Shakespeare's Fool

In The Merchant of Venice, only Launcelot Gobbo is labeled a clown. Gobbo is ShylockÆs servant who informs his blind father, Old Gobbo, that he wants to leave Shylock and work for Bassanio. Gobbo acts as comic relief in the play, a character that is particularly skilled at uttering puns, ôThere will come a Christian by / Will be worth a JewessÆ eyeö (Shakespeare 211). Gobbo is important because as the fool he is able to utter expressions others in the play would not so readily get away with saying in public. He also symbolizes the duality within the play between justice and injustice, Christianity and Judaism, and love and infidelity. He does so by working as the fool/servant for both the Jewish Shy

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r in the play. This is true even though he is legally valid in demanding his bond and the terms of his contract, just as much as he is valid in wanting his daughter returned. However, Shylock is made a fool of by Portia who points out that he cannot cut his ôpound of fleshö from AntonioÆs breast unless he can do so without shedding a drop of blood. ShylockÆs lust for revenge against Antonio has made foolish in missing this oversight. Otherwise he is quite proficient in his affairs and prosecution. Yet his being made a fool of demonstrates another duality and thin line separating two themes of the play, self interest versus love. ShylockÆs end also shows that justice is another complex concept that is not always a black and white issue with concrete lines drawn with respect to decision-making. The character of Portia is quite a deception. Even the Prince of Arragon acknowledges the Portia he meets is quite at odds with the Portia he imagined, ôHow much unlike art thou to Portia! / How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!ö (Shakespeare 214). Portia fools Bassanio and Gratiano when she and Nerissa act as counsel for Antonio, not too mention handily defeating Shylock and making the fool of him. However, all of the fooling
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1615
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

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