By William Shakespeare THE MERCHANT OF VENICE By William Shakespeare

LITERARY TERMS Allusion *Malapropism Aside *Metaphor Comic Relief *Pun Double Entendre(pun) *Soliloquy Foreshadowing *Theme Internal Rhyme Irony-Dramatic, Structural, Verbal

BACKGROUND The play was written about 1596. ☑Appeared in the register for first time in 1598 perhaps to prevent copyright issues. ☑Falls into the second period of Shakespeare’s writings, with Romeo and Juliet and Midsummer Night’s Dream. ☑A play that shows the extremes of anti-semitism during Shakespeare’s time.

The Characters-In groups The ‘wooers’ of Portia- a rich heiress The Prince of Morocco The Prince of Arragon Bassanio, Antonio’s friend Nerissa- Portia’s waiting maid Balthasar/ Stephano- servants to Portia

CHARACTERS Antonio- a Merchant of Venice Bassanio- Antonio’s friend Salanio Salarino Friends to Antonio and Gratiano Bassanio Leonardo- servant to Bassanio

CHARACTERS Shylock- a rich Jewish man Tubal- Shylock’s friend Launcelot Gobbo- servant to (funny!) Shylock Old Gobbo- father to Launcelot Jessica- Shylock’s daughter Lorenzo- in love with Jessica; friend to Antonio

3 DISTINCT PLOTS ★Winning of Portia by the lottery of the caskets (lead, silver, and gold) ✡Settlement of Shylock’s claim ✪Final complication of the betrothal rings

SOURCES OF INTEREST IN THE PLAY The Spectacular and Picturesque Examples include: *strange forfeit in the bond *luxurious setting of Portia’s home *wooing by caskets *the trial scene, young woman disguised

HUMOR It is more incidental than essential Play is a romantic comedy with Tragic undertones Main sources of humor: ☺Portia’s witty comments ☻Gratiano’s earlier remarks ☺Launcelot’s antics ☻The Ring episode

SUSPENSE Formed of following uncertainties: ☒Will terms of bond be agreed upon? ☒Who will choose correct casket? ☒Will the elopement succeed? ☒Will Shylock gain his end in the trial? ☒How will Bassanio and Gratiano account for the loss of their rings?

DRAMATIC IRONY Most striking example in the play: The trial scene, where the audience knows who the judge and clerk are. Other examples: *husbands protestations they would sacrifice their wives to save Antonio *having rings enticed away *Gratiano’s description of the Clerk *Parting of Shylock and Jessica before elopement *Bassiano’s choice of caskets *Shylock’s insistence on the very words of the bond

NEMESIS When we feel that the punishment of a character is peculiarly suited to his crimes, it is a form of retributive justice called Nemesis. Law becomes this to Shylock- Antonio’s unjust treatment of Shylock Antonio’s better treatment of others

Place of $$$ in the Play Shylock, Antonio, Bassanio All very concerned with money CONTRASTS WITH Portia- who is wealthier than all but is unconcerned with it.

The Extremities of REVENGE The intensity of Shylock’s passion for revenge against Antonio invests him with great dramatic interest. “If I can catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him”

Disposition of a Daughter by Casket choice Details surrounding: Casket choice, deceased father safeguarding daughter’s choice of a husband, reactions of the suitors to the choice Conditions are severe: *Never to tell anyone which casket was chosen *To leave at once if wrong casket chosen *Never to speak to a lady again to marry

Inscriptions on caskets Gold Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire Silver Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves Lead Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath

Unusual aspects of the Trial Trial is irregular for the following reasons: The Duke, who is the judge, openly shows sympathy with the prisoner before the trial begins. Interested spectators, Gratiano and Bassanio, are allowed to interfere during proceedings. The shedding of blood is a necessary part of the payment of the penalty, and its being forbidden is a legal and logical absurdity. A case in court is concerned with the direct charge only. The judge dragging in another charge, that Shylock has broken the law against aliens, is completely contrary to legal procedure.

Anti-Jewish Prejudice Showed Christians with an un-Christlike bigotry and intolerance (Antonio and Portia) The dramatist sympathized with Shylock Allowed his loathing of his persecutors to appear VINDICTIVE

Negative Connotations Anti-Semitism- followed by Shakespeare based on the character created by Christopher Marlowe Marlowe’s character was a Jewish monster named Barabas (note Christian context) Shakespeare’s Shylock is a Jewish money lender that lacked admirable qualities

DISCRIMINATION Perhaps the most moving plea in all of Literature: “Hath not a Jew eyes?” **Understand that the play makes pleas to remove racial or religious discrimination

INTRODUCTION Play is unusual: Displays the working of a prejudice which does credit to NONE of the people who are motivated by it. (rarely portrayed in literature) Christian/ Jewish bias was from Medieval times and has nearly disappeared in the twentieth century

Character Portrayal No character is entirely: ✔sympathetic or unsympathetic ✔admirable or unadmirable Displays the complexity of human nature: No black or white characters; everyone seems to be various ‘shades of gray’ **Key to molding Character**

Act I Vocabulary Ague Appropriation Imputation Argosies Ere Publican Gaged Rhenish Squandered Gear Superfluity Gudgeon Surfeit Portly Vilely Presages Eanlings Signiors Fulsome