Wealth Issues In The Great Gatsby - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1155 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/03/26 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: The Great Gatsby Essay Did you like this example? Speaks to commonwealth,class,love,and loss. Most of this book include that he was a drug dealing and he fall in love but then he want to war and she stay home wait until he come back. Then when he came back from the war he was looking for daisy because he thought they going to have a future together and the what supposed to happen then she fell in love with someone else.The Great Gatsby is relevant because it includes the topics of love,class,and drugs. In the book it stated when Nick is the narrator. It was talking about how Nick move to the west egg and he live next door to Gatsby. Then later he want to a tea party because he got a phone call said that Tom live in west egg. He hasnt seen his cousin in years and daisy was there so that how Nick meet Daisy. Daisy brought a friend. Her name is Jordan baker. Jordan and Daisy are very good friend. Jordan like Nick so she ask Daisy can she set them together and she said sure. Then when Tom hear the phone ringing. He want to answer it and Daisy,Jordan,and Nick was listening carefully. It was something about the daughter but no one knew about the daughter. They thought it was only Tom and Daisy lived in house. Then Nick ask where yall Daughter. It was quiet and nobody answer. Then after that everybody want home. High class is the rich and low class is poor. In the book it was about how the rich people used the poor people. Tom was married to daisy and he was cheated on her with Ms.Wilson. He used to buy her things so she can still with him. Then one day she died from getting hit by a yellow car. All the poor try to dress rich. Most of the poor when to Tom party because they be given away money and they just try to used them for they money and they dont realize that the rich uses them. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Wealth Issues In The Great Gatsby" essay for you Create order Gatsby have a ruffle life. He was poor well grow up. His didnt have a lot of money. He lie said that he want to the war. He lie that he have rich parents and he lie that his family died. When he wa ad grow up he was good looked. He have a lot girls but he couldnt have daisy that why he so pressed over her. He didnt have a lot money so he did illegal things like sell drugs, alcohol,bomb. That how he get all that money. Think about it how to you get rich in months u must have did a lot of work.Live with people that care about you and not your money. People can turn around quick then a pencil. Most people cant ever trust the person that you really close too. Gatsby died from chasing his dream girl. Daisy dont care about Gatsby no more. People dont really relate to the American Dream but Gatsby did. He is rich the great American tragedy.Daisy dont care about Gatsby no more. People dont really relate to the American Dream but Gatsby did. He is rich the great American tragedy.In the book it was about how the rich people used the poor people. Tom was married to daisy and he was cheated on her with Ms.Wilson. He used to buy her things so she can still with him. Then one day she died from getting hit by a yellow car. All the poor try to dress rich. Most of the poor when to Tom party because they be given away money and they just try to used them for they money and they dont realize that the rich uses them. Other people will say it dont matter that you rich because why do rich people have to be used the poor people for they not important.. Who care what the poor think because they not on are level up.The poor get advantage by the rich. See the rich people didnt even care that Ms.Wilson died. That how rich people is mess up because you can be a good friend with someone who poor Live with people that care about you and not your money. People can turn around quick then a pencil. Most people cant ever trust the person that you really close too. Gatsby died from chasing his dream girl. Daisy dont care about Gatsby no more. People dont really relate to the American Dream but Gatsby did. He is rich the great American tragedy. People not even show up to their funeral. They fall in love but it want to love to hate in a few months.People can turn around quick then a pencil. Most people cant ever trust the person that you really close too. Gatsby died from chasing his dream girl. Daisy dont care a bout Gatsby no more. People dont really relate to the American Dream but Gatsby did. He is rich the great American tragedy. In the book it was about how the rich people used the poor people. Tom was married to daisy and he was cheated on her with Ms.Wilson. He used to buy her things so she can still with him. Then one day she died from getting hit by a yellow car. All the poor try to dress rich. Most of the poor when to Tom party because they be given away money and they just try to used them for they money and they dont realize that the rich uses them.Gatsby have a ruffle life. He was poor well grow up. His didnt have a lot of money. He lied said that he want to the war. He lie that he have rich parents and he lie that his family died. When he wa ad grow up he was good looked. He have a lot girls but he couldnt have daisy that why he so pressed over her. He didnt have a lot money so he did illegal things like sell drugs, alcohol,bomb. That how he get all that money. Think about it how to you get rich in months u must have done a lot of work. Other people will say it dont matter that you rich because why do rich people have to be used the poor people for they not important.. Who care what the poor think because they not on are level up.The poor get advantage by the rich. See the rich people didnt even care that Ms.Wilson died. That how rich people is mess up because you can be a good friend with someone who is poor but people not even show up to their funeral. They fall in love but it want to love to hate in a few months.

Significance of the Women in Sophocles Antigone Essay

Significance of the Women in Antigone Michael J. O’Brien in the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpretations of Oedipus Rex, maintains that there is â€Å"a good deal of evidence to support this view† that the fifth century playwright was the â€Å"educator of his people† and a â€Å"teacher† (4). Sophocles in his tragedy Antigone teaches about â€Å"morally desirable attitudes and behavior,† (4) and uses a woman as heroine and another woman in a supporting role to do most of the instructing of the audience in this regard. This essay will explore the role of women in the drama, the attitude toward women therein, the involvement of women in plot development, and other aspects of women in Antigone. In the essay, â€Å"Sophocles’†¦show more content†¦Watling comments on Sophocles’ heroine in Antigone and how it comes about that she defies Creon’s decree against burial of Polynices: â€Å"A woman, for whom political expediency takes second place, by a long way, to compassion and piety, has defied the order and is condemned to death† (13). Thus it is seen that Antigone has been given an exalted status in the drama by Sophocles, superior to King Creon who is motivated merely by â€Å"political expediency.† The audience is fully aware that the gods are on the side of Antigone even as the play begins due to the tradition of dramatic irony in Sophocles’ plays: Thomas Woodard in the Introduction to Sophocles: A Collection of Critical Essays states: â€Å"Tradition pays homage to â€Å"Sophoclean irony† (a rival of â€Å"Socratic irony†), which implies a twofold dramatic situation, known to be twofold by the audience in spite of the fatal delusion of a character. . . . â€Å"(7). Creon is deluded, but the audience knows the full story of Antigone’s proper attitude of piety and humility in her relationship with the gods. Consequently, in the estimation of the audience, Antigone is on a pedestal from the outset of the tragedy. The drama begins with Antigone inviting her sister, Ismene, outside the palace doors to tell her privately: â€Å"What, hath not Creon destined our brothers, the one to honoured burial, the other to unburied shame?† Antigone’s offer to Ismene (â€Å"Wilt thou aid this hand to lift the dead?) is quickly rejected, so that AntigoneShow MoreRelatedAntigone: a Study of Moral Influences in Society.899 Words   |  4 Pagesthe significance of women in many religious groups. In literature we witness the same fear, reading between the lines at how the author created a character and the reaction of the public to her. The woman, in Sophocles Antigone, is considered powerful but noble, and is met with fierce opposition from men in power, and even fellow women who feel she has fallen from her rightful place. It is difficult, however, to determine who is right and who is wrong, when it is all said and done. Antigone, theRead MoreAn Analysis of Things Fall Apart and Antigone1027 Words   |  5 PagesChinua Achebe and Antigone by Sophocles, this idea is portrayed perfectly. The way that Achebe developed Ezinma throughout the novel, I believe, is what was used to show readers the softer and gentler side of Okonkwo. In conjunction with that, Sophocles used Ismene to be the more tame and obedient side of Antigone. Through the descriptions and ways that these two female characters affect the main characters in each of these novels, Ezinma from Things Fall Apart and Ismene from Antigone, it is apparentRead MoreConfronting Death in Greek Mythology: Allegiance to Family or Empire?1491 Words   |  6 Pagesroyal brothers battle and die for the throne of Thebes and leave behind a city to be led by a wicked and conceited Creon. Antigone experiences great remorse, dishonor, and violation after the passing of her dear brothers, Polyneices and Eteocles. Creon orders Eteocles to be buried with form al rights, but Polyneices is not mourned for and is exposed to earth’s creatures. Antigone is not only enraged, but also feels that it is her obligation to truly lay her brother to rest with or without the helpRead MorePower And Justice, Femininity, And Fate1260 Words   |  6 Pagesquestions are explored through the story of a confrontation between a tragically flawed King and a young woman in search of moral righteousness. Sophocles’ play Antigone inspires us to question the structure and attitudes in our own society and prompts self-reflection on our own values, beliefs and purpose on the earth as human beings. Throughout the play, Sophocles explores the areas of divine power and justice, femininity, and fate as well as raising distinguished questions about the morality of mankindRead MoreThe Oppression Of Women : Susan Glaspell s Trifles And Sophocles Antigone981 Words   |  4 PagesOppression of Women in a Male Dominated Society The plays Susan Glaspell’s Trifles and Sophocles’ Antigone, examine the contrast between the roles of women versus that of a man. The women in Trifles are viewed as second class citizens, who are expected to follow the beliefs and commands of the man, whereas, Antigone is a head strong and defiant woman, who didn’t mind challenging man’s authority. From the beginning of time, the view of women is that as inferior to men. In both of these plays, the women areRead MoreCivil Disobedience in Antigone and Trifles Essay1096 Words   |  5 PagesCivil Disobedience of Antigone and Mrs. Hale Civil disobedience is the purposeful violation of a law to show that it is unconstitutional or morally defective. In the plays, Antigone and Trifles, the female main characters commit an act of civil disobedience. The plays are respectively written by Sophocles and Susan Glaspell. Antigone, the main character of Antigone, protects her dead brothers honor as she disobeys the laws of King Creon. Mrs. Hale, the main character of Trifles preventsRead MoreMain Theme Of Antigone942 Words   |  4 Pagesthe way that society functions. In  Antigone  by Sophocles, themes exist such as determination, the conflict between conscience and law, the conflict between divine and human law, and familial loyalty.  One key and central theme of Antigone is the importance of loyalty to family, which is shown through Antigones determination and dedication to her family, her conviction in the law of the gods, and her essence and personality as a dynamic character. In  Antigone,  the protagonists, Antigones, mainRead MoreJustice, Power, And Human Nature By Thucydides And The Republic By Plato1142 Words   |  5 Pagesentire lives to figuring out the world around them; consequently, many distinct thoughts have been recorded regarding overlapping concepts. For example, in the works, Antigone by Sophocles, On Justice, Power, and Human Nature by Thucydides, and The Republic by Plato, there have been different accounts of the definition and significance of justice. Each work is significant to western civilization because it is applicable to the same society after all these years. The importance of justice takes on differentRead MoreGender Roles In Antigone1547 Words   |  7 PagesIn Sophocles’ Antigone, gender roles are a major conflicting theme throughout the entire play. The setting of the play was written during the Greek mythological days, around 442 B.C. During these days, men were dominant and held all of the power, so women wer e automatically treated as less. Antigone and Creon portray the conflicting sides between male and female, and Ismene and Haemon portray opposing sides to Antigone and Creon’s actions. Antigone, Ismene, Creon, and Haemon each show differencesRead MoreThe Gratifying Qualities Of Sophocles Antigone1567 Words   |  7 PagesAntigone Shanice Douglas Ms. Masterson English Honors II September 18, 2015 The gratifying qualities of Sophocles tragedians plays, establishes him as one of the most infamous playwrights in Greek history. His refreshingly realistic themes and contradictory characters remain the topic of conversations today. Sophocles’ unorthodox approach of a female character also set him aside from other renowned playwrights. In his play Antigone, audiences are still indecisive on who is the tragic hero;

Marketing and Management Advertising and Promotion

Question: Discuss about the Marketing and Management for Advertising and Promotion. Answer: Introduction: Marketing has been a traditional activity which is intended for business. The Business Organizations form with an objective to satisfy various needs of Consumers especially the material aspects. The term Marketing is described as the process in which the delivery of products and services happens as per higher standards. In the process of Marketing, the parties involved exchange something of value. (Kotler, 2003) has defined marketing as a societal process through which various Consumers procure products by involving various processes like creativity, exchange of products and services and by offering some value to the other Consumers or the Vendors. This provides an insight into the concept of marketing that it is a system of exchange and it is also a critical function aspect of the economic system of a Country. Critics have differentiated the types of Organizations into various categories like the profit organizations and the not for profit organizations (Lynch, 2009).The examples of these Organizations of the non profit category are the Hospitals and some of the Universities. With the introduction of the concepts of non profit, Organizations have started shifting their focus from the conventional methods of marketing to the societal concept of marketing (Belch, 2007). Development of modern marketing Modern marketing has evolved through various phases like the production phase, the sales phase and the final concept of marketing. Production Phase The production phase of marketing has involved various skills to produce and deliver the products and services within a limited period of time. Products were made with much focus on the quicker delivery than the quality of the products and the customers needs though they were made efficiently (Basu, nd). Sales Phase Moving the produced merchandise to the markets and converting the products into cash was the main objective of the Sales Phase. This process has also involved aggressive selling. The aggressive sales have persuaded a lot of Companies to act as per law and change their selling methodologies to avoid all the misleading advertising which can save the Consumers from various issues. Shift of Selling Approach to Societal Marketing The long term success of an Organization depends on the abilities of the Management. The process involves the planning and controlling the marketing strategy, designing the sales strategy and analysing the insights of marketing (Suttle, nd). The marketing executives are responsible for the marketing of their products and they control the marketing mix of the product which involves the product, price, place, promotion and people. The analysis, planning, implementation and control of the marketing process are the subsequent stages to the 5 Ps cycle of the marketing process. These stages of the marketing process are influenced by the 5 PESTEL forces like the political, economic, social, technological, environmental and legal forces. There have been remarkable changes in the marketing process where the Organizations have been competing with a lot other companies throughout the world. Different Countries in the World like the Asian Countries and Japan have been the major markets for the US Companies. The well established Companies like Mc Donalds and Coca Cola are the leading examples who have set exemplary models of marketing in the world. With such bigger brands trying to open newer Restaurants in various parts of the World, they would also have to cater to various needs of the Consumers from all sections of the Community which also involves various demographic trends in their Consumers (Basu, nd). International Markets are critical for the survival of the products where the Companies have to look for immense growth opportunities which could depend on considering the societal forces of that specific Country (Irwin, Varki Colgate 2001, p. 232 -40). In cases where the Companies target marketing their products to different Countries, they could target producing the products considering the entire population and their needs. This aspect of marketing coincides with the concept of Societal Marketing which emphasizes on the aspects of social consciousness as a part of their marketing strategy in order to prove that they care for their Consumers than selling their products and services. Societal Marketing Societal Marketing is a process where the Companies market their products by considering the needs of their Consumers as well as the needs of the Communities. The brands which are conscious about the aspect of Societal Marketing incorporate effective societal marketing campaigns by including ethical statements in their production and marketing strategies (Kotler Armstrong, 2013). The purpose of the Societal Marketing aspect is to care for the well being of the entire Community along with their Consumers (Flex study nd). This is a type of marketing where the Companies use their social consciousness in order to attract their consumers based on their tag lines that they Care for the Community and their Consumers. The environmental and the social forces constitute the societal forces of the marketing system (Thompson, Gamble Strickland, 2004) This conscious effort of the Companies helps them to achieve a greater place in the markets with their continuous effort to strive for delivering the best. Two companies in Australia who has been very active in following societal marketing approach There are various categories in which the Companies have been trying to market their products eco friendly and supporting various business firms where they market using the societal marketing concepts. Trends have been seen in the companies related to recycling and packaging products which have emphasised on eco friendly marketing (Reimer Kuehn, 2005, p. 785 - 80). Their focus was to preserve the environment without causing any further damage under their societal marketing policies. Spicers Paper Spicers Paper comes under the Office and Stationery category of Companies and they have been servicing people for almost 100 years. Their commitment to quality has been commendable because they have been enthusiastic about the technology they have been using to make paper and also help those people who were using their paper (Spicers, 2014). Their interest in maintaining higher standards have helped them penetrate into the markets of New Zealand, Singapore and US apart from Australia. Spicers Paper have been known for the best paper they produce as they pick on the latest trends of products in order to produce and deliver their products and services. Spicers Paper have been contributing to the well being of the Australian Communities by using impressive and higher grades of quality material including the industry supplies and plastics which are used in order to produce various paper materials (Spicers Limited 2016). They have also been known for procuring materials from sustainable fibre sources in order to establish a greater relationship with their Customers. The selection process of the materials used depends on the environmental factors where they select the most suitable materials for producing their products. They are also well known for their infrastructure and they deliver their products by shipping them to invariable distances. Eco Friendly marketing There are various Companies which have been trying to preserve the environment without causing much damage and they have also been making their products from various recycled products and materials. This is to ensure that they can market themselves to the world without any issues and they can also contribute to the communities in a positive way. Eco friendly marketing is not about producing their products in a sustainable way however it is to ensure that they also market themselves using the eco friendly products in their marketing strategies and their day day operations. AMCOR AMCOR is a global packaging company which has been known for its authenticity in Australia. It is an eco - company which produces a large variety of packaging materials for various business firms like agricultural industries and consumer product companies. As a part of their sustainable packaging solutions they have also come up with a strategy where they have been recycling their products in order to develop a sustainable packaging business in the world. AMCOR, in the process of their operations, focus on environmental sustainability in spite of their higher standards of business. They also report their environmental performance as a part of their operations on an annual basis (Amcor 2016). All their operation sites have environmental management systems in place where they take care of their environmental discharges and cooling of their towers in order to reduce the overall impact on the communities. Their focus is strong on managing their natural resources effectively which include managing their greenhouse gas emissions. Their annual reports have been showing incredible improvements where more than 55 65% of their companies have achieved ISO 14001 certification (Amcor 2016). AMCOR has also set newer standards in order to contribute to the Australian Communities by focussing on reducing the Greenhouse gas emissions by 10% by the end of FY 2016. They have also been focussing on reducing the Greenhouse gas emissions by 60% by the end of FY 2030. References Amcor 2016, Our Approach, Viewed on August 29th 2016, https://www.amcor.com/sustainability/environment#sthash.b0ls8AKZ.dpbs. Basu, C nd, Selling to the Business Market vs. the Consumer Market, viewed on April 21st 2015 https://www.ehow.com/info_7971006_selling-market-vs-consumer-market.html. Belch G.E 2007, "Advertising and Promotion", An Integrated Marketing Communication Perspectives, seventh edition, McGraw-Hill Companies, New York, America. Flex study nd, The Concept of Modern Marketing, Viewed on August 291th 2016, https://www.flexstudy.com/demo/demopdf/99037_1.pdf. Hose, C nd, Examples of Societal Marketing, Viewed on August 29th 2016, https://smallbusiness.chron.com/examples-societal-marketing-22709.html. Kotler, P 2003, Marketing Management, 11th edition, Prentice Hall International Edition. Kotler, P. Armstrong, G 2013, Principles of Marketing,14th edition. Edinburgh Gate Harlow Essex, England. Pearson Education. Lynch, R 2009, Strategic Management (5th Edition). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. McGrawhill/Irwin. Varki, S. Colgate, M 2001, The role of price perceptions in an integrated model of behavioral intentions, Journal of Service Research, 3(2), pp. 232-40. Reimer, A. Kuehn, R 2005, The impact of service scape on quality perception, European Journal of Marketing, 39(7/8), pp. 785-80. Spicers 2014, Environmental Our Values, Viewed on August 29th 2016, https://www.spicers.com.au/. Suttle, R nd, Consumer Research Process, viewed on April 21st 2015 https://smallbusiness.chron.com/consumer-research-process-3363.html. Thompson, A. A, Gamble, J. E. Strickland, A. J 2004, Strategy: Winning in the Market Place, International Edition. New York.

Does Shylock deserve his punishment free essay sample

There is no doubt that Shylock is a cunning and vengeful man, but nothing can justify the treatment he receives at the hands of the Christians. † How far do you agree with this statement? Does Shylock deserve his punishment? Shylock is punished by the Venetian court for seeking to end Antonio’s life. He is charged under a Venetian law (of Shakespeare’s creation) and he is forced to give up his wealth and to beg the Duke to spare him his life. Viewed like this it seems simple enough; Shylock broke a Venetian law and, as a consequence, is punished. However, Shylock’s case is far from simple. Antonio’s demand that Shylock should renounce his Judaism and become a Christian and his insistence that Shylock should will his money to the Christian Lorenzo who lately stole his daughter1, add up to much more than punishment for wrongdoings. Moreover, the treatment of the Jew by the supposedly merciful Christians, although readily accepted by a less tolerant Elizabethan society, seems, to a 21st century audience with its knowledge of the holocaust, to be cruel to the point of humiliation. The question to be answered is this: is Shylock’s complete humiliation a fair punishment for his crimes? Shylock does himself no favours. On the surface, he appears to be a money orientated, avaricious character who is also driven by a hatred of Christians and particularly of Antonio: I hate him for he is a Christian; But more, for that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis2 He seems to be driven by an unhealthy desire for revenge, to feed fat the ancient grudge3 he has for Antonio. The merry sport4 devised by Shylock is nothing more than a devious trap set in order to catch [Antonio] on the hip5. Furthermore, his reaction to Jessica’s elopement with Lorenzo does not centre on the loss of his daughter, but on the loss of his ducats: I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear: would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin. 6 However, his anger and his hatred do require some context. What Shakespeare never does is present Shylock as a two dimensional pantomime villain. The previous quotations, taken in isolation, transform Shylock into a monster. He is not. He is, like all of us, a flawed human being, subject to fits of rage, bouts of introspection and moments of compassion. Shylock’s hatred of Antonio, and Christians in general, is a result of the perpetual state of fear that existed between the two races at the time the play was written. The Christian community treated Jews with disdain partly as a consequence of Jewish involvement in Christ’s crucifixion. Laws existed that forbade Jews from owning property or engaging in any profession. They were outcast by Christian society but had nowhere to go; Israel did not exist as a state until after the Second World War. The only path open to them was usury, or money lending which, of course, was a forbidden practice for Christians and, thus, frowned upon, leading to further animosity. It is noted ruefully by Shylock that when push comes to shove and the Christians need money, they hypocritically come to him despite the fact that they have rated me / About my monies and my usances7. It is during this speech in Act One Scene Three that Shylock lists the wrongs that Antonio has done to him, giving some justification for Shylock’s loathing: You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog, And spit upon my Jewish gabardine. †¦.. You that did void your rheum upon my beard, And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur Over your threshold8. The language is powerful, persuasive and poetic. In the play, Shylock speaks in a mixture of verse and prose and in this passage, he appears to be reciting a rehearsed speech, reeling off Antonio’s ‘crimes’ which Antonio fully admits he would repeat. It is hard not to feel sorry for Shylock. Shylock’s reaction to Jessica’s profligacy does appear cruel. However, his daughter has run off with a Christian, shaming him. She has also stolen his money and has used Shylock’s betrothal ring in payment for a monkey. His outburst is harsh, but it represents the outburst of a man destroyed by his own flesh and blood’s unfeeling attitude. It is ironic that Jessica’s actions should prove to be the catalyst that hardens Shylock’s attitude towards Antonio; she has turned Christian just as Antonio believed that Shylock’s bond turned him Christian. Despite the characteristics that we cannot admire, in Act Three Shylock is at his most passionate and eloquent in a piece of unrehearsed prose prompted by yet more goading from Salerino and Solanio. The fundamental questions he poses are rhetorical – they require no answers. He sets out, forcefully and incontrovertibly, facts so basic about human existence that they would make even the most hardened racist think twice. 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, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? 9 It is a universal message, as relevant today as it was 406 years ago, when the play was first performed. However, as mentioned before, Shylock is not a two dimensional character, he is no more simply a champion of civil rights than he is simply a barbarous parasite. One of his next lines confirms his nastier side: and if you wrong us, shall we not revenge? 10 Shylock’s grief, anger and hatred are more powerful than his compassion and he resolves to have his revenge. A word of warning here, however; Shylock has thoughts of revenge long before his daughter’s elopement, long before he discovers she is spending his money recklessly. Although this information hardens him against Antonio, the seeds of hatred were planted long before. Shylock’s vengeful character is further revealed in Act Three Scene Three in which he encounters an arrested Antonio. His refusal to be merciful, exploited by Portia in Act Four Scene One, is first seen here: Jailer, look to [Antonio]. Tell not me of mercy. This is the fool that lent out money gratis. 11 Here, Shylock refuses to countenance mercy; he is an orthodox Jew, subject to the teachings of the Old Testament which emphasises the importance of law and justice; he has sworn an oath in heaven12. Nevertheless, there is a discrepancy here which reflects badly on Shylock. He has only one valid reason for pursuing Antonio through the courts: namely, Antonio’s failure to repay the 3 000 ducats before the bond has expired. A modern audience might argue that there is a moral case to answer, too, given his treatment of Shylock. Nevertheless, the reason Shylock cites in his initial statement at the beginning of this scene for the jailer to keep a close eye on Antonio, is not to do with debt or abuse, rather, it is about Antonio’s business activities, which, as Shylock stated earlier have hindered me half a million13. Moreover, there is something rather distasteful about Shylock’s treatment of Antonio in this scene; he is like a dog with a bone that he refuses to drop, repeating on four occasions in the space of just sixteen lines, I’ll have my bond. The irony is, of course, that the Christian characters often refer to Shylock in terms of a savage beast like a dog or a wolf, so it should come as no surprise to them that Shylock behaves like one. Shylock arrives at the court believing he has a watertight case against Antonio; this is fortunate as he has absolutely no support from the court whatsoever. Before his entrance, Shylock is described by the Duke as a stony adversary, an inhuman wretch, / Uncapable of pity, void and empty / From any dram of mercy. Clearly, the Duke, the supposed impartial judge in this case, is anything but impartial. Shylock is isolated by his religion – the Duke refers to him simply as the Jew or Jew on a number of occasions – and by the severity and mercilessness of his plea against Antonio. If he crumbles in court and gives way then he will be completely defeated; the Christians will have crushed the Jew. Shylock has no choice but to seek justice to the letter. On the surface, Shylock’s quest for justice does seem extreme, but in the face of such abuse of power from his opposition, it is almost justified. Nevertheless, Shylock’s gloating at his seeming victory is distasteful. He loses the audience’s sympathy through his words and the gratuitous sharpening of his knife on the sole of his shoe. He is unmoved by pleading or by insult and when sentence is passed against Antonio, he repeats the words of the bond with almost inhuman relish: †¦.. Ay, ‘his breast’: So says the bond – doth it not, noble judge? – ‘Nearest his heart’ – those are the very words. Shylock demands a strict observance of the law, and this is exactly what he gets. He is defeated by his thirst for a warped justice and vengeance over Antonio. He enters the court as an isolated man, but at least with some dignity and sympathy. He leaves the court having lost everything – his daughter, his wealth, his religious freedom and the engagement ring given him by his wife. So, in deciding whether or not Shylock is deserving of his punishments, it is essential to acknowledge that his complexities prevent us from making a black and white answer. As the play progresses, so our sympathy for Shylock ebbs and flows. Shylock is a human being and he suffers during the course of the play, but he creates suffering. He seems devoid of love, yet he feels the loss of love keenly. He appears cold and calculating, but is subject to bursts of outrage and passion. It is easy to be seduced by Shylock – despite his infrequent appearances in the play he is the most fully developed character; the audience gets to know him well. Roma Gill claims that when we know a person well, and understand why he acts as he does, we become sympathetic to him†¦Sympathy can give rise to affection, and affection often tempts us to withhold moral judgement, or at least be gentle in our censure. 14 In other words, our sympathy for the wrongs Shylock has received as a Jewish man cloud the condemnation we should feel for his actions against Antonio. Many of Shylock’s punishments are justified; Shylock sought only justice and so he receives only justice, according to the letter of the law. The  punishments laid down in the statute books, however harsh, must be deemed as deserved. Portia: Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh, But in the cutting it, if thou dost shed One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods. In which predicament I say thou [Shylock] stand’st. These are the laws of Venice and the punishments that are laid down if they are broken. The Christians show mercy in sparing Shylock his life and in only fining Shylock rather than taking all of his wealth. The punishments may be harsh but they are legal and binding; Shylock followed the law to the letter and can expect little sympathy from the Christians. However, this is not all. For some reason, Portia, with no legal authority whatsoever, allows Antonio to make additions to Shylock’s punishment. The Duke concurs. Three leading Christian characters conspire together, unlawfully, to further punish the already defeated Shylock. Christian mercy, it seems, only stretches so far. The extra punishments are harsh, cruel and, in one case, impossible. The object appears to be total humiliation. Antonio asks for half of Shylock’s money in use, to render it / Upon his death unto the gentleman / That lately stole his daughter. This is bad enough: Shylock’s money, some already stolen by Jessica, is to be given to her Christian husband. Furthermore, Shylock is forced to record a deed of gift, / †¦.. of all he dies possess’d / Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter – he has to treat a Christian as his son and leave him all his money in his will. The final punishment is the cruellest and most impractical, designed solely for Shylock’s utter humiliation. †¦. that for this favour He presently become a Christian; A man as intelligent as Antonio must surely know that a man as devout as Shylock will be unable to carry out this punishment in any way but in name. His desire must be Shylock’s complete defeat. Shylock’s response is that of a totally broken man: I pray you give me leave to go from hence; I am not well. Shylock is never seen again. It would be hard not to feel sympathy for Shylock. Despite his hard heartedness, he never appears less than devoted in his faith. (The fact that he uses his oath in heaven and his religion to justify his murderous pursuit of Antonio, and that he asks What judgement [from God] shall I dread, doing no wrong? , demonstrates a heinous misunderstanding of his faith, and is yet another grey area in our understanding of this complex man. Whatever. ) His faith is important to him and is personal to him and is immutable. Shylock’s final humiliation at the hands of Antonio and the other Christians, none of whom raise any objections, is unforgivable. It is for this reason that, whilst remembering his harsh cruelty, I am left feeling sympathy for Shylock when he leaves the court during Act Four Scene One. Whether Shakespeare intended his Elizabethan audience to feel sorry for Shylock is a moot point, the fact remains that our last vision of him is of a broken and humiliated man, devoid of family, friends, faith and dignity.