Merchant of Venice

1
Merchant of Venice

• Act 5 and Review

2
Act 4 Plot

• Who is the Duke of Venice?
• The highest authority in Venice
• What does the Duke ask of Shylock?
• IV.i. 16-35
• What is Shylocks answer and why?
• IV.i.36-63
• How much does Bassanio offer Shylock instead?
• IV.i. 85

3
Act 4 Plot

• Shylock refuses the money and insists that they
  follow the law. What is his justification to
  them?
• IV.i. 90-104
• Who is Bellario of Padua?
• Who comes in his place?
• What does Balthazar ask of Shylock?
• IV.i.190-3

4
Act 4 Plot

• Does Balthazar think Shylock should get his pound
  of flesh as stated in the agreement?
• IV.i.226-230
• As Antonio prepares for his death, is Antonio
  upset with Bassanio?
• IV.i.290-291
• What is Bassanios response? Who might this
  upset?
• IV.i.294-299

5
Act 4 Plot

• Why doesnt Shylock get his pound of flesh?
• IV.i.319-325
• When Shylock tries to get the money, what is
  Balthazars response?
• IV.1.335- 336, IV.i.352-3
• What law does Balthazar then point out that
  Shylock has violated?
• IV. i. 361-379

6
Act 4 Plot

• The Duke has mercy on Shylock and spares his
  life. What happens to Shylocks estate?
• IV.i.384-388
• Antonio steps in to broker a compromise. What is
  it?
• IV.i.396-406

7
Act 4 Plot

• How does Bassanio repay Balthazar for saving
  Antonio?
• IV.i. 462-466
• Nerissa does the same to Gratiano IV.2. 16-17

8
Act 5 Plot

• What are Loreno and Jessica doing at the
  beginning of Act 5?
• Upon Portias return, she issues an order to the
  household. What is it?
• V.i.131-134
• The men (Antonio, Bassanio, Gratiano) arrive.
  Gratiano and Nerissa are in a quarrel why?

9
Act 5 Plot

• Antonio interceds on Bassanio and Gratianos
  behalf. What does he say?
• V.i.268-272
• Portia and Nerissa pull out their original rings.
  How do they claim to have obtained them?
• V.i. 277-281
• What does Portia then reveal?
• V.i. 285-299

10
Themes - Love

• What types of law are portrayed in the play?
• Friendship
• Antonio/Bassanio
• romantic
• Bassanio/Portia
• Nerissa/Gratiano
• Jessica/Lorenzo
• Family
• Shylock/Jessica
• motivated love
• Prince Arragon or Price of Morocco

11
Themes - Love

• Significant couples their motivations,
  obstacles, impact on other characters, etc.
  Which, if any, violate promises to each other?
  Which do not?
• Antonio/Bassanio
• Bassanio/Portia
• Nerissa/Gratiano
• Jessica/Lorenzo
• Shylock/Jessica
• Prince Arragon or Price of Morocco

12
Themes Love

• What does each casket represent and say about
  love?
• Gold Chest
• Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.
• ( II.vii.5)
• All that glisters is not gold
• Often have you heard that told
• Many a man his life hath sold
• But my outside do behold
• Gilded tombs do worms infold. (II. Vii.65- 69)
• Prince of Morocco chooses it. What does this say
  about his love for Portia?

13
Themes Love

• What does each casket represent and say about
  love?
• Silver Chest
• Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.
  ( II.vii.7)
• The fire seven times tried this
• Seven times tried that judgment is
• That did never choose amiss.
• Some there be that shadows kiss
• Such have but a shadows bliss.
• There be fools alive,iwis,
• Silvered oer and so was this.
• Take what wife you will to bed,
• I will ever be your head
• So begone you are sped. (II. ix.69- 78)
• Prince of Arragon chooses it. What does this say
  about his love for Portia?

14
Themes Love

• What does each casket represent and say about
  love?
• Lead Chest
• Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.
  
• ( II.vii.11)
• You that choosse not by the view
• Chance as fair and choose as true.
• Since this fortune falls to you,
• Be content and seek no new.
• If you be well pleased by this
• And hold your fortune for your bliss,
• Turn you where your lady is
• And claim her with a loving kiss. (III.
  ii.135-142)
• Bassanio chooses it. What does this say about his
  love for Portia?

15
Themes Anti-semitism

• What are the Elizabethan attitudes towards usury?
  (info found at www.elizabethan-era.org.uk)
• In 1270, King Edward I ordered that Jews had to
  wear a yellow star to identify themselves in
  public because of accusations that they had
  killed high officials. Many heads of jewish
  households were also imprisoned and executed.
• In 1290, King Edward I banished Jews from
  England. This ban was lifted in 1655.
• Elizabethan England considered Jews to be
  heretics, and as a result were killed. Jews were
  also blamed for the spread of the Bubonic plague.
  (Although most Elizabethans probably would never
  have met a jew.)
• Jews had been restricted to money lending and
  peddling (selling items).
• Some Jews still lived in various cities, although
  generally would publicaly adhere to Christianity.
  
• The Merchant of Venice was written sometime
  between 1596-1598, during the height of this
  anti-semitic era.

16
Themes Anti-semitism

• What actions and rhetoric in the play are
  arguably anti-semitic? Why might we interpret it
  as anti-semitism?
• How did they describe Shylock?
• Antonio when he asked to borrow money from
  Shylock
• During the trial scene
• How did they feel towards moneylending?
• Jessicas betrayal
• The forced conversion

17
Themes Anti-semitism

• Are there any elements of hypocrisy?
• What are the Christian values enumerated in the
  play? Who best embodies them?

18
Themes - Setting

• What are the two settings?
• What kinds of actions occur in each?
• What does each location represent? How is that
  significant to the play?
• Who are the major players in each location?
• How does the setting complement and develop their
  character?