The Merchant Of Venice.docx

THE MERCHANT OF VENICE – ACT 1 PRESENTATION CONTEXT -

The play was written in 1598 and is set in the sixteenth century, Venice and Belmont The play focuses on the values and relationship of Judaism and Christianity It was written at a time when Jews were not present in England Venice was the richest city in Renaissance Europe and known to be unusually tolerant of diversity, which is the perfect setting for a play of this religious concern Venetian Jews were confined in a ghetto Christians were banned from adding interest to their loans PLOT

ACT 1, SC 1 The play begins with Antonio telling the audience that he is sad but doesn’t know why. His friends suggest that it may be because he may lose his ships which are the source of his wealth, or that he is in love. Antonio denies these two possibilities and so his friends dismiss it. Bassanio then arrives to tell Antonio that he is in love with Portia and wishes to be her suitor. He asks Antonio for a loan to which he accepts, due to their deep bond of friendship. ACT 1, SC 2 In Belmont, Portia is speaking with her attendant Nerissa about the suitors that she has to receive, and that she is not very sure about any of them. In exception, their comments about Bassanio are the most positive and Portia mentions him to be “worthy” of praise. ACT 1, SC 3 The scene opens with Bassanio making the deal with Shylock for 3,000 ducats for 3 months. Shylock tells the audience that he hates Antonio because he is a “Christian” but also because he dislikes the way Antonio lends money freely, which reduces the rates of interest within the commercial community in Venice, including his own. Shylock tells the audience how Antonio has called him profanities and spat on him. Shylock points out the injustices he faces at the hands of Antonio and revels in the ironic nature of the situation; that Antonio is now relying on him for money. Shylock still agrees to lend Antonio the money, but if he cannot deliver by the three months, he will owe Shylock a pound of flesh. Antonio accepts the deal and assures Bassanio to not worry after he expresses doubts; his ships will arrive home a month before the expiry date. CHARACTERS ANTONIO – A merchant of Venice. Reckless, proud and loyal. Antonio begins the play with being sad, and the reason for this sadness is never revealed but critics believe it to be because he is in love with Bassanio. Antonio is the protagonist and portrayed as the

antithesis of Shylock. Antonio is a Christian but does not act as one, treating Shylock as inferior due to their difference in religion. Antonio in scene 1 appears to be quite inarticulate in delivering his meanings, and his form of speech is in loose iambic pentameter. When he speaks with Bassanio, his language is more exaggerated with use of extremities when describing his loyalty to him. Words such as “swore”, “honour” and “uttermost” are used to depict this strong sense of friendship between the two. In scene 3, Antonio’s tone is more sarcastic, provoking and hostile as he encounters Shylock. He uses more biblical language when with Shylock, perhaps to emphasise his knowledge of religion and gives off a sense of self-righteousness and superiority. BASSANIO – Is Antonio’s friend. Loyal, sensitive but also a bit foolish. His debts to Antonio are still standing when he asks for yet another loan. Bassanio appears to be a romantic and besotted with Portia, willing to sacrifice everything for her approval. Bassanio’s form of speech in scene 1 also is mostly organised into iambic pentameter, perhaps to highlight the poetic tone of his voice when talking about Portia. Bassanio references historical figures, classical mythology and natural imagery when telling us of Portia, which allows us to understand the effect she has on Bassanio even before we have met her. Bassanio says little in scene 3 and appears to be the warier one of the two friends, as he states “I like not fair terms and a villain’s mind”, which shows us his personality is that of a more suspicious kind. His awareness is aided with a respectful tone when talking with Shylock. SHYLOCK – A Jewish moneylender. Shylock is a realist, and a stubborn and isolated character. His language in scene 3 and throughout the play is very literal and often quite repetitive. Like Antonio, he also uses biblical language to stress his point, but is very unloving and loyal only to himself and his contracts. Shylock holds a passionate grudge against Antonio, due to the way he has treated him. The character of Shylock overall is seen to be authorially based on an idea, not from personal feelings or knowledge. For Shakespeare, Jews were a theological idea, as in that time they had been banished from England a few hundred years previously. Shylock’s actual ethnicity is complex and ambiguous, which suggests that his Jewishness is a metaphor for other characteristic problems. Unlike Antonio, Shylock is not a risk taker and his business is secure. PORTIA – As an heiress, Portia is portrayed as an elegant, intelligent and educated woman. Her concerns are with her suitors, a matter which she likes to control and have an opinion on. She gossips and makes presumptions about the men who are after her, but is not entirely shallow, as she seems to make well-informed comments and comes to sensible conclusions about the suitors. Portia’s language is not in iambic pentameter, which emphasises this gossiping, trivial environment. Scene 2 is quite comedic as Portia’s wit and language is entertaining; she makes sweeping statements and dramatically exclaims her worries.