rahul world lit. 2a. final

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    A comparative analysis of the element of love portrayed in

    the dual plays 'Blood Wedding' by Lorca and 'Merchant of

    Venice' by William Shakespeare.

    Subject: English HL

    Candidate Name: R.A.RAHUL

    Candidate Number:002388-005

    Word Count: 1519

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    On an introductory note love, I feel it is a universally accepted feeling which

    explains the very purpose of life in more than one way. This feeling is something

    which every human can relate to. Through this assignment I propose to explore

    different facets of love through the literary works of Federico Garcia Lorca and

    William Shakespeare. These respective writers have without an element of doubt

    written several works of art and have in the process immortalized themselves

    through their creativity. The thematic element of love is predominant in The

    Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare and Blood Wedding by Federico

    Garcia Lorca. The important aspect which draws a line of difference between

    these two dramatic pieces is the fact that Merchant of Venice ends on a positive

    note whereas Blood Wedding, as the title itself suggests the tragic finale. My

    objective is to understand love in total through the works of Federico Garcia Lorca

    and William Shakespeare i.e. Blood Wedding and Merchant of Venice.

    Merchant of Venice has love intertwined in a simple way through the storyline.

    The actions of all the main characters are motivated or rather driven by love.

    Antonio is a protagonist of sorts in the play. The title of the play Merchant of

    Venice is in reference to him, as he is the Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare

    projects him to be a character who shares a strong and friendly bonding with

    Bassanio. He is sad and seeks support in the company of Bassanio whom he loves

    a lot. Shakespeare has portrayed Antonios love for Bassanio in such a manner

    which seems to have a high degree of inclination towards intimacy.

    My purse, my person, my extremest meansLie all unlocked to your occasions.1

    Antonio, Act 1, Scene 1, page 6

    1Antonio, Act 1, Scene 1, page 6.

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    Antonio is a true example of selfless love wherein he offers his very self in a bond

    misleadingly framed by Shylock to generate funds to assist Bassanio in acquiring

    Portias love.

    Bassanio is the secondary lead character whose perception of love is rathersuperficial in nature. He has misspent all his wealth and is in great debt and love is

    a mode of escapism from the terrible straits he his is in. He has formulated a plan

    to woo and marry Portia, the widow of Brutus. She is a beautiful lady who stays at

    Belmont. Bassanio wishes to marry her as he claims to love her but the fact of the

    matter is that Bassanio plans to settle all his debts by marring Portia which would

    give him complete access to her wealth. For the financial support of his trip, he

    urges Antonio to lend him money and Antonio failing to see reason agrees to

    enter into a bond with Shylock who is seeking revenge. Bassanio needs three

    thousand ducats and since Antonio is not in a position to lend him money, he

    somehow agrees to the condition of giving Shylock a pound of his flesh if he fails

    to repay him.

    Shakespeare clearly draws out each characters perception of love. Antonios

    character is projected as on which is risking his own very self for love whereas

    Bassanios character is shown as misusing the emotion of love in order to raise

    funds to support a trip to capture a lady in the name of love. Therefore he is acharacter who rather misuses the term of love for his own self center ends.

    Trick and fraud is mode used to acquire love is well applied by Shakespeare

    through the other characters that are not the central one yet are significant

    enough for the storyline to be comprehended in the right context. Jessica, the

    daughter of Shylock, a big time Jew and hates Christians elopes with Lorenzo, a

    Christian. Here Jessica foregoes fatherly love (Shylock), for the love of Lorenzo.

    Shylock, though the antagonist is extremely trusting as far as his daughter Jessica

    is concerned but is betrayed towards the end by Jessica where she elopes with

    Lorenzo by taking away all her fathers wealth.

    Shakespeare here makes an attempt to show that love and fraud at times go hand

    in hand. In order to acquire the love of one, one has to let go the love for the

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    other. Such conflicts add realm to this dramatic presentation as it reflects life in

    all essence.

    If it be so,How little is the cost I have bestowed?In purchasing the semblance of my soul

    From out the state of hellish cruelty! 2Portia, Act 4, Scene 3.

    Acknowledgement of love is well projected by the characterization of Portia.

    When she realizes Antonios troubles and his trap by Shylock and the fact that

    Bassanio, her to be husband is responsible for the situation, she puts the wedding

    on hold in order to rescue Antonio from Shylock. She dresses of a lawyer and

    utilizes tact and procedure to save Antonio. She acknowledges his love and his

    sacrifice.

    The element of love is visible in every character of the play Merchant of Venice.

    Their actions are driven directly or indirectly to fulfill the aspect of love and we

    are introduced to love in different forms and bonding.

    On the other hand, Blood Wedding presents us with the tragic elements of such

    a divine feeling universally known as love. Love in Blood Wedding is shown to

    bring about unhappiness, restlessness and being at a loss of ones own sanity.

    Federico, the writer in all these thoughts shows us that love encompasses a

    journey of trials and troubles.

    The central characters are the Bride, Leonardo and the Bridegroom. Love; here is

    an emotion which seems to have distress in all these characters which leads them

    to their eventual end. The writer shows us that the emotional bond of love never

    2Portia, Act 4, Scene 3.

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    ceases to exist even though Leonardo is married to someone else and the bride

    still yearns for him.

    The bride hopes to get away the pangs of her heart by entering into matrimony

    with the groom. Here Federico clearly explains the fact that people who fail toachieve love, attempt to get away their feeling by marrying other people and yet

    fail in the process. The writer desires to make his stand clear that love is a feeling

    that controls you and not you controlling the love.

    Leonardo, though married, has truly never forgotten the bride and silently

    pursues the bride knowing very well that having her is impossibility and since

    horse riding trips in the locality of the brides house validates the fact that he is

    not at peace, and love is a source of never ending agony.

    Hatred the other side of love well explored and depicted by Federico Garcia Lorca.

    The groom and his mother hate Leonardo for having killed their family members

    i.e. the grooms father and brother. When they learn that the bride runs away

    with Leonardo, her lover, they are furious and the groom seeks revenge by

    pursuing the couple with a team of people with objective to execute Leonardo for

    running away with his bride and for having killed his family (brother and father).

    Love here gives way to revenge.

    The conflict results in the death of the groom and Leonardo. The bride returns

    home but is inconsolable as she lost out on Leonardo who loved her very much

    and risked everything he had for her. She lost out on the groom who presented a

    hope for a better future.

    "It's as though I'd drunk a bottle of anise and fallen asleep wrapped in a

    quilt of roses. It pulls me along and I know I'm drowning--but I go on

    down."3

    Bride, Act 2, Scene 3.

    3Bride, Act 2, Scene 3.

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    Love in Blood Wedding, is a force which is the source of unhappiness and

    discontentment. The central characters of the bride and Leonardo lead lives

    which seem meaningless and painful as their lives lack love which would have

    been there had they had the company of each other in matrimonial pleasure. In

    the case of the groom and his family love is a source of extreme hatred directed

    at Leonardo who was responsible for the deaths in their family. His running away

    with the grooms bride intensifies this hatred which would have subsided had the

    bride married the groom.

    On a conclusive note, I believe Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare and

    Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca explore love in all its dimensions and

    meanings. We, the readers are familiar with love which has many implications and

    the fact that it lacks simplicity is the idea which the respective writers want to

    bring home.

    Love which is attainted with no difficulty fails to appeal and in all probability

    might lose its luster, significance and charm could also be a hidden message to

    the readers. Love subjects itself to several tests and people who claim to be in

    love must endure tests is the message in accordance to me of these plays.

    I am confident that this assignment has helped me evolve as a person capable of

    giving immense love.

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    World Literature Assignment 2a: Comparative study

    Bibliography1. Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.2. Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca.