China E Commerce Market Analysis - 1564 Words

Alibaba Case 1. Critically analyze the factors that led to Alibaba sustaining its leadership position in the Chinese e-commerce market. There are many factors that lead Alibaba to sustaining its leadership position in the Chinese e-commerce markets, some of the factors explained in the case are: †¢ First mover advantage was created when Alibaba enter the e-commerce market with the business to business transactions for small and medium business. This give the advantage for the firm to gain greater market share, obtain specialized sources and human capital, and it gain a great part of customers that are loyal to the company. †¢ Local knowledge was a really important factor for Alibaba because by knowing what are desires, interest and customs of their customers, Alibaba created an advantage over its competitors. †¢ Marketing tools created a great advantage for Alibaba because by using different sources the company penetrate different markets, and it even help the company to overthrown eBay from the customers to customers business. †¢ The company created a good environment to succeed because it minimize the political risk by working with the government, and creating a mutual benefit between the country and the firm. †¢ The leadership that Ma created was exceptional because by starting with his pears without any hope from other people to be successful, he follow what he desire. At the end he has created a great company with exceptional values, which is a great legacy forShow MoreRelatedTourism Business Environment Of The Inbound Chinese Market1548 Words   |  7 Pagesthis report is to analyse the tourism business environment of the inbound Chinese market and evaluate this country in the perspective of Visit Britain. On this report, it will be provided an introduction of the Pest (Political, Economic, Social and Technological) analysis, where it will be explained the nature of this study and it will be described what each sector means. A briefly overview of the country selected, China and how it is the situation of the country in terms of business sector. Will beRead MoreAn Analysis of Chinaa E-Commerce Industry1488 Words   |  6 PagesAn Analysis of China’s E-Commerce Industry Introduction A little more than 10 years ago, China’s path to e-commerce leadership would have been difficult to foresee, even as the tech boom in the US and other markets saw the development of e-commerce as an important B2C and C2C channel. In 2000, China had yet to develop any e-commerce applications, and had only 2.1 million total internet users. Payment systems and physical delivery mechanisms to facilitate the development of e-commerce transactionsRead MoreYunnan Luck Air Case Study Essay1721 Words   |  7 Pagesin China they operate on a small scale compared to major competitors and so it made economical sense to offer low-cost, high-efficiency to their customers. In 2007 Lucky Air was able to more than double the amount of passengers from the year before by using a low-cost tactic. However other airlines have also caught on to offering low-cost fares for domestic routes to their passengers. With more competitors Lucky Air has decided to look at the possibility of taking a risk and to focus on e-commerceRead MoreEbay: Facing The Global Challenge Essay1107 Words   |  5 PagesExecutive Summary: The e-commerce industry has become a major player in the global retail environment. E-Bays large operating history has allowed the company to build a social capital of internet buyers and sellers that has now become its competitive advantage. However, intense competition in e-commerce has lead major players to lead expansion efforts in foreign markets where growing economies exist and the number of internet users is abundant. As a facilitator of online buyer-seller transactionsRead MoreMission, Vision And Values Essay1606 Words   |  7 Pagesstatement underscores the organization s position as the world s best e-commerce company of the main objectives. Amazon s vision statement emphasizes the following components or features: global wide, customer priorities, and the widest selection of products. The â€Å"Global Wide† component of Amazon s vision statement is about international leadership in the e-business marketplace. For example, in declaring â€Å"Earth† as a market, the company shows that its goal is to continue to expand on a globalRead MoreIdentification Of Problem ( S )1206 Words   |  5 Pagesrequire additional customer support. The problem of cannibalization could have been an issue because both models are very similar to each other. Another problem is to continue to be innovative through their e-commerce; they have major competitors such as Alibaba who dominate the market share in China at 50%. The problems found within the company are all solvable with the innovation and success that the company has been creating through their previous years. DECISION CRITERIA Dow Corning offers twoRead MoreBusiness Feasibility Study Of Marketing1209 Words   |  5 Pages LAUNCHING ‘VALERA’ SUNGLASSES IN CHINA â€Æ' â€Æ' Overview There are many markets globally which are seeing high growth in incomes and at the same time increased spending capacity. Increasing incomes come with increased spending on branded products and our company ZION which is based out of London, United Kingdom plans to take advantage of this opportunity to introduce our high end sunglasses brand ‘Valera’ in one of these markets. Our company has chosen China as a first step towards globalisationRead MoreCustomer Centric Organization, Excellent Management Flexibility836 Words   |  4 PagesStrengths †¢ Biggest e-commerce retailer †¢ AmazonPrime membership, free-shipping †¢ Leader in the cloud †¢ High market share †¢ Global brand reputation †¢ Kindle eBook market †¢ Evolving unique production †¢ Customer-centric organization, excellent management flexibility †¢ Variety of products and services Weaknesses †¢ Potential patent infringement †¢ Outages on Amazon’s web servers †¢ Licensing issues with eBooks Opportunities †¢ Rising opportunities in e-commerce sales †¢ Advertising through social mediaRead MoreTechnological Change And Their Effects On Global Market Research1480 Words   |  6 Pages Technological Change and Their Effects on Global Market Research Pradip Adhikari Texas AM University Commerce Fall 2014 Introduction We live in an era of extreme revolutionize, due to rapid technological development. Over the past years, the technological advancement has changed the entire world and way of work environment. Businesses in today s extremely competitive market must not take too lightly the importance of high-tech working environment, capable, well-trained employeesRead MoreAdvantages And Disadvantages Of E-Commerce899 Words   |  4 Pageschanging the manufacturing sector and trading methods in China. It has brought new opportunities and challenges to traditional physical industries. Digital electronic products have accelerated the popularity of the network and changed consumer behaviour. According to Statista - The Statistics Portal the Penetration rate of online shopping in China from 2006 to 2016 was rising every year, the statistic shows around 28.1 percent of internet users in China had consumed online and in 2016 it reached around

Why Family Is Important For Success - 1282 Words

Many people have grown up to be successful individuals with happy, elegant lives. Others grow to not have the luxuries but they still consider themselves successful because they are morally straight. Everyone’s definition of success is different, but through the various definitions of success, all successful people became that way because of their families. The reasons why family is directly related with success in later life is: family can push you to do things you would not do on your own. Family will always be there for you, and family prepares you to care for others. The first reason family is related to success is because family can push one to do things one might not always do willingly. For example, in Amy Chua’s Why Chinese Mothers Are Superior, Chua shares some of her experiences raising her two daughters to be successful, professional adults. One idea Chua lives by is as follows, â€Å"...nothing is fun until you’re good at it. To get good at anything you have to work, and children on their own never want to work, which is why it is crucial to override their preferences.† What Chua is saying here is that if a child is allowed to have his own way, he would never work towards anything remotely hard. This is why family must be there to help him succeed. Another example of family fostering success in people is in Mark Mathabane’s autobiography, Kaffir Boy. Johannes (now named Mark) was one of few black children lucky enough to be able to go to school in Apartheid SouthShow MoreRelatedCulture Essay1357 Words   |  6 Pages Interview: 1.Your definition of culture? Answer: Beliefs, customs and arts of a particular society. 2.How do you define family? Answer: Family is people who you care about and would do anything for. 3. Who holds the most â€Å"status† in your family? Why? Answer: My dad; he is the main person that receives income. 4. How do you define success? Answer: Success is a moment where you have completed your goal. 5. Do you consider your parents to be successful? Answer: I believe they are extremelyRead MoreOvercoming Marginalization1408 Words   |  6 PagesOvercoming Marginalization THIS IS IMPORTANT: LOOK CAREFULLY AT WHAT YOU HAVE. ASK YOURSELF IF THERE IS ANY REPETITION? DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE SAME IDEA MORE THAN ONCE? HERE IS A SUGGESTION: YOU WRITE ABOUT SOCIAL POWER. IN BAMBARA, WHAT MIGHT SYLVIA DO WITH SOCIAL POWER? WHAT COULD SHE CHANGE IF SHE HAD IT—AND WHY? COULD SYLVIA MAYBE BECOME AS POWERFUL AS HAROLD BROWNING—OR MORE POWERFUL? Success in America usually depends on family background, family income and other factors.　RaceRead MoreArranged Marriage : The Union Between Two People For Better And Worse1724 Words   |  7 Pagesmarriage is defined as, a traditional marriage that is arranged by the families of the bride and groom where both of them give their consent to be married. This type of marriage is quite common in Muslim communities, royal families (Diplomatic Marriages) and some countries like India, Pakistan, Japan, Korea, China and Israel (By New World Encyclopedia). Arranged marriages are preferred in many cultures because they are an important tradition and custom that carried over the years. Arranged marriagesRead MoreFamily Structure Affects Students Academic Life878 Words   |  4 PagesFamily structure affects students’ academic Life Colleen Wenke, a graduate from Boston College, wrote an essay â€Å"Too Much Pressure†. In the essay Wenke states that the pressure of cheating in school was difficult to overcome because everyone was doing it. She also gives different examples in her essay to illustrate how overcoming cheating was difficult for some students in the 1990s. Cheating can increase by the lack of morality in school and family, family stress on children, and anxiety of failureRead MoreEssay Motivation behind Choosing a Career Direction1384 Words   |  6 Pagesoccur overnight, it requires time. People have planned out their career path since the beginning. To them it is really important because it determines the career they would like to pursue later in life. In that respect, is consistently a question that comes up when selecting a career tasks. For example, what ways do individuals backgrounds play a part in their career decisions? Or why standards and values are set forth on individuals choos ing a certain career. Therefore, individuals begin to changeRead MoreMy Reflection Of Happiness In Life1381 Words   |  6 PagesIn my perspective Happiness is a positive emotion and feeling you may have but at times I ask myself â€Å"why isnt emotion included in the five senses?†. Happiness is a main item people need in order to be stable, happy, and to have a good life. The main question that many people ask themselves is â€Å"how can we chase or pursue happiness in life?† Happiness isnt something that comes falling down from the sky, or that we see lying around on the ground†¦ Its something we earn with hard work and dedicationRead MoreReport from Interview1062 Words   |  5 Pagesbalancing work and family. While work is important in ensuring employees meet their family needs, it has become increasing important for senior executives to try to strike a balance between the two (Masuda Chinchilla, 2010). Ability to ensure both sides are well catered for req uires careful examination of ones conduct and building a clear time frame. Success may be achieved at workplace through putting more efforts and time. This means less time and personal touch with family members, which mayRead MoreShort Note On Success And Success1100 Words   |  5 PagesSuccess is considered to be a term that describes two things. The first one is achievement of a certain major or minor goal. This could be succeeding in making a delicious dinner, or a more global thing succeeding in a career or job. The second definition of success is more broad and subjective. Most people define succession in life as wealth, a brilliant career, achievement of family/relationship goals etc. Some may find that success comes along with fame and big amounts of money. However, we seeRead MoreAsian Americans Academic Success1728 Words   |  7 Pages School Attendance and Family Expectations Among Asian Americans Race, gender and education are status determinants in today’s society. Asian Americans’ academic success comes from a combination of helpful parents, a motivation to succeed, a supportive academic space, a supportive community and economic resources. In this paper, I will argue that Asian Americans attend college due to their cultural roots and familial expectations. Along the way to success are some hardships like stereotypes, genderRead MoreThe Action Research Cycle Analysis Will Facilitate A Process Of Dialectic Examination1249 Words   |  5 Pages Whilst some families require early care, due to returning to the workforce, some choose nursery attendance as a means of socialisation and stimulation (Gentlemen, 2010). Increasingly evidence suggests that some families see nursery as the stepping stone to school and thus a head start educationally (Gentlemen, 2010). Conclusions from the open forum, recognises that families within my setting valued the educational aspect of early years. Further investigation found that families felt that personal

Racial Formation Racism And Race - 983 Words

Omi, Winant – Racial Formation In Omi and Winant, Racial Formation the topic of what race is brought up. They bring up the question of What is race? Which lead to the use of pseudo-science to justify the physical difference that were observed. Race is later defined as a social construct which is shaped by broader societal forces. In the United States the racial division between Blacks and Whites have been delineated in order to suppress Blacks. They have been enforced by arbitrary and non-consistent means. Americans tend to infer a lot about other people based on their appearance. When we cannot pin down what someone is it makes us uncomfortable since we can categorize them. We use media to perpetuate stereotypes and myths which later become immutable so called truths. We have a tendency to racialize people in order to better control people. In this sense, we have formed race in a way that is unstable. Cornell, Hartmann – Ethnicity and Race Ethnicity and Race are very difficult to define. The two words are so closely related and often times used interchangeably. Ethnicity is characterized as the perceived belief that there is a commonality within a group may it be culture, language, religion, and/or history. They go on and state Schermerhorn’s definition of ethnic groups as those who are self-conscience of their identity When describing Race they state that its roots are not within the biological realm. That Race is a social construct and cannot be defined genetically.Show MoreRelatedRacism And Racism Essay971 Words   |  4 PagesIs it racism or economics which hinders many African American communities from progressing economically in the 21st Century? This research proposal will address this question by examining the social and psychological impact caused by racism and the economic impact it’s had on the African American community. This proposal will further investigate whether the emotional scars of slavery continue to hamper African American progress or if racism is actually the cause. The economic cost of discriminationRead MoreRacial Formation Of The United States By Michael Omi And Howard Winant920 Words   |  4 PagesRacial Formation in the United States by Michael Omi and Howard Winant made me readjust my understanding of race by definition and consider it as a new phenomenon. Through, Omi and Winant fulfilled their purpose of providing an account of how concepts of race are created and transformed, how they become the focus of political conflict, and how they shape and permeate both identities and institutions. I always considered race to be physical characteristic by the complexion of ones’ skin tone and theRead MoreCritical Race Theory Of Race And Racism1458 Words   |  6 Pagestheories of race and racism have been used by sociologists to not only describe modern societies, but also address issues of social injustice and achieve an end to racial oppression. Critical race theory is one of the most widely used for this purpose. Its utility rests up on the assumption that race is a social construct and not an inherent biological feature. In place of the concept of inherent race, critical race theory proffers the concept of racialization. The tenet that the concept of race is createdRead MoreMy Capstone Project Is A Set Of Five Free Verse Poems872 Words   |  4 Pagespoems from different point of views and of different racial views. Using five different races, I depicted the hardships of the time in order to display a creative point of view of the minority groups in the United States. Utilizing DOC terms, there will be deep analyses of intersectionality, dominant ideology, racial formation, emergent ideologies, and residual ideologies. The main purpose of my project is to provide the true hardships many races suffer due to the emergent, dominant and residual ideologiesRead MoreRacial Formation As A Symbol Of Southern Pride988 Words   |  4 PagesCharity Sandlin App2 In our society today, it seems racial formation is on the rise. According to Omi and Winant, â€Å"racial formation is the sociohistoral processes, by which racial categories are created, inhabited, transformed, and destroys.† (1994:55). I believe class, status, and ethnicity play a major contributor to racial formation. An example of racial formation is the removal of the confederate flag, after an incident that involved a white man who shoot and killed nine black people in a churchRead MoreRacial Formation Within Hegemony And Common Sense1673 Words   |  7 Pagesâ€Å"Racial Formation within Hegemony and Common Sense in Society† In the title, â€Å" Racial Formation in the United States†, author Michael Omi and Howard Winant argues that the problems of understanding race and how it can be established and seen to be the answer through the concept of hegemony within the racial cultures. Society needs to understand racial combination within each race, then understand how the force and the consent plays a major role within each party or community in the United StatesRead MoreWelfare Fraud : A Black Woman1289 Words   |  6 Pagesthe phrase became popular. Since then, the defaming label applied to poor mothers has been associated with gender and racial implications, further shaping the discourse of welfares’ effects on poverty. The â€Å"welfare queen† can be analyzed by two competing explanations: Oscar Lewis’s theory of the culture of poverty and the social construction of race, also known as racial formation. Oscar Lewis (1959) in his book, Five Families: Mexican Case Studies in the Culture of Poverty, discusses the cultureRead MoreRole of Racial Categories in the United States1599 Words   |  6 PagesRole of Racial Categories in the United States Speaking about race, Michael Omi and Howard Winant said that We utilize race to provide clues about who a person is. This fact is made painfully obvious when we encounter someone whom we cannot conveniently racially categorize someone who is, for example, racially mixed or of an ethic/racial group we are not familiar with (Omi and Winant, p.59). This is a particularly interesting observation when considering President Obama, widely lauded asRead MoreRacism Is Not Gone From The World1436 Words   |  6 Pages2016, an individual might assume that racism is nonexistent. Slavery is decades gone, blacks and whites have lived among each other since it was abolished, so you would think that by now people would be living in a world without any concern about people’s races. However, the sad reality is that even though it is 2016, racism continues to be part of our society - and what is more problematic is that individuals do not recognize some acts of violence as racism, and others choose not to even pay attentionRead MoreSociological Theories Of Prejudice And Racism1645 Words   |  7 PagesSociological Theories of Prejudice and Racism Functionalist theory argues for race and ethnic relations to be functional and thus supply to the melodic conduct and strength of society, racial and ethnic minorities must assimilate into that society. Assimilation is a process by which a minority becomes socially, economically, and culturally absorbed within the dominant society. The assimilation perspective assumes that to become fully fledged members of society, alternative groups must adopt as much

Patriotism in India Free Essays

By patriotism we mean genuine love for one’s own country. Patriotism must not be misinterpreted as one’s hatred for other countries. If one loves his own country and hates other countries, then it is nationalism rather than patriotism. We will write a custom essay sample on Patriotism in India or any similar topic only for you Order Now Mother and the motherland are superior to the heaven. We do never lose our honour for our mother even if she does not love us. Similarly we respect our country in all situations. We are indebted to our motherland where we are born and brought up. It is our moral duty to keep her head high. Patriotism is a virtue which can be expressed in different ways. A true patriot tries to do something for the development of his country. When Abraham Lincoln was a child he noticed the misery of the slaves in America. He liked America but did not like the slavery system. So when he became the President of America he abolished the ugly system and established democracy. Thus, he did some noble thing to keep up the prestige of his country. So he is a true patriot. India is also proud of being the motherland of great patriots like Rana Pratap, Shivaji, M. K. Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose. History is full of praise for these figures. They dedicated themselves to the cause of their dear motherland. M. K. Gandhi gave up his personal interest and struggled for the interest of our country. Nelson Mandela of South Africa is also a true patriot. A patriot is different from a politician. A politician shows no genuine love for any idea or for his country. Of course, patriots often indulge in politics. But they do not play dirty politics. Today, many touts and politicians claim that they are patriots. But in their activities they are antinational. They give secret shelter to terrorists. Their main aim is to reap some selfish gain for themselves. A true patriot never advertises. Patriotism is much different from narrowness. How to cite Patriotism in India, Papers

Company dismissed free essay sample

â€Å"Bambambamba, takataka , Boom.† The cadence ends with a grave bass. â€Å"Company Dismissed.† The unit commander shouts. I’ve been affiliated with parades and inspection, â€Å"what a hefty Sunday† I tell myself. It’s 1 o’clock, an awkward time to start the homework, and an awkward time to take a nap. I open my computer and receive a message from my friend, â€Å"mikeohiostate ( 8:49:42): lets go to town.† As I arrive in our gathering spot, I see my friends come one by one; Piper: a space cadet, who often doesn’t know what’s going on. An actor, musical star and Sally, who trips everyday, everywhere, every way, yet charming and adorable and has a heart of a Mother Theresa with a beautiful smile. Michael: Mr. â€Å"I hate rules, regulations, and religions†, a talented gifted musician, walks as if he just had yoga, and often lost and can not express his emotion, but very carrying and loving. We will write a custom essay sample on Company dismissed or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Romina: Industrial, Focused, Ambitious, Thoughtful. Romina is an ideal high school student that all our moms want us to be. People see her as a great athlete, great leader, and a great scholar, yet in my eyes, Romina is a good listener, a genial counselor, and a great friend of mine. Ari: humorous, and gregarious, she is the only one who can make jokes and laugh with us rather than being laughed at. Always fun to be around with yet runs, swims, and drives fast, and furiously. 5 distinct characters meet in one place, All-State tennis player, Sally, guitarist, swimmer, and me. And we meet and we walk and we talk. We start our approximately-2hour-trip to town. Walking through the forest, I trip, walking through plain cement, I trip. I sing â€Å"Cabaret~d†, song that I would’ve never listened to 3 years ago. I walk as if there are no concerns, waiving my hands through the airs, appreciating the beauty of nature. I listen to people talk, and give them honest responses, one of the character traits that I never had before. I make jokes, which I get laughed at most of the times, but I create happiness. My friends have formed me, from being an average Asian student to a bizarre yet strongly driven student. I have a lot more to experience about this place, but now I know who I am and what to do in this land. Now I’m proudly able to introduce myself as: â€Å"My name is Andrew Piper Michael Romina Ari .†

Rising to the Top free essay sample

My heart is beating so fast; I can feel my chest pounding. I can’t even hear myself think with all of the uproar. The enemy is staring me down, waiting for me to make a move. Like me, their faces are filled with intensity. They want victory almost as much as I do, but I can’t let them win. My competitive spirit tells me that defeat is not an option. As I dribble down the court, I find my opening and I don’t have time to hesitate. The ball leaves my hand and lands just where I want it. It dives through the hoop without any contact with the rim and the game is over. We won by a point. I started out my basketball experience by playing recreational basketball, and I didn’t get the ball a lot. I could sense that the better kids on the team believed they were superior to me by the way they looked at me. We will write a custom essay sample on Rising to the Top or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page They would have that smug look on their face and I couldn’t stand it. I was Determined over the next summer to do whatever I could to surpass their level. I spent all my time out on the driveway, improving my skills. My dad had assembled a list of drills in order for me to practice more effectively. I had to do hours of lay-ups, jump roping, and the dreaded figure eight dribbling drill every day. They weren’t what I would consider fun, but I did them anyway, knowing that the end result would be well worth it. The next year not only did I play recreational basketball, but I tried out for the travel basketball team, and made the team due to nobody getting cut. Though this was a competitive team, I was once again at the bottom. Most of my time on the team was spent watching from the bench waiting in anxiety for the coach to call out my name to send me in the game. But that year I became the star player on my recreational team. I knew this time that my teammates wanted the ball in my hands and my confidence grew stronger. I had gone through a tremendous change. I was making all the shots, and taking the ball up the court for my team to set up our offense. I led my team to the championship game, beating out my other travel teammates teams. We lost the game by a couple of points, but I couldnt have been happier. It took me a bit longer to move up in ranks on the travel team, but every year it was clear that I was gaining on my teammates. I began to get a decent amount of playing time, and I became a vital role on the team. One time my team was down by four points with only seconds left and we needed a miracle. The coach set up a play ending with me shooting a 3-point shot. I took the shot while an opposing player slapped my arm, and it somehow made its way through the hoop. I was at the foul line and I could have tied the game with this one shot. As the ball left my fingertips, I knew it wasn’t going in so I ran up for a rebound and took a quick shot. I missed again, but my team was not mad. I almost kept the game alive, and that’s when I knew I had established myself as a good travel player. My confidence continued to grow, but my seventh grade year, I was cut from the middle school team and my confidence was shaken. I couldn’t believe some of the kids who made it over me and it hurt for a day or two, but I had to learn to accept it and move on. I wouldn’t let this be the end; in fact, it was a blessing in disguise because it made me work harder than ever before. I made sure that every day they would practice, I too would be working hard on my skills. My eighth grade year I got on the team. Though I was not happy with my role on the team, I accepted it and would do the best I could with the opportunity given to me. I am now finishing up what is left of my competitive basketball experience. I have been playing up yet another level on an AAU team. It involves a lot of traveling and playing the best players out there. I once was forced to guard a 6’8 dunking machine, and it was embarrassing, but I am hoping it will help me improve and get the varsity time I have been working my entire life for. I was on the team my junior year, but I didn’t play as much as I wanted. For my senior year, I hope I can prove that I am worthy of a starting position. No matter what happens though, I will always cherish the memories I have had playing the game. It has taught me life lessons, and has allowed me to grow both physically and mentally. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without the game of basketball.

Shylock is an ambivalent portrait Essays

Shylock is an ambivalent portrait Essays Shylock is an ambivalent portrait Essay Shylock is an ambivalent portrait Essay Essay Topic: Play Throughout The Merchant of Venice, Shylock is a character with a strong impact on the audience. The response of the audience changes throughout the play, varying from pity to dislike. His Jewish background and persecution provide a case for the audience liking the character and giving him pity, whereas his obsessions with money and his desire to kill Antonio gives the audience a bad impression. The influence he has on the audience has varied over the years, from the Elizabethan times when he first appeared, who saw persecution of Jews everyday, to the modern audience who will dislike characters who are prejudiced. Shylock first appears in Act 1 Scene 1. For the audience, first impressions are vital. His first line when Bassanio offers him the bond is Three Thousand ducats well (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 1). To any audience this gives the impression that he is very concerned about money, especially when he repeats three thousand ducats throughout the scene. Throughout the scene, there is a repetition of the word three, e. g. three thousand ducats, three months, three thousand ducats for three months etc. This repletion not only emphasises Shylocks obsession with money (as he is still pondering over the bond) but also shows how numerically Shylock thinks. The obsession with money is a key part of his character and the first thing that the audience noticed. Shakespeare himself was interested in money and usances himself, he invested much of his money into his theatre, and his knowledge of that subject is reflected in Shylocks character We also learn from this scene the intelligence of Shylock. As soon as Bassanio propositions him, he considers the offer in his mind, and realises how he can get revenge on Antonio, e. . Antonio shall become bound well (line 5). Later on in the scene, Shylock shows his intelligence once again, when he tries to be friendly to Antonio to try and make him sign the bond, e. g. I would be friends with you, and have your love (Line 133). Shylock is a shrewd businessman. He is careful not to lend money out to people who he doesnt know, or people that he knows w ill not pay him back, e. g. My meaning in saying that he is a good man, is to have you understand that he is sufficient (Lines 13-14). He disguises his sinister bond as a joke in hoping to persuade Antonio to seal the bond, when he does he knows that he can kill Antonio if he does not repay him. Shylock stalls with Bassanio not giving him a definite answer until Antonio arrives, this is because he wants to see Antonio and talk to him about his sinister bond. His stalling also gives him time to think his plan through. Shylock, being an orthodox Jew has considerable knowledge of the Bible. In this scene he uses his knowledge to benefit himself. He tells Antonio the story of Uncle Labans sheep and Jacob to justify why he should collect Interest. His interpretation of the story is completely different from the Antonios. Antonio believes that he twists the story to benefit himself. Antonio detests Shylock, he considers him a dog, and he does not agree with Shylock charging interest, i. e. An evil soul producing holy witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart. Also In the Rialto you have rated me about my moneys and my usances. Still I have borne it with a patient shrug (Shylock). Much of an Elizabethan audience would have agreed with Antonio on this, as the majority of them would have been Christians. I hate him for he is a Christian illustrates the point that Shylock does not like any Christians. He hates Antonio especially, owing to the persecution he has received from him, e. g. You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gaberdine. Fair sir, you spit on me Wednesday last, you spurned me such a day, another time you called me a dog, and for these courtesies Ill lend you thus much moneys? Shylock has obviously been persecuted due to his Jewish heritage, and this would make the modern audience feel sorry for him. Due to the amount of persecution he has received, Shylock often attracts our sympathies so much that the reader often thinks of how he suffers outside of the play. This shows how deep his suffering must be. Most of the Elizabethan audience would be accustomed to seeing this sort of persecution, but still may not feel that it is right. As a result of his persecution, Shylock hates all Christians, although he obviously has knowledge of the Christian bible, as the Old Testament is part of the Jewish scriptures, e. g. to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. Shylock also considers Antonio a fawning publican; he compares him to a Jewish tax collector. Antonio also lends out money, but does not charge interest, which annoys Shylock, e. g. If you repay me not on such a day, in such a place, such sum or sums as are expressed in the condition, let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken in which part of the body pleaseth me. This shows that Shylock seeks revenge, and in some ways gives the audience the impression that he is evil. In fact he is partially breaking the Ten Commandments, (Thou Shalt not Kill, which he would do if Antonio forfeits his bond. ) Antonio is one of the main persecutors of Shylock, but it may not be because of his Jewish heritage that Antonio persecutes him. In the opening scene, Antonio tells us that he is sad and does not know why. When his friend Bassanio asks him to get the bond from Shylock, he has no hesitance about risking his life for it. This, and his general actions to Bassanio might suggest that he is actually in love with Bassanio, but he cannot do anything about it, especially with Portia around. This would explain the intensity of their relationship, and why Antonio is depressed. As a result, Antonio takes it out on Shylock, someone he knows he can get away with persecuting. The Elizabethan audience would consider Shylock a typical Jew. Jews were expelled from the country in 1290, and when many returned in the fifteen hundreds, they only had a limited number of jobs that they could do. Many decided to lend money for interest, as they were allowed to, and Christians were not. As this was all they could do, many had to be very money-tight; to make sure they never lost any money. Jews were always persecuted; many of the Christians hated them for it was them who killed Jesus Christ. Therefore, so far Shylock would appear to be a typical Jewish moneylender, whom many of them would not particularly like due to his money lending and their hate of Christians. As The Merchant of Venice was written in 1596-1597, much of the first audiences would have been aware of the recent execution of another Jew, Rodrigo Lopez in 1594. For many years he was well respected as the Queens physician until the Earl of Essex ruined him. He was hanged for treason. Lopez may have had a strong influence on Shakespeares writing about Jews, e. g. how a prominent man can be ruined because of his Jewish heritage. In Act 2 Scene 1, Jessica, Shylocks daughter says our house is hell, showing the audience that she perhaps considers him a bad father and a bad man. His servant, Launcelot Gobbo also considers him a devil. The people that Shylock sees most often have said negative things about him, so the audience will judge that he is not that a nice person. In Act 2 Scene 5, Shylock is on his way to a supper with the Christians. He is only going to annoy them; this shows the audience that he is not considerate. Shylock says I did dream of money bags tonight which shows how much he cares about his money. He also ensures that his house and daughter are safe from those Christian Fools, before he leaves e. g. Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum and the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, clamber not you up to the casements then, not thrust your head into the street to gaze on Christian fools. He is very concerned about his money, but even more he is worried about his daughter seeing Christians, as he considers the Jews a tribe, and they need to marry within the tribe to keep it going, so he feels that she should marry a Jew, not a Christian. At the end of Act 2 Scene 6, Jessica not only leaves her father, but also takes many of his ducats with her and Lorenzo. Any audience would now give pity to Shylock as he has lost a daughter and a considerable sum of money. Jessicas last line before leaving is Farewell, and if my fortune be not crossed, I have a father, you a daughter lost. The audience would not only give pity, but also perhaps see Shylock as a poor father, more concerned about the welfare of the Jewish culture than the happiness of his daughter. In Scene 8, Salerio and Solanio discuss Shylock. We yet again see the Christian persecution of Shylock, i. e. Villain Jew, which would influence the audience. Solanio also overheard Shylock earlier on, after he discovered the desertification of his daughter, e. g. My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian Ducats! From this it appears that Shylock is just as upset about his daughters betrayal as he is of the loss of his money, which again emphasises his obsession with money, and makes the audience think that he is not that caring of his daughter. He is so angry with her, he says she is dammed for it, but he still persists that she is completely different from the Christians there is more difference between thy flesh and hers than Jet and ivory. He still considers her a Jew who should not see Christians. The audience might see that he has a right to seek revenge after what Jessica did to her. In Act 3 Scene 1, we see Shylock giving reasons for why he should collect the forfeit if it is required, e. g. If it feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million. To the audience it would appear that Shylock is just bloodthirsty and cruel. An audience from an Elizabethan era would no doubt think that Jews were cruel anyway, as this was the prejudice that was around at the time. There were untrue stories of Jews being cruel, and of course stories from the bible such as King Herod (a Jew) killing all the babies in Bethlehem under two years. Certainly Jews have been played as cruel villains in other plays, such as Barabas, in The Jew of Malta by Christopher Marlowe, who was based upon Joseph, Duke of Naxos (who was not a Jew). So many of the audience would already assume that Shylock was cruel and bloodthirsty. The Jews are described as the cursed race in this story. Shakespeare was without a doubt influenced by Marlowes play; Barabas, the Jew has a daughter who turns Christian during the play, so it is obvious that Shylock and Jessica were adapted from this play. Shylocks speech about the forfeit in this scene begins with To bait Fish with, after Salerios question if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh, whats that good for? Shylocks response to this question shows again that he is quick-witted and can retort to any comments he does not approve of. In Shylocks speech we hear again of his persecution, for example He hath disgraced me, and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies, and whats his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions? An audience would feel sorry Shylock at this point and perhaps agree that it is fair for him to collect his forfeit. Shylock points out that If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge. Shylock points out that if he were a Christian and Antonio were a Jew, no one would have a problem with him collecting his forfeit. He illustrates the division between the rights of the Christians and the rights of the Jews. After this influential speech, much of the audience might agree with Shylock about his view of equality among Christians and Jews. The majority of an Elizabethan audience would still probably consider him evil due to the prejudice of the time. Shylocks image of being bloodthirsty reappears later on in the scene when his friend Tubal informs him of Antonios loss, and Shylocks response is I thank God, I thank God. Is it true, is it true? I thank thee good Tubal, good news, good news! Ha, ha! These lines would suggest that Shylock is cruel as he is so desperate for a chance to take the forfeit of off Antonio. This scene is the first scene in which we see another Jew, and at the end of the scene there is a reference to the local Synagogue. This tells everyone that the Jewish community has been well established, so this might a reason for the audience to feel less sorry for Shylock. Also the Jews must also have quite a bit of money if they have built their own Synagogue. In Act Three, Scene Three, Antonio has been arrested for not repaying the bond and is making one last plea to Shylock. Shylock is obsessed with revenge on his Christian persecutor, and will not forgive him or even listen to what Antonio has to say. All he wants is his bond, e. g. (Antonio) I pray thee hear me speak. (Shylock) Ill have my bond. I will not hear thee speak. Ill have my bond, and therefore speak no more. This scene once again emphasises to the audience the amount of murderous hatred that Shylock has, and also how difficult it is to change the law. Act Four Scene 1 sees the Duke of Venices first appearance. A good friend of Antonios, he describes Shylock as an inhuman wretch. Once again, the audience will be influenced by the feelings of another character. The rest of the characters see Shylock as an evil devil as he enters the courtroom. Much of the audience would not approve of him wanting to kill Antonio. Shylock retaliates to the remarks that he should not collect his bond, with his quick wittedness in the forms of another speech, in which he compares Antonio to a pig. In Antonios speech, he is still being racist against Shylock, saying a Jewish Heart; he does not once call him a man, always a Jew. Bassanio offers him six thousand ducats for the bond, but Shylock refuses. From what we already know about how greedy Shylock is about money, this seems very strange, showing how desperate he is to kill Antonio. Shylock gets more and more aggravated waiting for his bond to become legal, again showing how deep his wounds are from Antonio. Shylock calls Portia Daniel, referring to the Old Testament, where Daniel was a wise Judge. This again illustrates this knowledge of the bible, and how he considers this justice. Shylock shows no mercy and no forgiveness, which are two basic elements of Christianity; many of Antonios Christian friends expected Shylock to forgive Antonio. Shylock makes several powerful speeches throughout the play, the only character other than Portia to do so. He wins battles of words against Antonio many times, e. g. Signior Antonio, many a time and oft in the Rialto you have rated me about my money and my usances. Still I have borne it with a patient shrug (Act One Scene Three). Also in Act Three Scene 1, To bait fish withal. If it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me . These speeches show that Shylock is quick witted, able to retaliate with words and quite intelligent. The Merchant of Venice could be more described as a romantic comedy than a tragedy. Therefore you would perhaps not expect not to see an evil villain in it. The audience may not be expecting an evil character, so may not consider him a villain, but more of a victim. In many plays, especially ones which have Jews featured, there was an evil character (e. g. The Jew of Malta), so, the audience would be accustomed to this, so may picture Shylock as that evil character. Throughout the play, Shylock is compared to both Antonio and Portia. Whereas Antonio is seen simply as a typical example of mankind (who goes through different stages of emotions), and Portia as Wisdom, Shylock is seen for a lot of the time as the Devil. Throughout the play, there are numerous references to Shylock and the Devil, e. . The devil can cite scripture for his own purposes (Act One, Scene Three), The Jew is the very devil incarnation (Act Two Scene Two), lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew. (Act Three Scene One) Shylocks response to Portia turning the case against him in Act Four Scene One is My deeds upon my head. This recalls the time when the Jews called for the execution of Christ, so this line again shows that he is a Christian hater. All of these references indicate to the audience that Shylock is similar to the devil, so many of them will accept his persecution and consider him a villain. This would have been the case especially in the Elizabethan era when all Jews were considered cruel. Throughout the years, Shylock has changed, in the way the actor portrays him and in the way the audience sees him. Up until the eighteenth century, he would have been seen as a slightly comical character, whose purpose is to be mocked. He then changed into the villain of the play, in one portrayal he was so sinister, grotesque and so ferocious a villain that after King George II watched it, he is reported to have had a sleepless night. He then was more portrayed as an injured man, followed by an outrageous father. Today a modern audience sees him as a persecuted man, who seeks revenge on those who wrong him. We also see him as a typical Jew, wanting to preserve his culture. Some people even consider him an Old Testament Prophet. In conclusion, Shylock appears to the audience as a tragic villain, a man who is obsessed with money, revenge on people who wrong him. There is a lot of emphasis on comparing him to the devil, which much of the audience would agree with. His persecution by the Christians gives him some pity but his humbling end leaves the impression of a broken man.