Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of Venice

Analyze the title:Analyze the title:

MerchantMerchant – a – a buyer and seller of buyer and seller of goods (or goods (or merchanmerchandise) for dise) for profitprofit

VeniceVenice – Italian city – Italian city known, in known, in Shakespeare’s Shakespeare’s time, for its wealth, time, for its wealth, religious and religious and cultural diversity cultural diversity and world trade.and world trade.

The play explores…The play explores…

The value of moneyThe value of moneyThe value of friendshipThe value of friendshipThe value of justice and the lawThe value of justice and the lawThe value of religionThe value of religionThe value of love and marriageThe value of love and marriage

Know these terms:Know these terms:

usuryusury – the practice of lending money and – the practice of lending money and charging the borrower a high interest rate. charging the borrower a high interest rate. Considered illegal and/or unethical.Considered illegal and/or unethical.

ducatducat – standard gold coin used in pre- – standard gold coin used in pre-WWI Europe, introduced in Venice in 1284 WWI Europe, introduced in Venice in 1284 and officially sanctioned in 1566.and officially sanctioned in 1566. In 1913, a ducat was the equivalent of “nine In 1913, a ducat was the equivalent of “nine

shillings and fourpence sterling” – a little over shillings and fourpence sterling” – a little over 2 dollars. The US dollar equivalent of a ducat in 2 dollars. The US dollar equivalent of a ducat in 2010 is about $44. (3000 ducats = $132,000).2010 is about $44. (3000 ducats = $132,000).

Christians and JewsChristians and Jews

Why were they separated in Why were they separated in Shakespeare’s time?Shakespeare’s time?Jews were deported from England in the Jews were deported from England in the

Middle Ages and banished from Spain in Middle Ages and banished from Spain in the fifteenth century. Shakespeare the fifteenth century. Shakespeare probably never encountered practicing probably never encountered practicing Jews. He could have written Jews. He could have written The The Merchant of Venice Merchant of Venice either to capitalize either to capitalize on or to criticize the prejudices of his on or to criticize the prejudices of his society. (Maus – Intro to the play in society. (Maus – Intro to the play in The The Norton Shakespeare)Norton Shakespeare)

Christians had certain rights and Christians had certain rights and privileges that Jews did not; for instance, privileges that Jews did not; for instance, Christians were able to own land. Jews Christians were able to own land. Jews were treated as outsiders and were treated as outsiders and stereotyped for their supposed attitudes stereotyped for their supposed attitudes about money and the law.about money and the law.

Contrasts between Jewish and Christian Contrasts between Jewish and Christian values (through Shakespeare’s lens):values (through Shakespeare’s lens):

Justice (the law of Justice (the law of Moses)Moses)

Literal meaning of Literal meaning of the law (or “the the law (or “the letter of the law”)letter of the law”)

Codes of conduct Codes of conduct for diet and dress; for diet and dress; for business and for business and the punishment of the punishment of crimescrimes

CharityCharity MercyMercy Faith in the Faith in the

incredible or the incredible or the unseenunseen

Character List (in order of Character List (in order of appearance)appearance)

AntonioAntonio: The title character; a wealthy : The title character; a wealthy but sad older merchant who claims never but sad older merchant who claims never to have borrowed money but is willing to to have borrowed money but is willing to lend to friends, especially Bassanio, lend to friends, especially Bassanio, without benefit of interest.without benefit of interest.

SalarinoSalarino and and SolanioSolanio: Friends of Antonio : Friends of Antonio and Bassanio’s; minor characters who and Bassanio’s; minor characters who comment on the action and inform the comment on the action and inform the audience about the action that has audience about the action that has occurred offstage.occurred offstage.

BassanioBassanio: A young man with expensive : A young man with expensive tastes and rich friends; borrows money tastes and rich friends; borrows money from Antonio to court Portia, a rich, from Antonio to court Portia, a rich, intelligent and beautiful woman.intelligent and beautiful woman.

GratianoGratiano: Bassanio’s friend who has a : Bassanio’s friend who has a clownish demeanor. Accompanies clownish demeanor. Accompanies Bassanio to Belmont to court Portia and Bassanio to Belmont to court Portia and falls in love with Portia’s servant, falls in love with Portia’s servant, Nerissa.Nerissa.

LorenzoLorenzo: Bassanio’s friend who falls in : Bassanio’s friend who falls in love with Shylock’s daughter Jessica.love with Shylock’s daughter Jessica.

PortiaPortia: a widely pursued noblewoman : a widely pursued noblewoman who is as intelligent as she is rich and who is as intelligent as she is rich and beautiful. Her father’s will demands that beautiful. Her father’s will demands that her husband be selected through a test her husband be selected through a test involving three caskets: one of gold, involving three caskets: one of gold, one of silver, and one of lead. Portia’s one of silver, and one of lead. Portia’s mind allows her to find loopholes in mind allows her to find loopholes in legal matters, thus rescuing her new legal matters, thus rescuing her new husband’s friend from his debt (or husband’s friend from his debt (or “bond”) to Shylock.“bond”) to Shylock.

NerissaNerissa: Portia’s handmaid who falls : Portia’s handmaid who falls in love with Gratiano, Bassanio’s in love with Gratiano, Bassanio’s friend.friend.

ShylockShylock: The Jewish merchant of : The Jewish merchant of Venice who lends Antonio the money Venice who lends Antonio the money on his friend Bassanio’s behalf. on his friend Bassanio’s behalf. Shylock is cast as the “villain” of the Shylock is cast as the “villain” of the play and also its most tragic figure.play and also its most tragic figure.