Merchant of venice essay

    Majority of the people in the world believe in the idea of having a soul mate.  They believe in the thought of love at first site, and doing anything for the one they love.  In the play, The Merchant of Venice, poor Bassanio saw wealthy, beautiful Portia for the first time and fell in love.  He was willing to go through the arranged marriage process and chose the right one out of the 3 caskets to marry her.
Jewish Jessica chooses to marry Christian Lorenzo no matter the consequences because she loved him.  All of the characters come together to protect broke Antonio from his bond with cold hearted Shylock who wants nothing more but his love for revenge.  The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare theme shows that no matter what the consequence is, people will always go through extreme measures to be with the person or thing they love.
     Throughout the story, many of the characters proved that they would go long ways to be with the person or thing that they loved.  In Act 3, scene 5, Jessica tells Lorenzo, "He tells me flatly that there's no mercy for me in heaven because I am a Jews daughter."  Back then, there were strict laws and beliefs about Jews and Christians being together. However, because Jessica loved Lorenzo so much, she looked past the consequences and decided to run away with her lover.  Unhappy with her life and father, yet worried about what he would do if he found them, Jessica decides to take all his money.  "I may be a daughter of his blood, but i'm not related to his life style..  I'll turn Christian and be your loving wife."  She knew that her father would be very angry, and would punish them if they were ever to be found.  Without looking back, she took the money anyway and escaped towards her freedom and happiness.
     Back then, many daughters were agreed into an arranged marriage forced upon by their fathers.  Poor Bassanio knew he loved Portia from the moment he met her, yet if he chose the wrong choice, he was to never be married. "Let me choose.  As I am, living on the rack of torment."  Bassanio knew if he chose the wrong casket, he was to never be married.  Yet, that was a risk he was willing to take because if he chose right, Portia would become his wife.  People go through extreme measures not only for the people they love, but for the things they love as well.  "I swear upon my soul that no man has the power to persuade me otherwise.. I'll have my bond!"  Because Shylock hated Antonio so much, he loved the idea of revenge and a pound of flesh was the only way he thought Antonio would pay for it.   Doing this, he knew this was going against his religion and that there would be consequences yet he still believed it was the "right" thing to do.
  In conclusion, the theme of the play The Merchant of Venice portrayed that when a person loves someone or something, they will do anything for them no matter the consequence.  Love is about sacrificing things to be with and protect your soulmate.  No matter the consequence or  judgement they will get, when a person loves someone they will prove it to them.  Just like how Jessica was willing to change her religion and Bassanio borrowed a lot of money just to be with the people they loved.  Loving someone is being able to change or risk things to be with your significant other as proven in The Merchant of Venice.