Pride and Prejudice in Venice

Makayla 2022-04-21 09:02:57

Venice in the 16th century was suffering from widespread poverty, and the people's living conditions continued to deteriorate. Society is like a poisonous flower in a swamp, secretly spitting out the stench of corrosion. As we see in the film, there are prostitutes with naked breasts on the balcony of Venice Water City from time to time, and this is only the beginning of the evil. And for a long time, there was widespread abuse and persecution of Jews throughout Europe, they lived in ghettos, they wore red hats to distinguish them, they could only engage in lowly occupations, and some of them were extorted and others. Even eviction, which can be said to be the background of Sherlock's loan sharking.
The water city of Venice is full of pride and prejudice. The arrogance of Christians over other races, and the prejudices of Jews. Do Jews have no eyes, no senses and limbs? What's more, do they have no sense and no emotion? I was moved by Sherlock's accusations against Christians on the street. In the middle school textbook, he is a miser who regards money as his life, and has a vicious heart. But in the movie it subverts the perception. In "Schindler's List" and "Life is Beautiful", why did our hatred for the brutality of Auschwitz and the anti-Semitic disgust for the predators of life turn into arguments for justice in this film? Hypocrisy about mercy? Why is the God-given virtue of kindness only Christians deserve? Are people's beliefs also divided into three, six or nine levels?
Jesus instructed his disciples, "Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do you also: for this is the law and the prophets." When Portia spoke of the rain of mercy Have you ever thought about what kind of "mercy" the Jews encountered? Since compassion is not forced, if people only benefit themselves and do not hurt others, why can’t it be called compassion? Sibel once said, if you are a poor man, you should use your conduct to protect your reputation; if you are a rich man, you should use your compassion to protect your reputation. But I don't see how merciful the rich Antonios are. He was merciful enough to Bassanio, lent him money to propose marriage, and even offered his flesh as a guarantee.
Whether a society is just depends on how it distributes the things we value—income and wealth, duties and rights, rights and opportunities, public office and honor. And what fairness demands: that no one is rejected out of prejudice and contempt. So the dispute over "a pound of meat" should initially be unfavorable for Sherlock, who he claims is for the justice of the law. "If you can't give me a pound of meat, then fuck your laws." He was thoughtful and logical. When Bassanio said him, the initial offense should not be drawn into hatred. Instead of answering directly, he said, are you willing to be bitten twice by a poisonous snake?
Sherlock is a poor old man, and I don't know if my sympathy is justice. He lost his property, his daughter, and finally his faith, and the court sentenced him to be the Christian he had long hated. As a Chinese, I am often said to be a group of people without faith. But shouldn't belief be free? "No one can force my happiness to be in accordance with his conception of the welfare of others," Kant wrote, "for every man can pursue it in his own way as he sees fit, so long as he does not infringe upon others. Freedom to do.
The debate in the film is wonderful, and it is a model of logic. However, I prefer to understand it from another angle, about justice, about mercy.

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The Merchant of Venice quotes

  • Salerio: Why, I am sure, if he forfeit thou wilt not take his flesh: what's that good for?

    Shylock: To bait fish withal: if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge.

  • Shylock: He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what's his reason? I am a Jew.