A Pound of Flesh

Background Information Written in 1597 by William Shakespeare Written as a romantic comedy; focuses on love ends happily Elements of comedy and drama in the play: romantic courtship riddling love tests eloping lovers comic confusions a gripping courtroom trial uplifting final act

Anti-Semitism prevelent in the play Background, Con’t: Controversy Anti-Semitism prevelent in the play Jews became the evil villains of Elizabethan drama. They were one-dimensional stereotypical characters. Shylock is a stereotypical caricature of a cruel, money-obsessed medieval Jew Many contemporary theatre companies refuse to present The Merchant and its mysterious puzzling Jew Besides being stereotypical in personality, the Shylock has often also been portrayed with physical stereotypes

Conflicts & Themes with the Play Jew against Christian Love against hate Usury against venture trading Mercy against justice Appearance versus Reality gold and silver prove worthless identities are mistaken women disguised as men Antonio’s deal with Shylock goes bad quickly

Venice and Belmont, Italy Literary Elements: Genre Tone Setting (time): Setting (place): Symbols Foreshadowing    Comedy    Comic, romantic, tragic Sixteenth century Venice and Belmont, Italy The pound of flesh; Leah’s ring; the three caskets In the play’s opening scene, Shakespeare foreshadows Antonio’s grim future by suggesting both his indebtedness to a creditor and the loss of his valuable ships

Merchant focuses on a variety of different plots At times these plots seem somewhat unrelated, but they connect throughout the story These different pieces come together Overview From bonds, to caskets, to rings—even events that don’t seem connected, usually end up connecting later on in the play

Tapestry of Different Plots Bond Plot Bassanio asks Antonio to borrow money so he can wed Portia Antonio must borrow money from Shylock If Antonio is unable to repay the loan, he will be forced to sacrifice a “pound of flesh” The Shylock looking to get paid

Tapestry of Different Plots Casket Plot Portia’s late father has left a will stating that whoever seeks to marry Portia must solve the riddle of the three caskets One gold, One silver, One lead, each with an inscription If a suitor fails in the attempt, he must remain a bachelor the rest of his life!

Tapestry of Different Plots Elopement Plot Lorenzo, a friend of Antonio, elopes with Shylock’s daughter, Jessica. Shylock is extremely unhappy and vows to show no mercy should Antonio be unable to repay the loan. Antonio’s ships become lost at sea and Shylock looks to get repaid

Antonio’s ships safely return Tapestry of Different Plots Ring Plot Using disguises, the female characters play a trick on their future husbands Antonio’s ships safely return Portia eventually reveals her trick to the husbands and the play ends with the group celebrating. The ring plot provides a few laughs for the ladies at the expense of the men

Plot Elements: The Merchant of Venice Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution Portia, disguised as a man of law, intervenes on Antonio’s behalf. Result of the conflict; initial conflict is somewhat resolved Antonio’s ships, the only means by which he can pay off his debt to Shylock, are reported lost at sea. Shylock is ordered to convert to Christianity and bequeath his possessions to Lorenzo and Jessica; Portia and Nerissa persuade their husbands to give up their rings Antonio defaults on a loan he borrowed from Shylock, wherein he promises to sacrifice a pound of flesh.

Characters Shylock most noteworthy figure the play’s antagonist menacing presence is felt by both Venice’s businessmen and young lovers alike Shylock can be a sympathetic character at times He has endured cruelty he has endured at Christian hands In a famous monologues Shylock argues that Jews are humans and calls his anger a product of other’s cruelty Conversely, Shylock’s attempt to revenge the wrongs done to him and procur a pound of flesh make it hard to not paint him as a dark figure For the majority of the play Shylock is a miserly, cruel, and unsypathetic character The Shylock has been portrayed by many a famous actor: Patrick Stewart and Al Pacino being two of them.

Quick-witted, wealthy, and beautiful, Portia Quick-witted, wealthy, and beautiful, emerges as that rarest of combinations—a free spirit who abides rigidly by rules. Portia proves herself to be highly resourceful in several different ways: Finding loopholes in her father’s will Ridgedly following the law to the extent that Shylock can not collect Disguising herself as a man Playing a trick on Bassanio and Graziano

Carefree youth but yearns to become more responsible and respectable\ Talented with words and portrayed as a romantic figure. Woos Portia, who is delighted that he chooses the correct casket (allowing him to marry her) Bassanio

Antonio The “Merchant” mentioned in the title of the play Dominant characteristics of the character are melancholy and cruelty. Rails against Shylock; shows anti-Semite beliefs and insists Shylock convert to Christianity Has risked the entirety of his fortune on overseas trading ventures Agrees to potentially dangerous from Shylock.

Lorenzo A representative of the elegant Venetian society Believes that happiness arises from successful relationships His love, optimism, and understanding make him deserving of riches and love

Abandons her father, the Shylock Has a loving nature and, like Portia, shows ingenuity in several different ways (including her own elopement) She is more at home with Christian ways than with the austerity of her father's Jewish house. Jessica

Serves as comic relief in areas Is given to unnecessary speech and chattiness. He drinks too much; behaves rudely and insensitively. Gratiano

She is to Portia what Gratiano is to Bassanio. Nerissa is Portia's maid She acts as a backdrop to the wit displayed by Portia. Her long association with her mistress has elevated her mannerisms and behavior to the point that she now acts as a witty and intelligent person. Nerissa

Portia & Bassanio Characters Nerissa & Gratiano Jessica & Lorenzo Realistic couple Nerissa & Gratiano Sexual couple Jessica & Lorenzo Romantic Couple Characters Relationships of the Characters