Explain how the plays grapple with religious identity, beliefs, and/or conflicts?

Book:
Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” (You can use any website or physical copy of the play)

Paper Content:
Explore the religious dimensions of one or more early plays. It would be best to narrow down this large topic by focusing on one or two key themes or motifs. Explain how the plays grapple with religious identity, beliefs, and/or conflicts? Do they have anything to say about specific religious doctrines or traditions? Keeping in mind that Protestantism was the official religion in England throughout Shakespeares lifetime, does he seem to be attracted or opposed to any particular religious groups or doctrinal views?

Your thesis statement should set forth a crisp, clear, arguable claim about the play that is based on supporting evidence from the text. For example, dont just argue that marriage is an important theme in A Midsummer Nights Dream. Instead, you might argue that Shakespeare portrays marriage in A Midsummer Nights Dream as a tool used by men to limit womens power and freedom. Take a stand; offer an interpretation of the play(s); and persuade the reader that your interpretation is valid by quoting and analyzing passages from the play(s) that illustrate your claims.

Although your essay can draw on aspects of our class discussions, try wherever possible to show your own direct, personal engagement with the play(s) you choose to write on. Make your analysis as creative and original as you can. Build on the arguments youve heard in classor disagree with them. Look for new textual evidence we didnt examine in class. Challenge yourself to be bold, imaginative, and sharp-eyed in your close readings.

Format:
Papers should be written in a 12pt standard font (such as Times New Roman), double-spaced, with one-inch margins on all sides (the standard word processor format). Please number your pages. A separate title page is not needed, but do give your essay a descriptive title and include both your name and my name on the first page of text. INCLUDE WORKS CITED PAGE.

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