William Shakespeare’s Play The Merchant of Venice

Biographical Information Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon on April 23, 1564 and died there on April 23, 1616 Born in Stratford-Upon-Avon on April 23, 1564 and died there on April 23, 1616 Married to Anne Hathaway in 1582 Married to Anne Hathaway in 1582 Three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith Three children: Susanna, Hamnet, and Judith Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets Wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets Began acting in London in 1592 Began acting in London in 1592 Acted with The Lord Chamberlain’s Men Acted with The Lord Chamberlain’s Men Eventually shared in the theater’s profits, meaning Eventually shared in the theater’s profits, meaning that he no longer had to depend on the sale of his plays that he no longer had to depend on the sale of his plays In 1610 he retired to New Place, the second largest house in Stratford-Upon-Avon In 1610 he retired to New Place, the second largest house in Stratford-Upon-Avon The first collection of his plays was published after his death in 1623 The first collection of his plays was published after his death in 1623

Shakespeare’s England Shakespeare’s time Shakespeare’s time English Renaissance English Renaissance Mostly rural Mostly rural Majority of the people made their living through agriculture Majority of the people made their living through agriculture London was the largest city in Europe with 200,000 inhabitants London was the largest city in Europe with 200,000 inhabitants Houses were small and crowded; streets were narrow and filthy; open ditches carried sewage out of the city Houses were small and crowded; streets were narrow and filthy; open ditches carried sewage out of the city

Shakespeare’s England Theaters Theaters Primarily built outside of the city on the South bank of the Thames River in order to avoid the city’s strict regulations. Primarily built outside of the city on the South bank of the Thames River in order to avoid the city’s strict regulations. At times the theaters were closed due to the plague At times the theaters were closed due to the plague Performances were held during the day because they had no means to light an entire theater at night. Performances were held during the day because they had no means to light an entire theater at night. There was some concern that the theater lured laborers away from their jobs so that they could attend performances. There was some concern that the theater lured laborers away from their jobs so that they could attend performances.

The Merchant of Venice Type of Work Type of Work Drama (play) Drama (play) Genre Genre Comedy Comedy Setting Setting 16 th Century 16 th Century Venice and Belmont, Italy Venice and Belmont, Italy Conflicts Conflicts Man v. Man Man v. Man Man v. Society Man v. Society Man v. Himself Man v. Himself

Basic Plot Element Chart l Exposition Rising Action Climax Falling Action Resolution

The Merchant of Venice: Plot Four Plot Lines Bond Plot (Acts I, II, III, IV) Bond Plot (Acts I, II, III, IV) Antonio borrows money from Shylock for Bassanio. Antonio borrows money from Shylock for Bassanio. Casket Plot (Acts I, II, III) Casket Plot (Acts I, II, III) 3 caskets (gold, silver, lead). The suitor who chooses the correct casket wins Portia’s hand in marriage. 3 caskets (gold, silver, lead). The suitor who chooses the correct casket wins Portia’s hand in marriage. Ring Plot (Act V) Ring Plot (Act V) Portia & Nerissa entrust Bassanio & Gratiano with rings that the men promise never to part with. Portia & Nerissa entrust Bassanio & Gratiano with rings that the men promise never to part with. Elopement Plot (Act II) Elopement Plot (Act II) Jessica and Lorenzo plan to run away and get married. Jessica and Lorenzo plan to run away and get married.

The Merchant of Venice Plot Element Chart Bond Plot Casket Plot Exposition ACT I Elopement Plot Rising Action ACT II Climax Act III Falling Action ACT IV Resolution Ring Plot ACT V

The Merchant of Venice: Characters Main Characters Shylock Shylock Jewish moneylender in Venice Jewish moneylender in Venice Lends money to Bassanio based on Antonio’s guarantee of repayment Lends money to Bassanio based on Antonio’s guarantee of repayment Mistreated by Venice’s Christians Mistreated by Venice’s Christians

The Merchant of Venice: Characters Antonio Antonio Wealthy merchant of Venice Wealthy merchant of Venice Signs the bond with Shylock for his friend Bassanio Signs the bond with Shylock for his friend Bassanio Loyal, merciful Loyal, merciful In the beginning of the play, he is melancholy but isn’t sure why. In the beginning of the play, he is melancholy but isn’t sure why.

The Merchant of Venice: Characters Portia Portia Wealthy heiress from Belmont Wealthy heiress from Belmont Very beautiful and intelligent Very beautiful and intelligent Her father’s will forces her to marry the man who chooses correctly from among 3 caskets (treasure chests) Her father’s will forces her to marry the man who chooses correctly from among 3 caskets (treasure chests) Loves Bassanio Loves Bassanio

The Merchant of Venice: Characters Bassanio Bassanio Gentleman of Venice Gentleman of Venice Dear friend of Antonio Dear friend of Antonio He loves Portia and wants to marry her He loves Portia and wants to marry her He needs to borrow money in order to travel (by sea) to Belmont to try and win Portia’s hand in marriage He needs to borrow money in order to travel (by sea) to Belmont to try and win Portia’s hand in marriage

The Merchant of Venice: Characters Gratiano Gratiano Friend of Bassanio’s Friend of Bassanio’s Travels to Belmont with Bassanio Travels to Belmont with Bassanio Boisterous, loud Boisterous, loud Falls in love with Portia’s lady-in-waiting, Nerissa Falls in love with Portia’s lady-in-waiting, Nerissa Jessica Jessica Shylock’s daughter Shylock’s daughter Hates life in her father’s house Hates life in her father’s house Loves Lorenzo Loves Lorenzo

The Merchant of Venice: Characters Lorenzo Lorenzo Friend of Bassanio and Antonio Friend of Bassanio and Antonio Loves Shylock’s daughter, Jessica Loves Shylock’s daughter, Jessica Schemes to help Jessica escape her father’s house Schemes to help Jessica escape her father’s house Nerissa Nerissa Portia’s lady-in-waiting, friend, and confidante Portia’s lady-in-waiting, friend, and confidante Falls in love with Gratiano Falls in love with Gratiano Launcelot Gobbo Launcelot Gobbo Bassanio’s servant Bassanio’s servant Especially adept at making puns Especially adept at making puns Comic relief throughout the play Comic relief throughout the play