he was sad
The Merchant of Venice is a play, not a book. It is meant to be watched, not read. Although the story of Bassanio and Portia is comic in structure, the subplot about Antonio and Shylock ends tragically for Shylock. In this respect the play is similar to Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, which ends badly for Malvolio, although the ending is happy for the main characters. One of the peculiarities of The Merchant of Venice is that Shylock, because of the complexity of his character and the opportunity he presents for drama, has become the character in the play actors most want to play. In the nineteenth century, where all Shakespearean plays were treated as a vehicle for a star actor supported by a lot of nobodies, it is Shylock who Henry Irving played, not Bassanio. As a result, it has become Shylock's play, which makes it a tragedy. Incidentally, the historical fact that the role of Shylock has attracted many great actors is proof positive that the role is not a caricature or some kind of antisemitic stereotype.
All of Shakespeare's comedies had happy endings - usually with the marriage of unmarried characters, and a lighthearted style to the entire play. Some plays which do not end in marriages are All's Well that Ends Well and Love's Labour's Lost. Some plays which do not have a lighthearted style are All's Well that Ends Well and Measure for Measure.comedies with happy endings:All's Well That Ends WellAs You Like ItThe Comedy of ErrorsCymbelineLove's Labour's LostMeasure for MeasureThe Merchant of VeniceThe Merry Wives of WindsorA Midsummer Night's DreamMuch Ado About NothingPericles Prince of TyreTaming of the ShrewThe TempestTwelfth NightThe Two Gentlemen of VeronaThe Winter's Tale
It is a dangerous business trying to find "moral lessons" in Shakespeare's plays, because what the characters say and do is what they say and do. Whether it is good or bad is something the audience, the director and the actors bring to the table. In an earlier age, the Merchant of Venice was used by anti-semitic people to say anti-semitism is good. Nowadays, it is much more likely to be used to say that anti-semitism is bad. In fact it says neither; it only says that racism exists, and where it exists it begets more hatred. In an earlier age, Portia and the Duke were looked on as models of mercy and kindness in their treatment of Shylock. Nowadays they are more likely to be seen as smug, self-satisfied hypocrites who are happy to dress their cruel treatment of Shylock up as kindness. Either way, it is clear that Shylock made a tactical error in trusting to the Christian establishment (in the form of the law) to carry out his revenge on the Christians, personified by him in the person of the unfortunate Antonio. In an odd way, the subplot of Merchant of Venice is a revenge story like Hamlet or Titus Andronicus, and has the same kind of result: revenge results in misery and disaster. Unlike the others, Shylock's revenge only brings misery and disaster on himself. But unlike the others, Shylock is seeking revenge not against one person who has wronged him, but against all those who are in power and who have persecuted him and the other Jews. In any case, he would have been better off to have taken the offer of settlement made to him.
Shakespeare's problem plays are those which are difficult to categorize, usually because they are comedies in which very sad things happen to the characters. They don't usually die, though. Measure for Measure and All's Well that Ends Well are often called problem plays because their endings are ambiguous. Troilus and Cressida is a problem play because nobody is happy at the end, although they are alive (except for Hector, who has been murdered, and Patroclus who died in battle). Cymbeline is a late comedy but for some reason sometimes gets put in among the tragedies. Merchant of Venice was originally chiefly a comedy, but nowadays the role of Shylock is the central role, and the play turns out very badly for him.
no
Pretty much. Jessica, it would appear, is not totally happy with her choice to marry Lorenzo, but her life could be worse.
No and Happy Birthday to Jade Merchant!!!
nope, be happy! :)
make him happy
Happy Valley was in New South Wales, Australia.
act like your happy
It puts your hormones in balance and makes you happy!
Yes, exercise does help with depression. It releases chemicals in your body that your brain needs and stimulates a happy nerve.
Depression is a problem that brain has when it is not feeling well. You can ask various questions about the person's happy life.
Everyone is different. I had depression, stopped taking my meds when I felt I was ready and I am perfectly happy 98% of the time.
they might have depression, which makes it very hard to be happy sumtimes.
Yes. Plus, if you are not happy, more than likely depression will hit you before you know it. You should be happy ALL of the time but its best to be happy most of the time.