The Merchant of Venice 3 The interlocking plots and how they mean

The two sides of the play and their relation to one another The “tragedy of Shylock” is one side, one that cannot, should not be downplayed. The “tragedy of Shylock” is one side, one that cannot, should not be downplayed. But the “comedy of Portia and Bassanio” is the other. But the “comedy of Portia and Bassanio” is the other. The “comedy” rests in both casket plot and ring plot. The “comedy” rests in both casket plot and ring plot. Challenge is seeing the interlocking character of all this, how the play is also a play of ideas. Challenge is seeing the interlocking character of all this, how the play is also a play of ideas.

Antonio’s melancholy “In sooth I know not why I am so sad./ It wearies me. You say it wearies you./ But how I caught it, found it, or came by it/ What stuff ‘tis made of, whereof it is born/ I am to learn.“ “I hold the world but as the world,/ A stage, where every man must play a part,/ And mine a sad one.” Is there melancholy in the very condition of his being a merchant?

Money makes the world go ‘round Is anyone free in the play? Is anyone free in the play? Antonio bound to the condition of trade. Antonio bound to the condition of trade. Bassanio bound to his need of money. Bassanio bound to his need of money. Portia bound the will of her dead father. Portia bound the will of her dead father. Antonio bound to Shylock. Antonio bound to Shylock. Shylock locked into the system of money and usury. Shylock locked into the system of money and usury. Venetian state bound to its laws and need for trade. Venetian state bound to its laws and need for trade.

Portia’s melancholy “By my troth, Nerissa, my little body is aweary of this great world.” Nerissa: Nerissa: you should be weary of the world if your miseries were equal to your good fortunes. But “fortunes” is also “a fortune” – too much money. Fortune locks her into the nightmare of the casket choice. “Poor little rich girl” plot.

“Your father was ever virtuous...” Nerissa’s faith in a meaning in casket plot: “... and holy men at their death have good inspirations.” Nerissa’s faith in a meaning in casket plot: “... and holy men at their death have good inspirations.” Just a lottery by the “heavy” father, or an extension of a father’s protection? Just a lottery by the “heavy” father, or an extension of a father’s protection? A fairy tale element in the choice of three? A fairy tale element in the choice of three? What does each casket “mean”? What does each casket “mean”?

“Going for the gold” Morocco quite pleased with his strength and valor: II, 2, 24ff. Morocco quite pleased with his strength and valor: II, 2, 24ff. “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” “Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” “A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross.” “A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross.” “Oh hell... A carrion death...” “Oh hell... A carrion death...” The melancholy of gold? The melancholy of gold?

Silvery Aragon: “I will assume desert” “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” Aragon as the quintessential aristocrat: II, 9, 22ff. Aragon as the quintessential aristocrat: II, 9, 22ff. [Hamlet to Polonius: [Hamlet to Polonius: “Treat every man according to his desert and who shall scape whipping?”] Silver smokes out the egocentricity of Aragon. The portrait of a blinking idiot!

“If you do love me, you will find me out” Desire matching desire. Desire matching desire. “Tell me where is fancy bred.” “Tell me where is fancy bred.” Bassanio’s reading of the caskets. Bassanio’s reading of the caskets. Caskets as mirror of self, of marriage? Caskets as mirror of self, of marriage? Why was choosing the lead casket necessary for Portia’s suitor? Why was choosing the lead casket necessary for Portia’s suitor? She gives up everything with the ring. She gives up everything with the ring. Bassanio’s vow in accepting the ring. Bassanio’s vow in accepting the ring.

Portia v. Shylock Completion of bond means Antonio’s death. Completion of bond means Antonio’s death. “Then must the Jew be merciful.” “Then must the Jew be merciful.” “The quality of mercy...” and the quality of justice. “The quality of mercy...” and the quality of justice. Bassanio’s valuing of Antonio: IV, 1, 280ff. Bassanio’s valuing of Antonio: IV, 1, 280ff. Shylock’s defeat and “conversion.” Shylock’s defeat and “conversion.”

“And for your love, I’ll take this ring from you.” The ring’s significance. The ring’s significance. Can Bassanio not give the ring? Can Bassanio not give the ring? Belmont v. Venice? Belmont v. Venice? Bassanio’s defense of giving the ring: V, 1, 215ff. Bassanio’s defense of giving the ring: V, 1, 215ff. A potential nightmare – like the nightmare of Antonio’s threatened death? 223ff. A potential nightmare – like the nightmare of Antonio’s threatened death? 223ff. Antonio’s being bound a second time for Bassanio: 249ff. Antonio’s being bound a second time for Bassanio: 249ff. Antonio the agent who takes and gives the ring. Antonio the agent who takes and gives the ring.

“Manna in the way of starv’d people” The dilemma of the ring plot The dilemma of the ring plot What do Bassanio, Gratiano learn from the dilemma? What do Bassanio, Gratiano learn from the dilemma? The quality of mercy once again? The quality of mercy once again? What is it in regard to friendship, love, marriage, civil society? What is it in regard to friendship, love, marriage, civil society?

Is the melancholy of Antonio dispelled by the conclusion? Is the melancholy of Antonio dispelled by the conclusion? But perhaps not for us, for whom the history of the 20 th century has induced even more melancholy. But perhaps not for us, for whom the history of the 20 th century has induced even more melancholy. We don’t have the luxury to take Shylock figuratively. We don’t have the luxury to take Shylock figuratively. And so the melancholy of his Jewishness remains, and broods over the play? And so the melancholy of his Jewishness remains, and broods over the play?