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Rusty Hatred in Shakespeare's Comedy the Merchant of Venice

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Rusty Hatred in Shakespeare's Comedy the Merchant of Venice Rusty Hatred in Shakespeare’s Comedy The Merchant of Venice (Andri Setiawan, Ahmad Muhid) RUSTY HATRED IN SHAKESPEARE’S COMEDY THE MERCHANT OF VENICE Andri Setiawan, Ahmad Muhid, S.S, M. Hum Faculty of Language and Culture, University of AKI Jl. Imam Bonjol 15 – 17 Semarang 50179 Email: [email protected], [email protected] Abstract The comedy genre drama of Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice is interesting to discuss because it contains topics which will give lessons about how to lead life. Hatred for example is a theme which is fascinating to discuss because it occurs in human life. Because of this, the writer decides to analyze it under the title of “Rusty Hatred in Shakespeare’s Comedy The Merchant of Venice”. The writer uses library research to get the main data of the text drama The Merchant of Venice. Secondary data, such as opinions of the experts are taken from various sources like books, webs, internet and so forth. The approach that the writer uses is structural approach because it is an approach that concerns about the elements that build a literary work, like theme, character, setting, plot and so forth. Hatred that the Jewish Shylock possesses is increasing to extreme level. It starts from his being mocked and labelled as a dog until being spitted on cloak and beard that happen many times. Besides that, his business of interest is being constrained because Antonio, a rich Christian merchant, takes no interest of lending his money. This condition makes Shylock hateful, plans to revenge, and kills Antonio carefully. The type of hatred that Shylock has is racial and religious. Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian, not a Jew, and vice versa. On the other hand, Antonio also hates Shylock because Shylock is not a local citizen, just a new comer and moreover he is greedy for money by interest. His rusty hatred has made him be punished by court, acquisition on all his wealth and the obligation to be Christian because he has planned to kill a local Christian Venetian, Antonio. Key words: The Merchant of Venice, hatred, William Shakespeare, racism 1. Introduction strong feeling of dislike on someone Hate or hatred is something that is or something. It is also a deep and bad to keep in someone’s heart. If it is extreme emotional dislike, especially there inside, life won’t be quiet. Life invoking feelings of anger or will be in trouble for himself and also resentment. It can be directed against for others. Then, if this condition individuals, groups, entities, objects, occurs, the world is not a good place behaviours, or ideas to live in. Hatred is an extremely (https://dictionary.cambridge.org/eng 140 CULTURE Vol.4 No.1 Mei 2017 lish/hatred, accessed March 26th kebencian. Socially, Shylock has 2018: 10.45). been lowered by Antonio in the eyes Interesting stories like this can be of Venetian community. Shylock is found in literary work of drama, either really “down” psychologically too. tragedy or comedy. It is because So, because of this, his surrounding drama describes life and human people have become authoritarians to activities as explained by Reaske him and that is why this is the source “Drama is a work of literature or of his anger and hatred. He will surely composition which delineates life and revenge or pay back against them. human activity by means of presenting Furthermore, Engelberta various actions – and dialogues – Pardamean told that Kebencian between groups of characters” (1966: 5). merupakan sebuah emosi yang sangat In the story, a man of hatred, a kuat dan melambangkan Jewish called Shylock has deep hatred ketidaksukaan, permusuhan, atau towards a merchant from Venice who antipati untuk seseorang (2011: 9) in is very rich and generous. This man a book under the title of Psikologi has prevented his business from Kebencian. Time will come for him to expanding because he cannot get disgrace them, chiefly Antonio, the interest from lending his money. This mastermind. man who is called Antonio, not only There are many consequences makes Shylock’s business in from his hatred, especially on or difficulty but Antonio also dislikes against Antonio. Shylock who is Shylock very much. Shylock’s hatred filled with emotion, hostility and keeps increasing because he is called antipathy is always trying to get the dog and spitted. Therefore, his best moment to pay back his being dislikes keep ballooning and swelling. humiliated and undermined. When In a book entitled Kebencian dan time comes, Shylock is really Otoritarianisme, Erich Fromm (2011: inhuman. He will cut one pound of 4) explained that iklim sosial Antonio’s flesh because Antonio (termasuk sejarah pribadi individu) cannot pay back or return his debt on merupakan sumber kemarahan dan the right time. 141 Rusty Hatred in Shakespeare’s Comedy The Merchant of Venice (Andri Setiawan, Ahmad Muhid) Based on this background, the condition of the bond (contract) and writer wants to discuss his thesis signs it. under the title: Rusty Hatred in Bassanio takes the money and Shakespeare’s Comedy The Merchant prepares to go visit Portia, a wealthy of Venice. heiress living in Belmont. She is 1.1 Synopsis of The Merchant of unmarried because her father has Venice decreed that all suitors must first The Merchant of Venice opens select one of three caskets in order to with Antonio, a Christian merchant, marry her. The caskets, one made of in a depressed state. His friends try to gold, one of silver, and one of base cheer him up, but nothing works to lead, all contain different messages. make him feel better. Finally his Only one of these caskets contains a friend Bassanio, an aristocrat who has picture of Portia. The suitor who picks lost all of his money, comes and asks that casket will be granted permission Antonio to loan him some money. to marry her. Antonio, who has tied up all of his Prior to Bassanio's arrival money is seafaring ventures, is unable the Prince of Morocco tries his luck in to give Bassanio a direct loan. Instead choosing among the caskets. He picks he offers to use his good credit to get the gold casket because it contains an a loan for Bassanio. Bassanio inscription reading "what every man finds Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, desires." Instead of Portia's picture, he and convinces him to give a loan of finds a skull which symbolizes the three thousand ducats as long as fact that gold hides corruption. As Antonio will sign the contract. In a part of losing the suit, he is further rather unusual twist, instead of sworn to never propose marriage to charging the Christian men interest, any other woman, and must return to Shylock agrees to waive it as long as Morocco immediately. The next Antonio promises him a pound of his suitor, the Prince of Aragon, selects flesh as collateral. Antonio, thinking the silver casket which bears an this is a "merry sport," accepts the inscription stating that it will give a man what he deserves. Inside is a 142 CULTURE Vol.4 No.1 Mei 2017 picture of an idiot, indicating that his the dashing soldier with whom she self-centered approach was foolish. fell in love several years earlier. He too leaves in shame. Portia begs Bassanio to wait before Back in Venice, Jessica, the choosing among the caskets, but he daughter of Shylock, has fallen in demands the right to start love with Lorenzo. They plan to immediately. Without even properly escape one night when Shylock is reading the inscriptions, Bassanio invited to eat at Bassanio's house. selects the lead one because he After Shylock leaves Lorenzo goes to considers it a threatening casket. his house with two friends. Jessica Portia is overjoyed when he finds her appears at a window dressed as a boy portrait inside. She gives him a ring to and tosses a chest of money and seal their engagement and they jewels down to them. She then prepare to get married the next emerges from the house and runs day. Graziano, who has accompanied away with Lorenzo. Bassanio to Belmont, tells him that he Shylock, upon discovering that his and Nerissa(Portia's friend) wish to be daughter has run away with a lot of his married as well. money, blames Antonio for helping A messenger arrives and hands her escape. At the same time there are Bassanio a letter from Antonio in rumors developing in Venice that which he informs Bassanio that he has many of Antonio's ships, with which lost all his money and must forfeit a he expected to repay Shylock for the pound of flesh to Shylock. Bassanio loan, have sunk or been lost at sea. immediately tells Portia what has Shylock begins to revel in the news happened. She orders him to take six that Antonio is losing everything thousand ducats and return to Venice because he wants to exact his pound where he can pay Shylock and cancel of flesh in revenge for the many the contract. After Bassanio and insults Antonio has dealt him Graziano have left, Nerissa and Portia throughout the years. depart for Venice disguised as men. Bassanio arrives in Belmont and Shylock has Antonio arrested and meets Portia. She remembers him as brought before the Duke of Venice, 143 Rusty Hatred in Shakespeare’s Comedy The Merchant of Venice (Andri Setiawan, Ahmad Muhid) who presides over a court of justice. doctor. She informs him that he may The Duke pleads with Shylock to have his pound of flesh, but that if he forgive the contract and let Antonio sheds a single drop of blood then go free.
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