words   |  6 Pages George Orwell Never Misuses Words In what was a vastly controversial novel published in 1945, George Orwell’s Animal Farm describes the horrific brand of communism in the Soviet Union and the conscious blindness that most of the West accepted at that time. Although Orwell labeled Animal Farm as a fairy tale, this historically parallel novel branches into the genres of political satire, fable, and allegory as well. What made Animal Farm so controversial among the â€Å"British socialists† and WesternRead MoreAnimal Farm Or Ussr Part II1243 Words   |  5 PagesCliffy Smith James Hensley Pre-IB LA 10 10 April 2015 Animal Farm or USSR Part II Animal Farm written by George Orwell is a hopeful novel about a group of animals that overthrow their farmer and create an animalistic government. Much like All the King’s Men a novel by Robert Penn Warren, Animal Farm has strong political undertones relating to the the skewed government of Soviet Russia. Throughout the book many animal characters can be identified with the political leaders and influences throughoutRead MoreGeorge Orwell s Animal Farm958 Words   |  4 PagesImagine that you were an animal s or citizen living under Napoleon or Stalin rule and the fear that your life can be taken always from you at any time. In the novel of Animal Farm, George Orwell he wanted to show how a book is a sarcasm of the Russian Revolution during the communist years and the satire of that time between Trotsky and Stalin. Where Orwell chose to create his character base of the common people of Russia at the time of the Revolution. Animal Farm is a social or allegory about Napoleon

Financial Management Diversifiable Risk Example

Essays on Financial Management: Diversifiable Risk Term Paper Financial Management - Business Finance Final Exam Section A A1. Diversifiable risk is also known as unsystematic risk because market circumstances do not affect it. Diversifiable risk can be lowered by investing in a number of different shares, so as to reduce the chance of losing everything at once. On the other hand, market risk is derived from changes in the economy; events such as a recession or an increase in interest rates. All of these factors are cyclical in that that all balance out over the long term and so can be predicted to some extent. A2. The guiding principle for a financial manager to decide on a choice of capital structure is linked with the strategic goals of the firm. If debt is too high, then the company will have to find new capital too reduce long-term debt, which will improve the overall prospects of the company. A3. A sensitivity analysis is used to predict an outcome based on a number of potential situations. The main purpose is to see whether one variable has an effect on another. One such example is the effect that a higher interest rate will have on the price of a company’s stock. A4. The Dividend Irrelevance Theory asserts that a firm’s dividend policy will not be affected by a change in the stock or cost of capital of that company. The only thing that impacts the value of a business is the risks they take and how they make profit. Investors are often not concerned about the dividend policy of a company that they invest in because they sell some equities if they need cash fast. A5. Average Return = 55/ 5 = 11 Standard Deviation = 64 / (5-1) = 16% Coefficient of Variation = 16/ 11 = 1.4545 x 100 = 145.45% A6. a) 2nd year growth rate = 42.9% 3rd year growth rate = 25% 4th year growth rate = -50% 5th year growth rate = 28% Average growth rate of dividend = 11.475% b) 0.96 (1 + .11475) / .25 - .11475 = $7.91 Section B B1. a) i) Unit Sales = 14,000 - 26,000 Cost Price per Unit = $36 - $44 Selling Price per Unit = $48 - $112 Depreciation = $50,000 Expenses per year = $160,000 - $240,000 ii) Unit Sales = 14,000 Cost Price per Unit = $44 Total Cost = $616,000 Selling Price per Unit = $48 Total Revenue = $672,000 Depreciation = $50,000 Tax = $672,000 * 0.34 = $228,480 Expenses per year = $240,000 Total Net Profit = ($462,480) iii) I believe that the project should be considered because of the potential benefits that it has to offer. The above figures don’t make for great reading, but this is only in a worst case scenario where business is really bad. To look at it another way, in a best case scenario the total profit would be $775,920. Of course, this is unlikely to happen either. But, in reality, the actual profit will be somewhere between these two figures, but most likely on the positive side rather than the negative. b) i) Dividend = $6,000 - (0.20 x $12,000) $6,000 - $2,400 = $3,600 ii) $6,000 - $3,600 = $2,400 iii) Debt: Equity = 4:1 x/ 12,000 - x 4x = 12,000 - x 5x = 12,000 x = $2,600 iv) 12,000 - 2,600 - 2,400 = $7,000 B2. a) i) NPV = $3,390 ii) NPV = -$30,290 iii) IRR = 11.26% b) i) Cost of Equity = .05 + (1.2 x .08) = 14.6% ii) Cost of Equity = .70 x (1 + .08) = $.756 (.756/ 4) + .08 = 26.9% iii) .22 -.05 = .17 or 17% c) (1 + .0733)/ (1 + .02) - 1 = 0.5225 x 100 = 5.23%

Malware Cyber Attack Samples for Students †MyAssignmenthelp.com

Question: Discuss about the Malware Cyber Attack. Answer: Introduction Malware cyber-attack is popular among IT users for its vulnerable impacts on systems, databases and networks. For last many years, various cases of malware attack has encountered in IT industry. Not only the past experiences but also the present experiences of malware are vulnerable. It is a big challenge for IT developers to control malware attacks. Malware is a malicious software attack and it refers to a program that is created deliberately to access data from databases and networks in unauthorized way. Malware has different types such as virus, spyware, Trojan horses, backdoor etc. Once this malicious software enters into your system or database, it can damage whole data stored into your system. There are various essential points about malware that we will discuss here in this report such as challenges of malware, its problems, and impact on IT users and its relevant technologies to get rid of malware attack (Bull, 2017). Challenges of Malware The main challenges that are encountered by IT users in case of malware attack are detection of malware, lack of knowledge about usage of appropriate technologies such as encryption, backup software and others (Symantec.com, 2017). Detection of Malware Before resolving issue of malware, it is necessary to detect malware into system and database by using virus detecting tools. But it is not easy to detect location of malware. For doing this developers should have proper knowledge that where malware can be located into system. But due to lack of knowledge and experience of security professionals in this field, detection gets delay. It is big challenge for IT developers to handle this problem. Lack of usage of appropriate Technologies Most of security professionals are found in field of network security and privacy rather than hardware/software security. Due to this, relevant technologies that will be helpful to control malware attacks, are not implemented properly by developers and it causes lack of security and privacy and it becomes easier for hackers to insert malicious script into system or network. Problems of Malware Besides above discussed challenges of malware, there are some problems that are faced by users who have encountered malware attack on their databases and systems. The first major problem is related to failure of hardware. Trojan virus is type of malware and once it enters into system, puts its influence on open and close function of CD/DVD tray. Besides this, it can spread into root files and folders easily and in quick way. Data loss and data theft is also a big problem of malware attack. Malicious program is injected into system by hackers and once this program executes it puts impact on operating system and cause files damage. This loss is difficult to recover if there no backup has taken previously by owner of system (Heimdal Security Blog, 2017). Relevant Technologies The above discussed challenges and issues of malware can be managed or controlled with some relevant technologies. According to analysis, we found following relevant technologies for managing malware attack (Securelist.com, 2017). The security and privacy of system need to maintain by installing anti-virus software such as Kaspersky, Avast etc. This solution facilitates user to detect and remove malware from system. Firewall is an in-built software solution that is located into operating system. It should be in on mode so that it can help to detect unknown or vulnerable entity into system and can alert user. Firewall has capability to restrict entry of harmful data entity. Therefore, this technique must be used by users and developers end to get rid of problem of malware. Use of cryptography is also an effective way to get rid of problem of malware or other virus attacks (Cooney, World, 2017). Applications of Technologies The applications areas of above discussed relevant technologies to control malware attacks, are wide. All those business organizations or users who are using computer systems, internet and other IT applications, they should use these technologies to maintain high level security and privacy of data. Clarification about Vague Areas and Research Questions The vague areas of malware can be discussed in form of queries of people about this harmful virus attack that are not cleared to them. Question 1: Can security packages and firewalls cause problem? Answer: The security packages and firewalls are helpful for every computer user to keep security and privacy of system. But there some confusions that are found at their levels and due to this, in some situations where users do not have knowledge, there software packages and firewalls can cause problems (Reilly, 2017). Discussion Issues of Malware discussed in Forum The forum that we have selected for this report has discussed some important malware issues that are listed as below: The main issue is easy to access personal and credit card information of users from a system of an organization by installing malware script into it. This script fetches data from system and sends it to hackers. Another malware related issue is that administration control can be released by hackers. After inserting malware into administrators system, confidential information like password, usernames etc. can be collected by hackers without in knowledge of administrator. Due to these issues that are not easy to recover, IT users considered malware a most dangerous cyber-attack. The provided information is useful but in this forum I would like to add more essential information about malware issue and that malware also have potential to denial access of service of server by computers that are connected with it. It is called Denial of Service attack and it is implemented by using different types of malware such as Trojan, Spyware etc. Important Issues not addressed in Forum The above discussed challenges, problems and issues of malware are so important to come in knowledge of IT users. These points are clearly defined in forum, but there is an important issue that is not addressed in this forum and that issue is boot file of computer can be corrupted by malware and it will result in damage of stored information into hard disk of system. That is why, periodic scan should be implemented of whole system to detect malware and so that quick action can be taken to remove it from system. Impact of Issues of Malware on Real Life of Users As we have already discussed that impact of malware is so harmful for both users and developers. Here we will discuss some vulnerable impacts of malware of real life of users. The chances of data breaches increased because malware has already affected boot section of users system. Network intrusion becomes possible for hackers by installing malware and it directly puts impact on network algorithms. Cryptography violation becomes easier for hackers and it becomes difficult for users to keep data hide properly. Whole database can be corrupted by injecting a small malware script (Magento, 2017). Important Lesson Learnt from Discussion From above discussion we learnt about vulnerability of malware, its major challenges and common issues that are not properly handled at developers end. The protection of malware can get properly by users if both at developers and users level protection techniques will be used. It is commonly seen that users do not care for their systems and do not security tools like anti-virus, monitoring or scanning tools etc. Due to this problem of malware occurs frequently and hackers take advantage of this weak point of users. On other side, there is need to enhance contribution of developers in field of hardware and software security, so that appropriate technologies can be used to handle malware or other cyber-attacks. Conclusion After this whole discussion we can say that the prevention of systems, databases and networks is necessary from malware and other virus attacks. But to achieve this above discussed efforts are required to do and relevant technologies must be used to control malware attack. This will be an effective way to get rid of problem of virus attacks. References Bull, D. (2017). The Past, Present, and Future of Phishing and Malware | McAfee Blogs. McAfee Blogs. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://securingtomorrow.mcafee.com/business/security-connected/past-present-and-future-of-phishing/ Cooney, M., World, N. (2017). 10 common mobile security problems to attack. PCWorld. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://www.pcworld.com/article/2010278/10-common-mobile-security-problems-to-attack.html Heimdal Security Blog. (2017). 10 Warning Signs that Your Computer is Malware-Infected [Updated]. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://heimdalsecurity.com/blog/warning-signs-operating-system-infected-malware/ Magento.(2017). Important New Malware Issue | Magento. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://magento.com/security/news/important-new-malware-issue Reilly, A. (2017). The Challenges in Defending Against Malware - Smallbiztechnology.com. SmallBizTechnology. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://www.smallbiztechnology.com/archive/2011/09/the-challenges-in-defending-against-malware.html/#.WPdSJGclHIU Symantec.com. (2017). Malware Infection Vectors: Past, Present, and Future | Symantec Connect. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://www.symantec.com/connect/articles/malware-infection-vectors-past-present-and-future Ask-leo.com. (2017). Viruses and Malware. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://ask-leo.com/viruses_and_malware.html Securelist.com. (2017). Damage caused by malware Securelist Information about Viruses, Hackers and Spam. Retrieved 13 May 2017, from https://securelist.com/threats/damage-caused-by-malware/

The play The Merchant of Venice is described as Romantic Comedy Essay Example

The play The Merchant of Venice is described as Romantic Comedy Paper One aspect of Romantic Comedy is that it should contain Romance. This is evident in the fictional romance of Portias marriage lottery in the Three Casket Story. Another aspect of Romantic comedy is evident when the central character Antonio is saved from Death and Disaster. The rule of comedy is that however serious the conflict may be, it should all end well in a resolution. As the Italian poet Dante (1256-1326) wrote: A comedy is journey through hell to purgatory and up to heavens which ends well, but does not make the readers laugh. We will write a custom essay sample on The play The Merchant of Venice is described as Romantic Comedy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on The play The Merchant of Venice is described as Romantic Comedy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on The play The Merchant of Venice is described as Romantic Comedy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The play is described, as a comedy obeying all the conventions its settings is urban in Venice and countryside in Belmont, its characters middle class. It uses prose and iambic pentameter, there is a clownish comic servant (Lancelot) and a jester (Gratiano) Plot confusion arises from disguise and disaster is avoided, complications are resolved, marriage concluded. The main thematic and structural elements of the play all belong to the category of Romantic comedy rather than tragedy or history. The basic action of the play is moved by two interconnecting stories: 1. Bassanios courtship to a wealthy heiress of Belmont, Portia, which is straightforward romance. 2. The story of the flesh bond is an ancient time narrative known to Shakespeare by II Pecorone (1558) set by Ser Giovanni Fiorentini and the Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlow. I think to a modern day audience it is hard to classify the merchant of Venice as a comedy because the modern day audience would feel that the plot was designed tragically. Elements of harsh reality includes- the sinister and ruthless plan of Shylock also; his total and crushing defeat at the end, which brings the play more close to a tragedy rather than comedy. The play has been turned away from the conventions of Romantic comedy by the union of the, lovers in Act 3 the middle of the play, a modern day audience would have expected to see the romance of Portia earlier. The love of Portia and Bassanio is not comic, it comes about through a test devised by Portias father to safe guard her against unsuitable suitors. This kind of romance is normal to Elizabethan Audience because there is no alive interfering adult, however a modern day audience would consider this kind of courtship not leading freely to choose a marriage partner as it is through a attached condition of choosing the right casket. Portia and Bassanios love is outwards looking (by choosing the right casket), self-sacrificing, comprehensive and mature unlike the mad love normally associated with romantic comedy. Bassanio is helped in every way toward this marriage. Portia is naturally attracted towards Bassanio and Portia does not go against her fathers will to win him. She values her fathers will more than her love. But news of Antonio being in danger meant postponing of the honeymoon meant the harmonious society promised by the conventions of Romantic comedy is not fulfilled, and Portia suffer financially and emotionally. As later in the play Lorenzo comments on this sacrifice for love: You have a noble and true conceit of god like enmity, which appears most strongly in the bearing thus the absence of your lord. No modern day heiress as a bride would do that. I think modern day theatregoers will consider this disturbing and class it tragic rather than comedy. However the play ends on a suitably romantic comic note as Gratiano, the most humorous of the lovers promises a good life for his wife and shadow of Shylock has passed and Antonio is safely in Belmont and atmosphere is of love and Friendship. The plot is tied together by friendship and love of Antonio and Bassanio, which becomes the story of hatred and revenge (Antonio versus Shylock). Bassanios need for money to marry Portia, leads him to borrow from Antonio, who in turn borrows from Jewish moneylender, a usurer, Shylock. Shylock is a member of racial and religious minority of Venice, where Christians are in majority, Shylock hates Christians in general and Antonio in particular for the racial and economic enmity towards him and his business of money lending. Seeing an opportunity to gain advantage over Antonio, Shylock proposes the flesh bond, which Antonio agrees to. If the debt is not repaid in the said period, shylock will be permitted to cut off a pound of his flesh. In this we see revenge tragedy in commercial Venice is counteracted by romance in magical Belmont. The fiction of three-casket story in magical Belmont where Portia a wealthy heiress peruses her fathers will to choose her marriage partner by a successful suitor, who chooses correctly from the three caskets. This courtship romance works out perfectly for Portia, two suitors rejected for choosing incorrectly and eventually meeting her wanted suitor Bassanio, who chooses correctly. Thus ending the fairy tail courtship romance produces the perfect result for Portia. Immediately after the resolution of the romance plot between Portia and Basssanio, the news of Antonios disaster comes his loss of ships at sea, resulting in the forfeit of the bond. Shylock proceeds with his deadly suit against Antonio; according to the Venetian Law moneylender shylock has an answerable case. Bassanio not only has won a rich heiress as a bride but also Portia is more enterprising and intelligent than him. She disguises herself as a lawyer and defends Antonios case skilfully and legally by producing statutes, which not only stops Shylock from proceeding with the case but also Shylock is defeated, he becomes vulnerable to death penalty for conspiring against Antonios life. The Jew is then offered a merciful settlement his life is spared on condition that he becomes a Christian, and that half of his wealth is handed over to Antonio who will keep it in trust for the benefit of Shylocks runaway daughter Jessica. The emotional power of the Shylocks story overshadows the love of Portia and Bassanio. Therefore for the modern theatregoers overall effect is tragic rather than comic, because through T.V, cinema and video modern day audience take comic as funny and tending to laughter rather than social resolution typically ending in marriage. The three main characters that I think play a very important role in this play are Antonio, Bassanio and Shylock. Character of Antonio is used to show the relationship of love and friendship with Bassanio. In the beginning of the play, we meet Antonio who is a rich merchant suffering from depression, In sooth I know not why I am so sad. We have been introduced to a great centre of Venice, Rialto through the merchant Antonio, who is shy, anxious and lacking in confidence and who is deeply involved in his personal thoughts and naivety relying on his argosies with portly sails/ like signors rich burghers on the flood. He is trying to secure a credit for his friend Bassanio to send him to a Secret Pilgrimage and ignoring the perils at sea. We hear of spices scattered on the sea, enrobed with silk, which is the foreshadowing of the disaster at sea which will endanger his life. Antonio is in a deep crisis of identity, I have much a do to know myself. The impression we get from other characters in the play such as Shylock, who refers to Antonio as a good man. But on the other hand, another character and a friend of Antonio interrupt Shylock, Have you heard any imputation to the contrary? Shylock quickly rephrases his remarks,my meaning is that he is good man to have you understand me that he is sufficient. Which meant that he is credit worthy. Infact Shylock was not looking for his credit worthiness he is looking for an advantage over him. Antonio unstintingly helps to raise money for his friend Bassanio is to the extent that he is ready to put his life onto the hands of his enemy. Antonio is a loyal friend but has a vicious side to his character as well, he is a bully hiding behind the law, we learn from Shylocks aside that Antonio is racist, He hates our sacred nation Antonios judgement of Shylock is blinded by the intense desire to help his friend Bassanio, regardless of any cost. Bassanio can see the danger in borrowing money from Shylock unlike Antonio, I like not fair terms and A Villains mind. Antonio is gullible cannot see the ulterior motive of Shylock, by readily lending the money. He is taking revenge from Antonio because Antonio has mistreated him called him a misbeliever, cut throat dog, and spat on his Jewish gabardine. Not only this, Antonio promised to continue his racial hatred. I am as likely to call thee so again, spat on thee again, to spurn thee to which reinforces the Jewish case against Christians. Antonio faces the trial with resignation, I am the tainted weather of the flock, which gives us the cue as to see him this way, but does not reveal his character. At the end of the trial, after the crushing defeat of Shylock, Antonio shows no mercy by converting him into a Christian and giving the money to his run away daughter. Antonios behaviour shows he is no better than Shylock in taking revenge. However the Christian law supports him. Bassanio has accumulated debts mainly from Antonio. He is keeping up the lifestyle Showing a more swelling port/ than my faint means would grant continence His behaviour is prodigal because he has borrowed money to establish a social and economic status. Bassanio is describing to Antonio the Wondrous virtues of Portia to go on Sacred Pilgrimage, not only to gain a virtuous and loving wife but also to settle all the debts by marring a lady richly left. What he explains to Antonio is not courtship but more of a business plan, To shoot another arrow that self way which you did shoot the first/ I do not doubt, as I will watch the aim or to find both, or bring you back again, and I thankfully rest debtor for first. I think a modern day bank manager will see this kind of approach of Bassanio to pay debts as a Credit risk than being credit worthy. Nerissa describes him as a Scholar and soldier because his thinking type of attitude made him choose the right casket. I think he is more of a fortune hunter than as a suitor for a beautiful wife. Bassanios character develops toward the end of the play when he is honest in his love for Portia, which over takes his earlier sentiment: To pay all the debts I owe. His love for Antonio brings him back to Venice where he offers his own life: The Jew shall have my flesh, blood bones and all/ Ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood. The character development emphasises that love and friendship are superior to his Earlier self-centred greed. Shylock is the most memorable character in the play. His name is equated with greed and miser ness. He is lonely and isolated figure, unloved even by his own daughter Jessica who implies, our house is hell. She is ashamed to be his fathers child! But though I am a daughter to his blood/ I am not to his manners. Jessica elopes due to her authoritative father Shylock and ends her strive, becomes a Christian and a loving wife of Lorenzo. Shylock is target of vicious mockery by Gratiano; he is a victim member of the oppressed minority in Venice where Christian are in majority. Shylock creates a sense of his different ethnic identity by his speech habits, he speaks of our tribe (Jews), and he will not eat with you (Christians). The Christians in turn call him a dog, spurn him with their feet, spat on him, so to the Christian is a cur, a wolf, a devil, and subhuman. Shylock reminds them of the physical basis of their common humanity if you prick us do we not bleed. In return he wants blood. Shylock is full of hatred and desire for revenge against Antonio because the environment he lives in years of ill treatment by the Christian is indicated in his outburst against the insensitivity that Christian represented in the form of anti-Semitic behaviour of Antonio: He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million, laughed at my loses, mocked at my gain, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies- and whats his reason? I am a Jew. Hath no the Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? (Act 3 S 1) This uncovers understandable motive for his revengeful behaviour, which brings sympathies of audience for him, but when he insists the bond, the audience takes this sympathy back. However, a person who has no feelings will be the only one not to move by the plight of Shylock at the hands of Christian in the end, when he is utterly crushed and leaves the courtroom in anguish. Shylock becomes the victim of his own stubborn cruelty; he loses everything even his faith. I think few of us will feel for Shylock that he got what he deserved in the end but others will see him as a victim of his environment made cruel by the years of ill treatment by the Christians. He is driven by hatred to the extend that he tried to use Christian law against Christians: To have the due and forfeit of my bond, if you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and your cities freedom. The victimised character aspect of him exposes hypocrisy of Christians and the modern day audience would sympathise with him but again when the audience learns about his attitude towards saving 9000 ducats, then 3000 ducats, when all attempts failed his dignity. I think it will bring laughter from the audience rather than sympathy. Two important themes in the play are appearance/reality and money/wealth. The main theme of The Merchant of Venice is appearance vs. reality. Bassanio had borrowed, and is borrowing more, money from Antonio so he can look and live on a higher level than his own income can sustain. Later, in Belmont, Bassanio must choose between caskets of gold, silver, or lead to win Portia, who he wants to marry. It turns out that lead is the correct choice. This shows that what may appear to be invaluable, can yield the best results is another example of appearance vs. reality. Yet, another example of this theme is when Shylock is lending money to Antonio without interest, but if Antonio fails to pay back on time, he loses a pound of flesh. Shylock offers this in a way that seems generous and jokingly, but really wants to use the situation to get back at Antonio for past humiliations: Were he (Antonio) out of Venice, I can make what merchandise I will When Portia appears in the trial scene she is not what she appears to be, yet provides the play with the most interesting and tense scene when she defends Antonio against shylocks attempts to gain his pound of flesh. The second theme in the play is Money/Wealth. Money is the theme of the love plot as well as the hate plot of the Merchant of Venice. Bassanios need for money to win a rich heiress Portia as a bride, a lady richly left is what puts Antonio in the power of Shylock. Antonio and Shylock are very different merchants, yet both trying to make money. Jessica brings lots of money, when she elopes with Lorenzo, she throws down a casket. She then spends extravagantly the money her father had earned so carefully. Attitudes to the getting and spending of money are the important themes of the play, wealth does not make Portia happy, By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world. She needs to love and beloved, spending money is more fun than getting it, generosity is better than meanness yet generosity is not the word for a Jessica who exchanged a turquoise ring for a monkey and spent four score ducats in a night. Life with Shylock must have been grim but the ring Jessica steals and then exchanges for monkey was the ring her mother gave to her father. To a modern day audience the play is very anti-Semitic because Shakespeare age based their prejudice on religious grounds as the Elizabethan inherited the fiction, fabricated by the early Church, that the Jews murdered Christ and were therefore in league with the devil and were actively working to subvert spread of Christianity. The religious grounds of this anti-Semitism means that if a Jew converted to Christianity, as Shylock is forced to do in The Merchant of Venice, then all will be forgiven as the repentant Jew is embraced by the arms of the all merciful Christian God of love. In fact, some Christian believed-as do some fundamentalist sects today, that the coming of the Kingdom of God was aided by converting the Jews to Christianity. When the abuse of the Jew as usurer is combined with the Christian religious bias against Jewishness that marked Elizabethan England, this leads to a natural result in the demonisation of the Jew. This demonisation quickly leads to the image of the Jew as a wanton murderer, and is clearly revealed in the accusation of blood libel that arose against the Jews during their year before exile from England. In The Merchant Of Venice the central conflict is common enough, and decidedly the stuff of romantic comedy a young man borrows money to finance his pursuit of a beautiful and wealthy woman. But the devil is in the details as Shylock, and the details of this play are troubling, ambiguous, and risky. The borrower is a Christian, the moneylender a Jew. The merry bond, a pound of flesh, has overtones of the crucifixion of Christ, and in a Venetian courtroom, justice and mercy get so entangled that the final verdict seems neither just nor merciful. Therefore interpreted by a modern day audience as anti-Semitic, also because of the effects of more recent events of 20th Century such as the horrors of the holocaust, the very names of the WWII concentration camps such as Auschwitz, Dachau, and Belson remains the symbols of persecution of the Jews by Nazis. The part of the play I would like to highlight is the trial scene; I have chosen it because of its dramatic tension, who will win the court case? Will the judge really have to let Shylock carve a pound of flesh from Antonios body? Portia disguised as a man, how would she intensify the drama through the theme of appearance and reality. The evil of Shylock hidden behind the mask of friendship: I would be friends with you and have your love, kind offer is sealed as the dreadful bond. The language used in the many speeches can be staged to highlight the conflict and rivalry between Antonio and Shylock. The trial scene in The Merchant of Venice is one of the great scenes in Shakespeare. In the early stages of the play Shylocks deal with Antonio seems so silly that it does not make any sense. However, when Antonio is unable to pay his debts to Shylock the conditions of the deal assume a terrifying quality, I will have my bond! Speak not against it! What Shylock actually wants to do here is to kill Antonio and make it legitimate by using the idea of the contract. This, of course, is a viciously cruel punishment for the non- payment of debt, no matter how much Shylock hated Antonio. It is therefore necessary for Shylocks cruelty to be contained and this, of course, is where Portia, disguised as Balthasar comes in. Her brilliant probing attack on Shylock completely destroys his position and this is quite acceptable, given what Shylock actually deserved. However, Shylock is stripped of his wealth for his attempted murder of a Venetian, which in the full balance of things seems harsh. The court itself, after the request of Antonio, then shows some mercy to Shylock. He will lose only half his wealth, provided he converts to Christianity. The stage: will be an arena type in the round where audience would be sitting is semi circle around the stage in a stadium type seating arrangement for a fuller view of the court room scene for every one. The trial scene does not need to be changed so the curtain is not needed. The Set: to make it an informal court room scene where I would be highlighting the speeches I have chosen an uncluttered room with minimum furniture and props, an oval table with some chairs around it, few chairs at the side walls for Bassanio and others. The Dukes chair would be with arms and pen holder in front of him. Another square table and a chair with a computer to record the proceedings for the Clark of the judge. The walls of the room would be fitted with bookshelves full of law reference books and some upright filling cabinets in one corner. Costumes: Shylock dressed as modern Jew with a pinned stripped dark suit with three buttons, a Jewish skull cap, enters holding a leather briefcase containing a box of surgical instrument and digital weighing scales. Antonio dressed up in a dark blue suit with a light blue shirt, white collars and cuffs with Christian Dior cufflinks. Duke wearing a judges wig and a robe. Bassanio and others wearing Next suits. Portia and Nersissa disguised as men with moustaches wearing black gowns and white collars. Sound system: all actors wearing small microphones. Sound effects: through electronic tape players. I would want Shylock to deliver this speech with strong emotions. Now Shylock look at the Duke and answer him, what judgement shall I dread doing no wrong. Now with quivering muscles and altered tones move in a semi circle and point with his arms towards every one sitting in the court, You have among you many a puchasd slaves, you use in abject and in slavish parts, because you bought them. Now turn towards the Duke and say in a high pitched voice Let them be free, marry them to your heirs? Why seat they under brethrens? Let their beds be made as soft as your: Now, Shylock put your hands towards your mouth and let their palates be seasond with such viands: At this stage wave your arms and beat your chest with your arms and you will answer the slaves are ours. In a very angry tone, so do I answer you? Shylock, looking at Antonio moves towards him, the pound of flesh which I demand of him is dearly bought, this is mine and I will have it. Turn towards the Duke and in a loud and angry tone there is no force in decrees of Venice: I stand for judgement, answer. Stress on shall and say, Shall I have it. Portia, now with your back towards the Duke looking at Shylock say in an eloquent way without overstressing on the word straind speak with two syllable without distracting affect and start moving in a rapid speech form, giving it as much energy as possible, The quality of mercy is not straind, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty, Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings; But mercy is above this sceptred sway; It is enthroned in the hearts of kings, It is an attribute to God himself; And earthly power doth then show likest Gods. When mercy seasons justice. Portia start urging Shylock to offer mercy to Antonio in a pleading tone, When mercy seasons justice. Therefore, Jew, Though justice be thy plea, consider this, That, in the course of justice, none of us. Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; and that same prayer doth teach us all to render. The deeds of mercy. I have spoke thus much, to mitigate the justice of thy plea; which if thou follow, this strict court of Venice. Looking towards Antonio with anxiety and says Must needs give sentence gainst the merchant there. Antonio stand tall like a tower at the kneeling body of Shylock with a steady joyousness, addressing the Duke and all the court, To quit the fine for one half of his goods, I am content so he will let me have, the other half in use, looking down at Shylock Antonio now strike a harder blow, upon his death, tauntingly on that lately stole his daughter, and in a triumphant tone two things provided more, that for this favour, he presently become a Christian, the other that he do record a gift here in the court of all he dies possessd, unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter. I believe the play is of great relevance to contemporary society. Although the play was written and performed in England in the 16th Century, the theme of prejudice and religious intolerance is still very relevant today, in the 21st Century as it was in the Shakespeares time. Many recent productions have focused upon the treatment of the Jews and have used ideas from this period of history. The Oscar winning Spielberg film Schindlers List gives an account of Jewish Persecution under the Nazis and contains similar ideas at times to those in the play. The existence of Apartheid in South Africa was the recent reminder of the behaviour like that of Antonios does not go away, it simply changes where it happens. Even after 400 hundred years of this play someone, somewhere will behave like the characters of The Merchant of Venice. For a modern day audience it is not possible to remain neutral about the situation, such as in Merchant of Venice, it does arouse our response and encourages the need to identify and combat anti-Semitism and all other forms of racial prejudices in our contemporary society.