1. By William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice
By William Shakespeare

2. Important Concepts Usury:
The practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate.

3. Usury Condemned by most major religions at some point - some still
Moses, Muhammad, Plato, Aristotle all prohibited it

4. Protestant England - Usury
Queen Elizabeth more lenient view of usury.
Allowed for commercial ventures - New World
Contrasted Vatican

5. Anti-Semitism England the first European country to expel Jews in 1290
Allowed back into country under Oliver Cromwell in late 17th century

6. Jewish Stereotypes in England
Ritual murder
Desecration of the host
Poisoning wells
Spreading the plague
Stubborn, non-believers

7. Dr. Rodrigo Lopez Portuguese Jew fled Spanish Inquisition
Became the personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I
Executed for treason 1594

8. Lopez and Barabas
Shakespeare was likely to have attended Lopez’s execution
Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta 1592
Barabas

9. Main Characters - Antonio
Wealthy, merciful merchant of Venice
Borrows money from Shylock to give to his friend, Bassanio
Humble, generous entrepreneur

10. Main Characters - Shylock
Wealthy Jewish usurer
Old Testament justice, revenge, greed?
Thanks to Cameron Marshall for the art.

11. Main characters - Bassanio
Young aristocrat, spendthrift
Very close to Antonio
Seeks Portia’s hand

12. Main Characters - Portia
Wealthy beautiful heiress in Belmont
Dutiful, generous, seeks true love
Subverts role of women to save Antonio and trick Bassanio

13. Nerissa and Gratiano
Friends of Bassanio and Portia who are foils to their love,
Involved in the “ring plot”

14. Jessica Shylock’s daughter
Steals from Shylock, abandons him, and marries a Christian and converts

15. Two Worlds Venice Belmont Language of Money/commerce Male friendship
Justice/rule of law
Belmont
Poetic language
Love marriage bonds
Mercy spirit of law

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

17. 1. Casket Plot Three plots Portia’s test for her suitors
Resolved with Portia’s marriage to Bassanio

18. Three plots 2.Pound of Flesh Plot
Shylock’s bond Resolved in Act IV - the courtroom scene

19. Three Plots 3.Ring Plot Comedic twist
Portia and Nerrisa trick their husbands
Resolved in ACT V