The Merchant of Venice

by William Shakespeare

Have a question? eNotes editors are standing by to help you.

How can the character figure of Shylock define his class identity in The Merchant of Venice?

florac

Student

Community / Jr. College

 

There are both nobles and commoners in The Merchant of  Venice. Commoners were more wealthy and knowledgeable. How can Shylock define his identity; would it be as a commoner or a nobleman?

 

 

Posted by florac on October 13, 2009 at 12:47 PM and tagged with commoner, identity, merchant class, nobility, shakespeare, shylock, social class, the merchant of venice

Rate this question:

» Flag as inappropriate
Message florac

Share this question:

1 Answer | add yours

kplhardison

Teacher

Editor Emeritus, Debater, Expert, Educator, Scribe, Whitman, Dickens, The Bard, Churchill

There seems to be a little confusion about the nature of commoners and nobles. First, the only nobles entering into the story line of The Merchant of Venice are Morocco, a prince of...

(The entire answer is 355 words.)

This is an expert answer, written by an eNotes editor. To read the entire answer, please join eNotes.

Posted by kplhardison on February 19, 2010 at 2:54 PM

Rate this answer:

» Flag as inappropriate
Message kplhardison

Join for free to answer this question

Join a community of thousands of dedicated teachers and students.

Already a member? Sign in » JOIN eNOTES

Top Tags in The Merchant of Venice

See all »

Following The Merchant of Venice

See all »

accessteacher

Editor Emeritus, Debater, Expert, Educator, Whitman, Poe, Dickens, The Bard

359,290 points

scarletpimpernel

Editor, Debater, Expert, Educator, Scribe, Dickens, The Bard

48,379 points

robertwilliam

Editor, Debater, Expert, Dickens, The Bard

33,721 points

muddy-mettled

Valedictorian, Teaching Assistant, Expert, Tutor

3,059 points

pohnpei397

Distinguished Editor, Debater, Expert, Educator, Dickens, The Bard, Churchill, Einstein

629,615 points