The merchant of Venice

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The merchant of Venice

• Shakespeares Shylock Sinner or Sinned Against?

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Ideas about the play

• http//www.youtube.com/watchvgtYGzr8Nx-8feature
  related
• What ideas can you deduce about the genre of the
  play and why?
• What do you think the main themes explored in the
  play might be and why?

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Comfy Comedy Fit?

• To be classed as Comedy it must have
• Light, humorous tone.
• Clever dialogue/ witty banter.
• Deception and disguise.
• Mistaken identity.
• Love overcomes obstacles.
• Family drama.
• Multiple twists and turns.
• Reunification of family.
• Marriage.

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• All the worlds a stage,
• And all the man and women are merely players
• They all have their exits and their entrances,
• And one man in his time plays many parts,
• His acts being seven ages.

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• Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands,
  organs,
• dimensions, senses, affections, passions fed
  with
• the same food, hurt with the same weapons,
  subject
• to the same diseases, heal'd by the same means,
• warm'd and cool'd by the same winter and summer
• as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not
  bleed?
• If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison
  us,
• do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not
  revenge?
• If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble
  you in that.
• If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility?
• Revenge. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should
  his
• sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge.
• The villainy you teach me, I will execute,
• and it shall go hard but I will better the
  instruction.
• http//www.youtube.com/watch?vT_5adzpdkdw

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The Globe theatre
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Context

• The Merchant of Venice was probably written in
  either 1596 or 1597, after Shakespeare had
  written such plays as Romeo and Juliet and
  Richard III, but before he penned the great
  tragedies of his later years.
• Its basic plot outline, with the characters of
  the merchant, the poor suitor, the fair lady, and
  the villainous Jew, is found in a number of
  contemporary Italian story collections, and
  Shakespeare borrowed several details, such the
  choice of caskets that Portia inflicts on all her
  suitors, from preexisting sources.
• The Merchant of Venices Italian setting and
  marriage plot are typical of Shakespeares
  earlier comedies, but the characters of Portia,
  Shakespeares first great heroine, and the
  unforgettable villain Shylock elevate this play
  to a new level.

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Setting - Venice, usually in the mean streets

• Venice is an exciting, cosmopolitan setting for
  the play because it's a hotspot for trade. While
  Jews had been legally banned from England since
  1290, Venice had laws in place to protect
  non-Venetian traders who supported the city's
  economic well-being. When the Jewish moneylender
  Shylock seeks his bond, for example, Antonio
  admits
• The Duke cannot deny the course of law. ?For the
  commodity that strangers have ?With us in Venice,
  if it be denied, ?Will much impeach the justice
  of his state ?Since that the trade and profit of
  the city ?Consisteth of all nations (3.3.4)
• In other words, the Duke can't make an exception
  for Antonio by denying Shylock his rights it
  would have a negative affect on the city's
  livelihood.
• BUT
• Religious strife was rife in Venice and although
  16th century Venice was more tolerant of
  foreigners than Elizabethan England, Jews in
  Venice were confined to ghettos at the time
  Shakespeare wrote The Merchant of Venice.

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Belmont, at Portia's pad

• Belmont is presented as a contrast to the city.
  It's also a place of easy wealth, beauty, and
  peace, which makes it a great refuge from the
  cosmopolitan world of Venice. Actually, Belmont's
  a lot like the forest of Arden in As You Like It.
  
• Belmont is a kind of fairy-tale version of real
  life. Real life is gritty, more like Venice.

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Jews in a Christian Society

• Jewish people were not protected by the law
• Jews were considered second class citizens in
  Venice when Shakespeare wrote the play. Below
  are some of the laws they had to obey
• Laws concerning Jews
• All Jews must wear distinctive clothing to
  identify themselves.
• Citizens of Venice could treat Jews in any way
  they wished, but Jews were not allowed to
  retaliate in any way.
• Jews were not to be involved in the following
  trades the military, government, guilds.

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Jewish people were associated with lending money

• One of the few ways Jews were allowed to earn a
  living was to lend money. This was called Usury
  which allowed the lender to charge interest.
  Christians (as represented by Antonio in the
  play) thought this was wicked. It was illegal
  for Christians to lend money and ask for
  interest. Despite this, Antonio is willing to
  borrow money from Shylock.

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Jews were victims of prejudice

• Christianity was the main religion in Europe at
  the time of Shakespeare and as a result a very
  powerful force. People feared and hated the Jews
  and did all they could to convert them to
  Christianity.

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Meeting Shylock

• Act I iii is the first time that we are
  introduced to Shylock. It is therefore important
  that we think of him as a character and explore
  the way that Bassanio and Antonio interact with
  him.
• This will give us clues as to how Shakespeare
  wanted us to see him.
• Task
• In groups annotate this first meeting, using the
  nofear Shakespeare helpsheets if required.

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Shylock and Antonio

• During the first meeting of Antonio and Shylock
  we can deduce the mood and tone of the
  relationship between the two men.

• In groups highlight words associate with
• Prejudice
• Religion
• Eating/ fattening up
• Flesh/meat
• Money
• Borrowing/lending
• Hatred
• Physical abuse

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• What is the basis of their dislike/hatred of one
  another?
• What story outlines the fundamental difference in
  the way that they view things? In what way?

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• Now write a paragraph about the first meeting of
  Shylock and Antonio beginning When we are first
  introduced to the characters of Antonio and
  Shylock we can see that

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Important plot moments in Act 1

•  What are the most important aspects on Act I?
• Antonios wealth is tied up in his ships sailing
  for Venice.(Act 1 scene i)
• Bassanio has met and fallen in love with a rich
  heiress. (Act 1 scene i)
• Antonio agrees to borrow money to lend to
  Bassanio to court her.(Act 1 scene i)
• Portias father has died leaving her a fortune
  but at a price.(Act 1 scene ii)
• Antonio borrows money from Shylock. The bond is
  a pound of flesh.(Act 1 scene iii)

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1. In Act II who resolves to leave Shylock?
2. Why do they make this decision . Give evidence
   from Act IIii lines 5 onwards and Act IIiii.
3. What do they both struggle with? Give evidence to
   support what you say.
4. What does this suggest about their feelings about
   Shylock and their actions towards him?

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• Both characters struggle with their conscience.
• Conscience is the thing that allows us to
  experinece GUILT.
• If they have to grapple so much with their
  conscience in regards to leaving can Shylock be
  that bad?
• Are they justified in having such a negative
  opinuion of him?

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Act II

• Jessica elopes with Lorenzo, stealing all
  Shylocks treasures.
• (Act 2 scene v/vi)
• Salerio and Solanio discuss Shylocks reaction to
  Jessicas elopement
• (Act 2 scene viii)

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Shylocks Reaction

• As the dog Jew did utter in the streets
• My daughter! Oh my ducats! Oh my daughter!
• Fled with a Christian! Oh my Christian ducats!
• Justice! The law! My ducats and my daughter!
• A sealed bag, two sealed bags of ducats,
• Of double ducats, stoln from me by my daughter!
  
• (Act II.8)

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• What do these lines suggest about Shylocks
  reaction to Jessicas betrayal ?
• What reaction do they evoke from the audience in
  response to Shylock?
• What is significant about the sentence structure
  used in these lines? Pick out at least two
  examples and discuss.
• Why do you think that Shakespeare chooses to have
  Solanio speak these lines and not Shylock?
• What is significant about the language used by
  Salanio? Does this support or refute your ideas
  about Shylock?

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Act III

• Shylock shows his despair at Jessicas betrayal.
• (Act 3 scene i)
• Tubal tells Shylock of Antonios loss of merchant
  ships.
• (Act 3 scene i)
• Shylock visits Antonio in Jail
• (Act 3 scene iii)

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Hath a Jew?...

• What does the audience feel for Shylock at the
  beginning of his monologue?
• What idea do we get about his character based on
  the delivery and composition of these lines and
  what is he trying to convince the Venetian
  community of?
• What changes our feelings for Shylock and in what
  way does he undermine himself?
• Individual Task Write a paragraph describing
  the importance of this monologue in the way that
  we view the character of Shylock.

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Act III3

1. How would you describe Shylocks rhetoric in Act
   IIIiii?
2. What is suggested about the Law?
3. What do the characters in the play recognise
   about the Law?
4. How do we feel about Shylock after listening to
   these lines?
5. What does Portia become in this Act?
6. How does she fit in with the conventions of the
   comedy genre?

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The Trial Scene

• This is a pivotal scene in the play. You will be
  given selected lines to discuss/ annotate in your
  groups. Think about
• What the character is saying (in bullet points)
• The way in which they are delivering their lines
  (what techniques are used? What are they trying
  to appeal to in the other character? Etc)
• What means are they using to justify their
  argument?
• What opinion do we have of them at the end of
  these lines?

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Act Iv The Trial

• This is one of the most gripping scenes in all
  of Shakespeare. The arrangement of the court is
  central to this scene.
• How are we to react to Shylocks speech about
  Venetian hypocrisy that they keep among them
  "many a purchased slave" (4.1.90) but would never
  consider giving them their freedom or marrying
  them to their children?
• Does Shylock really intend to cut a pound of
  Antonios flesh from the outset of this scene, or
  does he merely intend to terrify him?
• Is Portias line"Which is the merchant and
  which the Jew"supposed to be funny? What is her
  intention in asking this?
• 7. At what point does Portia figure out how to
  defeat Shylock? Has she known what she is going
  to do all along?
• 8

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• . How is a modern Portia to avoid the problem of
  the "Quality of mercy" speech sounding like a
  sermon she has memorized? Should
• her lines be addressed to Shylock or to the
  court?
• 9. Should Shylock pause before responding to
  Portias call for mercy? Some Shylocks have
  responded instantaneously others, like Henry
• Goodman in the 1999 production at the National
  Theatre in London, let half a minute elapse
  before responding. Is Shylock at all
• persuaded by Portias words?
• 10. Though defeated by the law, is Shylock still
  tempted to kill Antonio? Should he, as in some
  productions, have to be restrained
• from doing so?
• 11. How are we to respond to Shylock being
  convicted as an "alien" threatening a citizens
  life, but punished as a Jew, being forced to
  convert?
• 12. How sincere are Shylocks words agreeing to
  convert "I am content"? Is this resolution
  merciful? Does anyone in the court express
• sympathy for Shylock? Does he deserve sympathy?
• 13. What is on Shylocks mind as he exits?
• 14. In the late nineteenth century, Edwin Booth
  chose to end the play with Shylocks exit. What
  is gained or lost by doing so?

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Villain

• a character whose evil actions or motives are
  important to the plot
• the person or thing responsible for specified
  problems, harm, or damage
• Oxford English Dictionary
• Wicked or evil person
• Collins English Dictionary

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The Trial Scene

• How is Shylock portrayed in this Act when he
  refuses Portias numerous appeals for him to
  extend mercy to Antonio?
• How do we feel about Portia, when she uses
  Venetian law to save Antonio and when she asks
  Shylock to beg for mercy at the feet of the Duke?
  
• In this scene the Duke states That thou shalt
  see the difference of our spirit, I pardon thy
  life before thou ask it
• What theme does this highlight and what is being
  said about it?
• So are the Venetian exposed as kind, forgiving
  Christians that epitomise both of these
  qualities?
• Is Portia just as guilty as ruthlessly pursuing
  the law to her own vicious ends in order to
  annihilate another human being? Did she need to
  go so far?
• Is Shylock just the villain that Shakespeare
  dismisses in order to achieve his happy ending?
• How do you think the audience response to Shylock
  would differ between an Elizabethan audience and
  one of today? How do you feel about Shylock at
  the end of this Act?

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• Before issuing Shylocks punishment, the duke
  assures him that he will see the difference of
  our spirit, but the spirit of the Venetians
  proves to be as vindictive as the Jews
  (IV.i.363). The duke spares Shylocks life, but
  takes away his ability to practice his profession
  and his religion. In the course of the play,
  Shylock has lost his servant, his daughter, his
  fortune, and a treasured ring given to him by his
  dead wife. He will forfeit his estate to the man
  responsible for stealing his daughter, and he
  will abandon his religion for one that forbids
  him from practicing the trade by which he earns
  his livelihood. Modern audiences cannot help but
  view Shylock as a victim. He has become a tragic
  figure in a comedy that has no place for a
  character so complex.

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Now that you have read the play

• Do you feel any sympathy for Shylock at the start
  of the play?
• Do you feel his anger towards Antonio is
  justified, albeit acting on this anger is deeply
  flawed?
• Do you feel that it is the loss of his daughter
  or his money that most disturbs him? Consider his
  reaction to the tale of Leahs ring supposedly
  being exchanged for a monkey.
• Do you feel he is as much an old man as he is a
  Jewish moneylender? Old men seeking to lock up
  their daughters were a very common comic
  stereotype in Shakespeare's age.
• Do you feel any sympathy for Shylock forced to
  dine among the Christians while we know his house
  is being robbed - or do we just hope Jessica can
  get away?
• Do you feel any sympathy for Shylock when he is
  finally condemned and forced to convert to
  Christianity and hand over half of his wealth to
  the Venetian state?
• Do you feel that Shylock's enemies are morally
  superior or better people than him? Would they be
  found wanting if judged by Portia?

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Essay Question

• Shylock is more than just a one dimensional
  villain
• Do you agree or disagree with this statement?
• Was Shylock Shakespeares outcry against
  anti-Semitism or an example to highlight the
  mindset of the times?