The Merchant of Venice Structure, Characters, Themes

Two World Venice Venice Language of money, commerce Language of money, commerce Male friendship Male friendship Justice / letter of law Justice / letter of law Belmont Belmont Poetic language Love / marriage bonds Mercy / spirit of law

Old vs. New Testament Judaism Judaism Justice / Retribution Justice / Retribution Letter of Law Letter of Law “A Daniel come to judgment” “A Daniel come to judgment” Christianity Christianity Mercy / Forgiveness Mercy / Forgiveness Spirit of Law Spirit of Law “Quality of Mercy is not strained” “Quality of Mercy is not strained”

Three plots Casket plot Casket plot (Act I – III) Resolved with marriage of Portia and Bassanio (Act I – III) Resolved with marriage of Portia and Bassanio Pound of Flesh plot Pound of Flesh plot (Act I – IV) Resolved with Court scene (Act I – IV) Resolved with Court scene Ring plot Ring plot (Act III – V) Resolved with reconciliation scene between Portia and Bassanio, Nerissa and Gratiano (Act III – V) Resolved with reconciliation scene between Portia and Bassanio, Nerissa and Gratiano

Connection between plots Casket plot Casket plot Bassanio needs money to woo Portia, thus borrows money from Antonio who need to borrow from Shylock, the Pound of Flesh plot Bassanio needs money to woo Portia, thus borrows money from Antonio who need to borrow from Shylock, the Pound of Flesh plot Bassanio fulfills Portia’s father’s requirements but says contract isn’t final “until ratified by you.” Portia has fulfilled duty to father by marrying, but Ring plot allows her “out.” Bassanio fulfills Portia’s father’s requirements but says contract isn’t final “until ratified by you.” Portia has fulfilled duty to father by marrying, but Ring plot allows her “out.” Ring plot tests whether Bassanio was really willing to risk and hazard all he had for love. Ring plot tests whether Bassanio was really willing to risk and hazard all he had for love.

Connection between plots Pound of Flesh plot Pound of Flesh plot Antonio borrows money from Shylock so Bassanio can woo Portia, the Casket plot Antonio borrows money from Shylock so Bassanio can woo Portia, the Casket plot Portia also is the justice who pronounces sentence on Shylock for his attempt on Antonio’s life, the Pound of Flesh plot Portia also is the justice who pronounces sentence on Shylock for his attempt on Antonio’s life, the Pound of Flesh plot Portia’s role in saving Antonio and their desire to show their gratitude allows her the opportunity to request the ring from Bassanio as payment, affecting the Ring plot Portia’s role in saving Antonio and their desire to show their gratitude allows her the opportunity to request the ring from Bassanio as payment, affecting the Ring plot

Connection between plots Ring plot Ring plot The gift of the ring by Portia to Bassanio culminates the Casket plot as a symbol for their love and marriage The gift of the ring by Portia to Bassanio culminates the Casket plot as a symbol for their love and marriage Portia’s role in rescuing Antonio allows her to request the ring as payment from Bassanio, connecting it to the Pound of Flesh plot Portia’s role in rescuing Antonio allows her to request the ring as payment from Bassanio, connecting it to the Pound of Flesh plot By giving the ring to Antonio to give to Bassanio, Portia overrides the male bond and makes him an advocate for their marriage as most important bond. By giving the ring to Antonio to give to Bassanio, Portia overrides the male bond and makes him an advocate for their marriage as most important bond.

Potential conflict for Bassanio’s love AntonioPortia Bassanio Potential conflict Love / Friendship Love / Marriage

Bassanio’s bonds Father/Son-like and/or friendship relationship with Antonio Father/Son-like and/or friendship relationship with Antonio Father of Portia/Suitor bond through Casket choice Father of Portia/Suitor bond through Casket choice Husband/Wife bond with Portia Husband/Wife bond with Portia Love bond/promise through acceptance of ring Love bond/promise through acceptance of ring Gratitude bond with Ballerio (Portia in disguise as Doctor of Law) Gratitude bond with Ballerio (Portia in disguise as Doctor of Law)

Couples Portia / Bassanio Portia / Bassanio Realistic couple – not just bond with father, must include love (excessive feeling but trying to maintain golden mean) Realistic couple – not just bond with father, must include love (excessive feeling but trying to maintain golden mean) Nerissa / Gratiano Nerissa / Gratiano Sexual couple – bet “stake down” and protecting Nerissa’s “ring” Sexual couple – bet “stake down” and protecting Nerissa’s “ring” Jessica / Lorenzo Jessica / Lorenzo Romantic Couple – references to famous lovers Romantic Couple – references to famous lovers

Recognizable characters Heroine – Portia, disguises herself as man; teaches men about love (women’s concern), also about law (men’s concern) Heroine – Portia, disguises herself as man; teaches men about love (women’s concern), also about law (men’s concern) Clown – Lancelot Gobbo, plays trick on father Clown – Lancelot Gobbo, plays trick on father Villain – Shylock, personal grudge, not Machiavellian Villain – Shylock, personal grudge, not Machiavellian

Who was Merchant of Venice? Antonio Antonio Has many ships in various parts of the world Has many ships in various parts of the world Shylock Shylock Lends out money for profit Lends out money for profit Bassanio Bassanio Gentleman, but the one who ends up with the “Golden Fleece”: Portia, her father’s fortune Gentleman, but the one who ends up with the “Golden Fleece”: Portia, her father’s fortune

Shylock’s conversion to Christianity From Christians’ point of view From Christians’ point of view Shylock cannot be “saved” without Christ Shylock cannot be “saved” without Christ They are doing him a favor They are doing him a favor From Jews’ point of view From Jews’ point of view Shylock is condemned to be without society Shylock is condemned to be without society He cannot associate with other Jews He cannot associate with other Jews The Christians won’t really accept him The Christians won’t really accept him They are imposing a penalty worse than losing all his money They are imposing a penalty worse than losing all his money

Themes Choices – greed vs. willingness to give, risk Choices – greed vs. willingness to give, risk Appearance vs. Reality Appearance vs. Reality Bonds, covenants Bonds, covenants Risk, venturing (Antonio, Bassanio, suitors) Risk, venturing (Antonio, Bassanio, suitors) Boredom, ennui Boredom, ennui Justice, mercy Justice, mercy True nature of Love True nature of Love