| Title: | The semiotics of Antonio and Shylock |
| Author: | Grant Smith |
| Publication: | Numele și numirea. Actele Conferinței Internaționale de Onomastică. Ediția a III-a: Conventional / unconventional in onomastics, p. 989 |
| ISBN: | 978-606-543-671-8 |
| Editors: | Oliviu Felecan |
| Publisher: | Editura Mega, Editura Argonaut |
| Place: | Cluj-Napoca |
| Year: | 2015 |
| Abstract: | Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice pivots on the ironies of two characters and names, Antonio and Shylock, both of which illustrate the semiotic meanings of names. They refer to secondary referents that point out comic deficiencies in the essential elements of love. Antonio would have been easily associated with Christian monasticism and brotherly love, which academic philosophers placed above romantic love. Shakespeare affirms the value of brotherly love but only as it facilitates romantic love. The character is ironic insofar as he has mistreated Shylock in Christian terms and remains outside the cicle of romantic love. Shylock, by contrast, is portrayed as an exemplar of justice and marital loyalty but is sadly lacking in mercy and forgiveness. His name has no etymological roots in Hebrew sources but is quite simply a coinage referring to a popular hair style symbolic of one’s dedication to the idea of love. The deficiencies and strengths of each character show their humanity and are typical of Shakespearean comedy. |
| Key words: | iconic, indexical, symbolic, immediate referent, secondary referent |
| Language: | English |
| Links: |  pdf |
Citations to this publication: 1
| 1 | Alina Bugheșiu | Onomastics and the occult: names of tarot cards | ICONN 4, 714 | 2017 | pdf html |
References in this publication: 0
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