The Merchant Of Venice Anti Semitic Essay

The Merchant Of Venice Anti Semitic Essay Many texts are classed as racist purely because they contain some element of racism, whether or not this is intended to be taken literally. Specifically, The Merchant of Venice is often viewed as anti-Semitic, and thus regarded in a worse light than other, less contentious, Shakespeare plays. However, it is questionable as to the extent to which the play can be considered entirely anti-semitic, or whether it is merely a social commentary, still relevant today. The primary criticism regarding Anti-Semitism within The Merchant of Venice is the presentation of Shylock. His portrayal as the stereotypical Elizabethan Jew has caused much controversy, gaining further poignancy after the plays use as Nazi propaganda. However, the bardolatry evident in modern society has limited our ability to see the play as racist, preferring to blame the anti-semitic stance on alternative influences, and flawed interpretation. However, there are certain instances within The Merchant of Venice that are surely anti-semitic, such as Lancelots statement the Jew my master is a kind of devil  [1]  . There is no effort to disguise the hatred for Shylock, despite the fact that being Lancelots master, he should rightly command some degree of respect, yet he is ridiculed for his inability to control, perhaps the reason why he asks for such a barbarous forfeit. Consequently, Shylock is viewed as comical; an almost pantomimic villain. Yet there are few more disquieting speeches in Shakespeare than Shylocks to Solanio and Salerio (III.i.49-68). For whilst his initial statements are eloquent and justifiable: I am a Jew. Hath a Jew not eyes?, forcing sympathy from the audience, his words hide a darker sentiment. He must remind the Venetians that he too has hands, organs, dimensions and senses  [2]  , and thus feels the same emotions and pains that they themselves do, proving himself an theoretical equal. Yet this is not a speech of exaltation for shared experience, nor an exercise to force acknowledgement of his humanity. On the contrary, Shylocks monologue is anguished, highlighting a deep-rooted desire for vengeance, as seen when he states if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?  [3]  . The use of first person adds a sense of imminency, making it more personal, forcing the audience to evaluate their own stance. Furthermore, the use of rhetoric adds to sense of internal conflict, demanding a sympathetic response, yet that he goes on to state the villainy you teach me, I will execute  [4]  , shows a lack of culpability for his revengeful actions, but that he blames his need for violence and revenge on his maltreatment, and thus Christians. Despite the empathy we are forced to feel, the ending reaction to this speech is more one of pity; whilst Shylocks motivation is understandable, the perpetuation of malevolence and racism is not, turning us against the Jew, and Judaism as a whole. It could be argued, however, that anti-semitism is perpetuated by the characters within the play, and the audiences interpretations, as opposed to the play being anti-semitic as a whole. For example, whilst many characters have reason to despise Shylock, due to his lack of mercy, the fact he is rarely referred to by his actual name, and simply as Jew, implies that his malevolence is an embodiment of his Judaism. Furthermore, this derogatory referral (with parallels evidently drawn between the alternatively named Jew of Venice and Marlowes clearly anti-semitic The Jew of Malta), gains significance as it is repeated; it becomes a term with connotations that infuse it with additional meaning. As such, it is not necessarily the act of the disparaging use of Jew that can be construed as anti-semitic, but the repetition of the insult. This is comparable to the use of the phrase the moor, in Othello (interestingly, the phrase the moor  [5]  was also used offhandedly in The Merchant of V enice, highlighting the candid fashion in which racism was used in Elizabethan society). Whilst the expression is clearly racist, it is the recurrence of the term, such as at the climax of Othello, when Othello is at his weakest (the Moor may unfold me to him  [6]  ), that creates the overall disparaging effect. It could be argued, however, that rather than an anti-semitic play, The Merchant of Venice could be classed in modern terms as Brechtian, in the sense that societal flaws concerning racism as a whole are highlighted, causing the audiences reflective detachment from the performance. For example, the Prince of Morocco, an evidently respected individual, states mislike me not for my complexion  [7]  , showing his ability to objectively observe the racism that was commonplace at the time, forcing the other characters into recognition of their discrimination. The use of the personal pronoun, as opposed to Shylocks earlier use of the collective we is interesting, as it highlights the sense of personal victimisation the Prince feels, and is demonstrative of a more personal vendetta. However, it is questionable as to whether this statement is aimed at the other characters, or at the audience, with the racism of the characters embodying the views of the public at the time of writing: Lanc elots image of the Jew as the devil incarnate conforms to a common medieval notion  [8]  . This questions whether the play was created as a vessel through which societys failings could be highlighted, or as genuinely anti-semitic, which at the time of writing would have been wholly acceptable, and thus the plays moral stance would have been less poignant. That is not to say that because racism, and in particular anti-semitism, was socially acceptable that it was morally correct. On the contrary, Shakespeare frequently refers to equality between religions. For example, when Antonio states The devil can cite scripture for his purpose, and evil soul producing holy witness, he adds weight to the dichotomy of the play, demonstrating how Jews and Christians will both argue that their interpretation of scripture is correct, purely because they naively assume the other point of view is that of the devil. Shakespeare highlights that scripture is in fact subjective, and open to various interpretation, a profound ambiguity that is also true of The Merchant of Venice. Furthermore, there is equal hatred from both sides, with Shylock proclaiming he hates our sacred nation  [9]  , mixing his own personal feelings with anti-semitism, but also Ill go in hate, to feed upon the prodigal Christian  [10]  . Here, he accepts a dinner invitation purely to fuel the mutual religious hatred. That there is so much previous animosity between the two parties proves that the invitation cannot be taken as a real gesture, but merely as a cloying flattery, and thus he responds with hatred. This further emphasises the contextual view of race overriding intention and personality, a sentiment perfectly summed when Lancelot leaves a rich Jews service to become the follower of so poor a gentleman. Evidently, Lancelot has chosen religion over wealth, preferring a poor Gentleman over Jew. Interestingly, although Shylock has admittedly treated him badly, Lancelot criticises the religion, rather than the individual. However what is most significant in this assertion is the comparison between the referral to a Christian as a poor gentleman versus simply Jew. This implies the impossibility of direct contrast, denoting an inequality between the two. It could be argued that there is no need to specify a gentleman as Christian as Christianity would have been the norm at the time, perhaps everyone was assumed a Christian, yet either way, to be Jewish is portrayed as abhorrent. Consequently, Shylocks forced conversion to Christianity is one of the most disturbing scenes in literary history. Although it could be construed as a way for Shylock to access heaven, and thus an act of compassion and acceptance, the fact that it is foreshadowed when Antonio states the Hebrew will turn Christian, he turns kind  [11]  , creates a sense of inevitability, and thus a feeling of resolution when it occurs. That Antonio also states he will turn kind is a further insult, the implication being that personality is based upon race and religion, and thus Shylock cannot be considered kind or equal until he relinquishes his faith. Yet there are flickers of moral justice within the play, particularly visible in the character of Jessica, insinuating that the play is a device to highlight societys moral injustices. For example, she states I shall end this strife, become a Christian and a loving wife showing how she prises love and family above race, and can accept the racist Venetian ideals in order to find love. That Shakespeare also satirises the stereotypes of many nations, creates a link with the audience, and whilst also gaining popularity, adds a sense of clarity and societal significance outside the plays boundaries. Ultimately, The Merchant of Venice is a play not centralised around the glorification, or acceptance of anti-semitism, but about highlighting racism as a whole. Whilst, in recent times, Shakespeare has been overly revered, the play is undeniably captivating and thought provoking. Whilst it may not be an anti-semitic play, or even a play wholly about anti-semitism, The Merchant of Venice is an accurate social commentary on human nature, still relevant today.

Basic Ethics Essay

According to Michael Boylan’s book Basic Ethics the study of ethics concerns itself with â€Å"right† and â€Å"wrong, judgments that assign praise or blame. In the case of ethics, these judgments are usually assigned to people or to actions (Boylan, 2009). This essay will discuss three major ethical theories, virtue ethics, utilitarianism, and deontological ethics. It will also provide a personal experience to help explain the relationship between virtue, values, and moral concepts as it relates to utilitarianism. The three ethics theories discussed herein are the virtue ethics theory that examines a person’s character over a long period of time and is forgiving of an occasional mistake that is not consistent with a person’s past character. Deontological ethics or duty-based morality is a theory based on a â€Å"nonconsequentialist† view of people and moral decision-making. Deontological ethics supports that actions are not justified by their cons equences. Rather, factors other than good outcomes determine the â€Å"rightness† of actions (Deontological Ethics, 2014). Utilitarianism in the most basic term is based on measuring â€Å"good† in terms of usefulness. Utilitarianism is often defined as an effort to achieve the greatest good for the greatest number. Also this principle advocates that the ends justify the means in other words if a negative action must be used to reach a greater good then its justified (What Is Utilitarianism?, 2014). There are marked differences between the three ethics theories. Unlike deontic or action based theories of morality that focus on the actions a person performs, the virtue theory, aka character ethics focuses on helping people develop good character traits, like kindness and generosity, â€Å"The deontological ethics is grounded in the â€Å"Categorical Imperative,† The Categorical Imperative simply declares, â€Å"Act as if the maxim of thy action  were to become by thy will a universal law of nature.† The Categorical Imperative is very similar to the â€Å"Golden Rule† of Chri stianity, and other religions (â€Å"do unto others as you would have them do unto you†)† (Deontological Ethics, 2014). On the other hand utilitarianism revolves around the concept that the end justifies the means. A personal example I have of utilitarianism being practiced was when my Father was in hospice with terminal throat cancer. He ordered a DNR, do not resuscitate. My family and I did not like his wish but it is what he chose for himself and we all accepted his final wish. Although many feel this is not right to just let someone die without trying to help the person dying the attitude on these decisions is purely determined by the person dying. The utilitarian approach can be selfish in nature because the judgments is strictly that of the person thinking of his own truth in my Fathers case his last dying wish. So depending on what kind of person you are, how you were raised, the environment you live in, your faith, the influences you may have from the social circle you belong to you all these factors could influence your ethics and depending on the situation on hand you may find yourself moving towards one or the other of these ethic theories. Morally or ethically, I would never let my Dad die without making some attempt to resuscitate him but on the other hand I set aside my moral belief and my ethics to allow my Dad his last and final wish. References Boylan, M. (2009). Basic Ethics (2nd ed). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. Deontological Ethics. (2014, February 17). Retrieved from allaboutphilosophy .org: http://www.allaboutphilosophy.org/deontological-ethics.htm What Is Utilitarianism? (2014, February 17). Retrieved from wisegeek.org: http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-utilitarianism.htm

The Benefits of Fulbright Essay Samples Pdf

The Benefits of Fulbright Essay Samples Pdf Fulbright Essay Samples Pdf at a Glance Getting stressed whilst writing might continue to keep your focus away from the task and affect the caliber of your essay. Writing an essay is usually not such an intriguing job, so locating the motivation to begin on figuring out what to write can often end up being quite challenging. The course materials you require to speak about within an academic essay can reflect your degree of understanding about the topic. Instead, concentrate on the characteristic of your essay. Don't forget to begin your essay strongit should be able to spark the interests of your readers. Individuals obviously are searching for more examples and suggestions on writing essays that connect with readers well, really 1 reader in particular the individual who's deciding whether you have the job, scholarship, grant, or merely into your preferred college. Scholarship essays are a critical matter. These fellowships aren't just any job English Teaching Assistants are predicted to symbolize the United States of america. Introducing Fulbright Essay Samples Pdf Your academic essay should evoke an emotion that is needed to spark different ideas, opinions and other types of responses. If in any instance, you cannot do this because of the topic being given, what you could do is to be certain your essay will be interesting. Although the purpose of academic letters aren't confined to the specified undertaking, it's typical for these letters to contain details about someone, an educational subject or a distinct academic cause or issue. The motive of your essay is extremely important to be regarded as as it can identify whether you may be of help to the men and women who want a distinct educational reference. Inside this essay you must impress graduation committee. A scholarship is a grant that functions as an aid for a student to have t he ability to attain a specific amount of education. If you have issues with finding great GED essay ideas, seek advice from your professor or a teacher who can assist you. Make certain your font size is able to make your discussion straightforward to read. Make sure that you use words that are suitable for the description of an object. Don't make the size of your font too large nor too tiny. The general format of your essay, for example, font size and margins, will solely be based on the instructions provided to you. Vital Pieces of Fulbright Essay Samples Pdf In addition, there are amazing GED essay samples you ought to take your time to experience. When employing a template for a guide, always make sure it's applicable to the study that you're practicing or the academic area or discipline at which you will use your academic essay. Elaborate the info that you want to discuss and be sure they are presented accordingly. There are many GED-specific study guides you may bu y to further help you study and get ready for the essay section, and the remainder of the test. The Fulbright Essay Samples Pdf Cover Up Begin with your achievements during your prior degree of education, which might incorporate both academic and noncurricular activities. You should cover the crucial details of your Fulbright project within the very first paragraph, otherwise, then the second. Joining the Fulbright Program is my opportunity to add to the maturation of sociology intrinsically, and to present better comprehension and management of social processes particularly. It's simple to point out an essay which has been written solely for the interest of it. Add ideas for examples you need to have in your essay. Then identify what sort of essay you need compose. A descriptive essay is a type of essay that utilizes the senses to spell out a particular object in the shape of writing. Make sure that you practice because many samples as possible before the true essay. If you realize that you are stuck in regards to writing an essay, request a person's assistance that will help you proceed through writing an essay. An academic essay always must be relevant. Always bear in mind your academic essay ought to be playful it must not bore your audience. When it's really hard to compose an essay in 45 minutes, start with taking more time. When these essays might look like a little step toward your future, they're a step nonetheless. To put it simply, an academic essay may be an evidence of the depth of your research procedures and the rest of the activities you have executed so you can support the content of your written output. The very first sample essays supplied in the pdf link below do an exceptional job of producing the case for the writer's individual and intellectual readiness for the proposed project. Thoroughly answer all areas of the essay prompt, in a ddition to the points you say in your introduction you will discuss. Start by copying the topic you are assigned as the very first sentence of your essay. It's possible for you to add another paragraph if you feel that the second paragraph is not sufficient to present the topic. The previous paragraph will function as your conclusion. Mastering essay writing takes quite a bit of practice and reading. From the outline, it is possible to now begin writing your essay. Practicing the elements of excellent essay writing is helpful regardless of what topic you concentrate on. You don't need to possess the very best writing skills as a way to be creative and compose an effective essay. Sum up all of the information which you have presented so that people are able to identify whether your conclusion has lived up to the content of what you've written. Your variety of words and the way you construct your sentences are a number of points that could influence your application. The very first point to understand is your essay isn't a magic bullet that will miraculously address all your grade point average issues. If you would like to make an academic essay that's both outstanding and relevant, always place the items that we've discussed above in mind.

Nfpa 1006 - 30576 Words

NFPA 1006  ® Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications 2008 Edition NFPA and National Fire Protection Association are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169. Copyright  © 2008 National Fire Protection Association ®. All Rights Reserved. This edition of NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications, was prepared by the Technical Committee on Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications and released by the Technical Correlating Committee on Professional Qualifications. It was issued by the Standards Council on December 11, 2007, with an effective date of December 31, 2007, and supersedes all previous editions. This edition of NFPA 1006 was†¦show more content†¦Connell, II, Disaster Management Solutions Inc., MA [M] Melody Eady, Georgia Fire Academy, GA [SE] Richard J. S. Karasaki, Jr., Honolulu Fire Department, HI [U] Wesley V. Kitchel, Santa Rosa Fire Department, CA [L] Timothy A. Kovacs, Phoenix Fire Department, AZ [L] Timothy J. Lombardi, Cuyahoga Falls Fir e Department, OH [L] Rep. NFPA Fire Service Section J. Michael McCreary, American Emergency Response Training, TN [SE] Robert N. Moody, Montgomery County, Maryland, MD [L] Robert E. Rhea, Fairfax County Fire Rescue Department, VA [U] Brian Rousseau, State of New York, NY [E] Robert J. Schappert, III, U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, DC [U] Peter M. Schecter, Government of the British Virgin Islands, British Virgin Islands [E] Rep. International Association of Fire Chiefs Ralph Sproul, Chevron Products Company, CA [U] Michael L. Walker, Oklahoma City Fire Department, OK [U] Charles A. Wehrli, Spec Rescue, IL [SE] Ernest R. Wright, Wright Rescue Solutions, Inc., FL [SE] Leonard E. Yox, Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute, MD [SE] Andrea Zaferes, Lifeguard Systems, RIPTIDE, AZ Training, NY [SE] Alternates Brad Eveland, U.S. Air Force, AK [E] (Voting Alt. to U.S. Air Force Rep.) Fred J. Jackson, Cuyahoga Falls Fire Department, OH [L] (Alt. to T. J. Lombardi) Rep. NFPA Fire Ser vice Section Frank E. Florence, NFPA Staff Liaison This list represents the membership at the time the Committee was balloted on the final text of this edition. Since that time,Show MoreRelatedNfpa 100630569 Words   |  123 PagesNFPA 1006  ® Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications 2008 Edition NFPA and National Fire Protection Association are registered trademarks of the National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, Massachusetts 02169. Copyright  © 2008 National Fire Protection Association ®. All Rights Reserved. This edition of NFPA 1006, Standard for Technical Rescuer Professional Qualifications, was prepared by the Technical Committee on Rescue Technician Professional Qualifications and releasedRead MoreThe Importance Of Safety For A Dangerous Job Essay2039 Words   |  9 Pagesonly for fire incidents but water as well. â€Å"Water rescue services provided by the department include swift water, rescue diving and body recovery activities. Personnel designated as water rescue technicians are trained in accordance with NFPA 1670 and NFPA 1006.† (Peà ±a 2015) This shows that the El Paso Fire Department follows some of the recommendations previously states on the NIOSH report. There are dedicated fire fighters that are specially trained to do water rescues. Si nce this specialize fire