The Merchant of Venice By William Shakespeare Important

The Merchant of Venice By William Shakespeare

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

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

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

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

Jewish Stereotypes in England s Ritual murder s Desecration of the host s Poisoning wells s Spreading the plague s Stubborn, nonbelievers

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

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

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

Main Characters - Shylock s Wealthy Jewish usurer s Old Testament justice, revenge, greed?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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