英語本科畢業(yè)論文-《威尼斯商人》中的人物形象分析

1、<p><b>　　本科畢業(yè)論文</b></p><p>　　《威尼斯商人》中的人物形象分析</p><p>　　學生姓名： </p><p>　　學生學號： 200320207100 </p><p>　　院（系）： 外國語學院 </p>

2、<p>　　年級專業(yè)： 2003級英語本科5班 </p><p><b>　　指導教師： </b></p><p><b>　　二〇〇七年五月</b></p><p>　　An Analysis of the Characters in</p><p>　　the Merch

3、ant of Venice</p><p><b>　　He Li</b></p><p>　　Under the Supervision of</p><p><b>　　Jiang Lu</b></p><p>　　School of Foreign Languages and Cultures

4、</p><p>　　Panzhihua University</p><p><b>　　May 2007</b></p><p><b>　　Contents</b></p><p>　　Abstract……………………………………….…………………………………….…Ⅱ</p>&

5、lt;p>　　Key Words…………………………………………..……………..…………………Ⅱ</p><p>　　摘要……………………………………………………………………….………..…Ⅲ</p><p>　　關鍵詞……………………………...…………………………………………………Ⅲ</p><p>　　Introduction…………………………………

6、………………………………… 1</p><p>　?、? Social Background of the Play the Merchant of Venice…………………………. 2</p><p>　　A. The Reality Social Information in Elizabeth Throne…….……………………2</p><p>　　B.

7、Special Social Background Reflecting in the Merchant of Venice…..2</p><p>　?、? Analyzing the Heroes in the Play………………..………………………………3</p><p>　　A. Antonio…………………………………………………………………………3</p>&

8、lt;p>　　B. Bassanio………………………...………………………………………………4</p><p>　　C. Shylock…………………………………………………………………………5</p><p>　　III. Analyzing the Central Character in the Play--Portia ……………………….…6</p>&l

9、t;p>　　A. The Essential Nature of Portia…………………………………………...…..…6</p><p>　　B. The Humanism Spirit Shown by Portia ………………………………………6</p><p>　　C. Portia- a Self-conscious Female……………………………………………..

10、7</p><p>　　D. An Explanation on Portia Masquerading as Man……………………………8</p><p>　　IV. A Comparative Study of Characteristic Differences among Main Figures……10</p><p>　　A. Portia and J

11、essica…………...…………………………………………………10</p><p>　　B. Portia and Shylock…………….………………………………………………11</p><p>　　C. Antonio and Bassanio…………....……………………………………………12</p><p>　　Conclusion…………………………

12、…………………………………………….….14</p><p>　　Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………16</p><p>　　Notes………………………………...………………………………………………17</p><p>　　Bibliography………………………………………………………………………18</

13、p><p><b>　　Abstract</b></p><p>　　As we known that the merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most important works. It is a comedy. The theme of this play is to extol kindheartedness

14、, friendship and love. And also it reflects the conflicts between the capitalists and usurers at the beginning of the capitalist society. And it expresses the author’s humanist idea on money, law and religion in capitali

15、st society. This thesis analyzes the main figures in the play by using independent and contrast ways. It shows the heavily flavo</p><p><b>　　Key Words</b></p><p>　　Character analyzin

16、g; humanism; personality liberation; women consciousness</p><p><b>　　摘　要</b></p><p>　　眾所周知，《威尼斯商人》是莎士比亞著名喜劇之一。 該劇的主題被定義為對善良、友誼和愛情的頌揚。 本劇不但反映了資本主義早期資產階級同高利貸者間的矛盾沖突，也揭示了作者對資本主義社會金錢、法律和

17、宗教信仰的人文主義觀點。本論文采用了個案分析法以及對比分析法對該劇的主要人物形象作了一一剖析，展示了資本主義萌芽時期人文主義的濃厚氣息，表達了莎士比亞對社會、對人類生活的反思，并寄以自己的理想。課題對封建舊勢力的代表——夏洛克作了無情的批判，而對形象鮮明、富有光彩的鮑西婭則添上了濃厚的人文主義理想色彩。文章彰顯了女性個性解放，突顯了文藝復興時期伊麗莎白當權期，女性地位、意識的重大突破。</p><p><b

18、>　　關鍵詞 </b></p><p>　　人物分析；人文主義思想；個性解放；女性意識</p><p>　　Introduction</p><p>　　The Merchant of Venice is one of the Shakespeare’s famous comedies in his early time. It’s theme i

19、s to extol kindness, friendship and love. It is the mirror of the contradiction between business bourgeois and usurer at the beginning of the Capitalist society. It’s also expressed the author’s humanism ideas on money,

20、law and religion in this society. There, we mention Humanism--the main distinguishing feature of that period, also the brightness characteristic which is shown from the important rol</p><p>　　In this thesis,

21、 the author introduces the background of the play firstly. Reading the play, we can know that the social background in the play is according with the real society. We know at that time, the society was under the leadersh

22、ip of Elizabeth who was the symbol of power in England. Next the thesis gives an introduction of the main figures in the play. Antonio is rich and kindhearted. From him we can see the spirit of humanism. Portia plays the

23、 most important part in the play. The thesis </p><p>　?、? Social Background of the Play the Merchant of Venice</p><p>　　As is known, England is a developed country. Today, it also obtains very i

24、mportant status in the world. It is very necessary to talk about the history of the growth of capitalism in England, especially in 16th century.</p><p>　　A. The Social Information in Elizabeth Throne</p&g

25、t;<p>　　Henry VIII died in 1547 and his nine-year-old son succeeded him. The son was known in history, Edward Ⅵ. The boy-king’s reign was a time of extreme Protestantism, for the Regency Council for him consisted

26、almost entirely of the protestant faction. Edward Ⅵ died in 1553. only 15years old. Then his half-sister, Mary, a Catholic, became Queen. The new Queen came to the throne at the age of twenty-five. After the coronation,

27、her parliament passed the necessary legislation to abolish the papal suprem</p><p>　　B. Special Social Background Reflecting in the Merchant of Venice</p><p>　　The Merchant of Venice is one of t

28、he famous comedy plays written by Shakespeare in his early time. The theme of this play is to extol kindness, friendship and love. It is the mirror of the contradiction between business bourgeois and usurer at the beginn

29、ing of capitalist society. It’s also expressed the author’s humanism ideas on money, law and religion in this society. There, we mention Humanism--the main distinguishing feature of that period, also the brightness chara

30、cteristic which is shown f</p><p>　　Shakespeare was a man of the late Renaissance who gave the fullest expression to humanist ideas. The Merchant of Venice is one of the important works which finished in the

31、 First Flowering period of English Literature. In this play, heroes and heroines fight for their own ideas and mould their own life according to their own free will and bring us into happy and ideal world with singing, d

32、ancing, harmony with nature and freedom from the vices of the world. </p><p>　?、? Analyzing the Heroes in the Play</p><p>　　In this play, Shakespeare portrays many roles. The proportion that mal

33、e figures taking is much more notable than female’s. So, it's necessary to narrate and display their nature character and symbol.</p><p><b>　　Antonio</b></p><p>　　Although the pl

34、ay’s title refers to him, Antonio is a rather lackluster character. He emerges in ActⅠ, sceneⅠas a hopeless depressive, someone who cannot name the source of his melancholy and who, throughout the course of the play, dev

35、olves into a self-pitying lump, unable to muster the energy required to defend himself against execution. Antonio never names the cause of his melancholy, but the evidence seems to point to his being in love, and the mos

36、t likely object of his affection is Bassanio.</p><p>　　Antonio has risked the entirety of his fortune on oversea trading ventures, yet he agrees to guarantee the potentially lethal loan Bassanio secures from

37、 Shylock. He is willing to offer up a pound of flesh, signifying a union that grotesquely alludes to the rite of marriage, where two partners become “one flesh”. Further evidence of the nature of Antonio’s feelings for B

38、assanio appears later in the play, when Antonio’s proclamations resonate with the hyperbole and self-satisfaction of a doomed lo</p><p>　　B. Bassanio</p><p>　　It is said Middle Ages is the most

39、deathly stillness period in Europe. It also can be seemed it’s the time that west Europe’s culture and literature go to grave. As to the pillar of spirit, there is nothing except a total series of religious doctrine. In

40、this environment, people used compliment and boast words to exchange their minds and thoughts. In that society, everyone remain under artificial mask wandered in different kinds of occasion. An absolutely undisguised mon

41、ey relationship makes the</p><p>　　C. Shylock</p><p>　　Shylock in this play is the antagonist. He is the model of usurer. Most people read him as a bogeyman, a clownish Jewish stereotype. He is

42、selfish, curtly, avaricious and niggard. Once he has the chance to revenge his foe. He will try his best to make the other into deathtrap. In the court, he is clam and wisdom, even fights for several Christian’s joint at

43、tack. But most of his speech is coarse, and sometimes “mean”. All of this makes people take unkindly to him. But with the several aspects sag</p><p>　　“He hath disgraced me, and hinder’d me half a million; l

44、aught at my loss, mockt at my gains, scorn’d my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies; and what’s his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, sens

45、es, affections, passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, heal’d by the same means, warm’d and cool’d by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? If you prick us, d

46、o we</p><p>　　His frequently mentions of the cruelty he has endured at Christian hands make it hard for us to label him a natural born monster. Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his quest for ven

47、geance the product of lessons taught to him by the cruelty of Venice citizens. In such condition, his “malicious” is much more reasonable. </p><p>　　Besides the facial of Shylock’s malignance, actually, he i

48、s a person whose sense of decency has been fractured by the persecution he endures. Comparatively, those kindness and wisdom Christian, in fact, have another hideous feature. So, in my mind, Shylock is a man who is worth

49、 sympathizing. </p><p>　　III. Analyzing the Central Character in the Novel--Portia</p><p>　　The girl embodies the virtues that are typical for Shakespeare’s heroines--it has no surprise that she

50、 emerges as the antidote to Shylock’s malice. She is the pretty-witted aristocrat young girl. She is enthusiasm and graceful; resourceful and humorous; wealthy and beautiful. She is the perfect female who glitters the hu

51、manism ideal in her life. This is Portia.</p><p>　　The Essential Nature of Portia</p><p>　　At the beginning of the play, however, we do not see Portia’s potential for initiative and resourcefuln

52、ess, as she is a near prisoner, feeling herself absolutely bound to follow her father’s dying wishes. This open appearance, however, proves to be a revealing introduction to Portia, who emerges as that rarest of combinat

53、ions--a free spirit who abides rigidly by rules. When Bassanio asks Belmont to choose his chest, she proves herself to be highly resourceful, begging the man she loves to stay a</p><p>　　B. The Humanism Spir

54、it Shown by Portia </p><p>　　Portia is the main character in this play. She embodies the virtues that are typical for Shakespeare’s heroines. Being a wealth young girl, she is beautiful, gentle and tender, a

55、nd full of stratagems. She lives in Belmont--a peaceful world, and recruits the newest ideological trends. So, her mind is equipped by humanism. She is a cute girl, even her father’s behest; she would like to abide by. H

56、umanism has several contents. One of them is the Rationalism object to Obscurantism. It advocates trea</p><p>　　I pray you, tarry: pause a day or two</p><p>　　Before you hazard; for, in choosing

57、 wrong,</p><p>　　I lost your company: therefore, forbear a while. ② (Act Ⅲ SceneⅡ 1-5) </p><p><b>　　……</b></p><p>　　Before you venture for me. I could teach you </p&g

58、t;<p>　　How to choose right </p><p><b>　　……</b></p><p>　　The seeming truth which cunning times put on</p><p>　　To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold, &

59、lt;/p><p>　　Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee;</p><p>　　Nor none of thee, thou stale and common drudge, </p><p>　　Tween man and man: but thou, thou meager lead,</p><p

60、>　　Which rather threatenest than dost promise aught,</p><p>　　Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence;</p><p>　　And here choose I: ---Joy be the consequence! ② (Act Ⅲ SceneⅡ 100-107) </p

61、><p>　　This is the evidence that Portia never resigns herself to her fate. In order to peruse her own happiness and love, she makes use of her wisdom obeyed her father’s will as well as marry with the Mr. Right

62、. This is one aspect. The other one is that when she argued with Shylock to act defense as a means of attack on the court, and consolidate at every step. Shylock thought he encountered bosom friend at beginning. And lat

63、er, suddenly he realized he has lost his preponderance. Portia’s brilliance t</p><p>　　C. Portia--a Self-conscious Female</p><p>　　Portia is a beautiful, dignity and wealth girl. And the most im

64、portant thing is she obtains strongly female self-consciousness. She knows what is she needs, and try her best to pursue. She has an insight into the world which she exists—the code of ethics, the value…, she knows what’

65、s the role she plays. So, she can vacillate freely in the male society, gets her goal and not to go against the rules. In this play, it seems she just does two things: help her to choose a husband; help her husband to<

66、;/p><p>　　Myself and what is mine to you and yours</p><p>　　Is now converted: but now I was the lord</p><p>　　Of this fair mansion, master of my servants,</p><p>　　Queen O

67、’er myself; and even now, but now,</p><p>　　This house, these servants, and this same myself,</p><p>　　Are yours, my lord: I give them with this ring;</p><p>　　Which when you part f

68、rom, lose, or give away, </p><p>　　Let it persage the ruin of your love,</p><p>　　And be my vantage to exclaim on you.②</p><p>　　The aim to be said like that is to remind Bassanio s

69、he is the very one that’s the </p><p>　　real master in her family. In other words, she is the protagonist in the play, and the male is the costar who stands on the pasive, subordinary rim, and they always do

70、 as one is told. This figure-portray denied the traditon gender relationship makes female go from “rim” to “center”, from “object” to “subject”. It’s to deny the traditional female conception. And on the other hand, all

71、of those shows Portia is a personality liberation woman.</p><p>　　D. An Explanation on Portia Masquerading as Man</p><p>　　The period when the Merchant of Venice was created was called Shakespea

72、re’s comedy period. During this period Shakespeare shaped humanities and the arts. British Queen Elizabeth I is in the heyday of the rule, monarchy solid and economic prosperity. Shakespeare in the social reality of the

73、 ideals of humanism will be achieved confidence, optimism works filled with forthright and bright colors. There is an idiom said “British is the paradise for woman, and the hell for steed” , which means Britis</p>

74、<p>　　But there is the key problem--why does Portia masquerade as man? Wouldn’t she go to the court with her own dress? Why should she disguise herself as a black-robed judge? These are the complicated questions in

75、 the context. In my opinion, there are three reasons to explain this phenomenon.</p><p>　　It is the fact that woman’s status has been improved a lot, especially at Elizabeth’s </p><p>　　realm. T

76、here is another important factor about Shakespeare’s comedy is “heroes in dress” as one says: “British are the paradise for woman and the hell for steed”. In Shakespeare’s comedy, female not only is the protagonist, but

77、also holds the thread of details, and very erudite. Portia dresses in black robe, the first function is to pile comedy effect on, and throws the comedy atmosphere into sharp relief. The second function is the following:

78、because humanism consists that the world they inhabi</p><p>　　At the back of Portia’s immortality, the play shows us the woman’s bitter which they have beard so long. As an excellent girl, she can’t enter co

79、urt naturally, instead she masquerades as man. To establish the central status of human, their dignity and value; to advocate the love and equality; and of these are just to work for the expectation and demand of man, th

80、ere is no business of woman. Above all, there is the plot that Portia masquerades as man in the play.</p><p>　　IV. A Comparative Study of Characteristic Differences</p><p>　　As we know, this com

81、edy is very light and joyful. Also its theme is very clean. But many criticisms have analyzed the figures in different angles. So it’s inevitable to make a comparison among the roles. </p><p>　　A. Portia and

82、 Jessica</p><p>　　Both of them are the important roles in this play. And both have a wealth father. The basic difference is Portia living in Belmont, a peaceful, quiet place. And Jessica lives in Venice, whi

83、ch is a city full of pedal, bourgeoisie and smell of money. As we say‘circumstance creates human’ Portia is witty, brave, and humorous, and there is always a clever maid for company. They enjoy themselves and live a very

84、 happy life. By contrast, Jessica, a lonely girl, because of her father’s niggard and heart</p><p>　　Jessica: Alack, what heinous sin is it in me</p><p>　　To be ashamed to be my father’s child!&

85、lt;/p><p>　　But though I am a daughter to his blood.</p><p>　　I am not to his manners. Oh, Lorenzo,</p><p>　　If thou keep promise, I will end this strife,</p><p>　　Become

86、a Christian and thy loving wife!②( Act II ,Scene III, P64, 15-22) </p><p>　　Here, we can say, the two girls have courage to pursue their own happiness. But Portia’s happiness is hinge on her wit. Although sh

87、e is bound to her dead father’s will. She still helps Bassanio to choose the correct chest with her wit. To audience, it’s more gratification to be accepted. And it’s a pity for Jessica to choose the elopement for their

88、love.</p><p>　　B. Portia and Shylock</p><p>　　Portia is a humanist and she is the embodiment of kind, clever, and bravery. She is the person who is leading the trend of society, also we call her

89、 “trend—setter”. By contrast, Shylock stands for usurer who is ignorant and backward. Absolutely, they are run in the opposite direction. This is the knot that they will conflict directly. The wonderful performance of th

90、eir conflicts is shown on Scene Ⅳ—the struggle on court. The way that Portia crosses sword with Shylock is similar to Duke with he. </p><p>　　C. Antonio and Bassanio</p><p>　　One is the rich mer

91、chant of Venice. He is the representative figure of growing bourgeois. He is ostentatious and is generous in aiding needy people. He always lends his money to other without interest. So he obtains much good praise. The o

92、ther one is a profligate son of the rich. He is the embodiment of powerful noble. Except Usurer and Feudalism, they are the dazzling figure in commercialized society. One obtains numerous money; the other has admirable c

93、lass status. They are the bosom friend in</p><p>　　Bassanio although is a noble, actually he is a declining aristocrat. He has squandered his money at different meeting, gathering and on woman. Not to speak

94、so tactful, he is a playboy who never plans to get a job or doing some business. Instead, he would like to life his head from a profitable marriage. When he borrows money from Antonio as chip to pursuing Portia. Antonio

95、says: </p><p>　　I pray you, good Bassanio, let me know it;</p><p>　　And if it stand, as you yourself still do,</p><p>　　Within the eye of honour, be assured</p><p>　　My

96、 purse, my person, my extremest means,</p><p>　　Lie all unlockt to your occasion② (ActⅠsceneⅠ,P12,135-140) </p><p>　　And when his boats wreck on sea, he has had to obey the contract, and he says

97、:</p><p>　　Sweet Bassanio, my ships have all miscarried, my creditors grow crule, my estate is very low, my bond to the Jew is forfeit; and since in paying it, it is impossible I should live, all debates are

98、 cleared between you and I. if I might but see you at my death. Notwithstanding, use your pleasure; if your love do not persuade you to come, let not my letter. ② (Act Ⅲ Scene Ⅱ P132,315-321) </p><p>　　From

99、these words, we can confirm Antonio is the best friend of Bassanio. He always helps other not to ask for reward, even sacrifice his life. When Bassanio hears the news that Antonio will lose his life for him. He returns i

100、mmediately and gives his lover’s ring back to the clerk to show his thanks. Their friendship has been proved so perfect.</p><p>　　Conclusion</p><p>　　The period that Shakespeare created the Merc

101、hant of Venice was the reign of Elizabeth Ⅰ. What was the name of that period called “the First Flowering Period of English Literature” and the greatest change began with drama. Shakespeare was the representative at that

102、 time. In his romantic comedies, Shakespeare takes an optimistic attitude toward love and youth. The Merchant of Venice, in which he has created tension, ambiguity, a self-consciousness and self-delighting artifice that,