The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare
Unit Opener With your small group, go to one of the small posters around the classroom. Read the statement you find there, and decide whether you agree or disagree. Use a sticky note to explain your group s position on the statement. When you are ready, move to a new poster and repeat this process. When every group has visited every poster, you will be given 1-2 posters and their accompanying sticky notes to synthesize and present to the class.
Poster Statements Money can affect my level of happiness. Appearances can be deceiving. Spouses should have the same values. True friends will do anything to support each other. People should always forgive one another. People should keep their promises, no matter what. Parent/child relationships are important in shaping children s characters.
Elizabethan England The Merchant of Venice was written between 1596 and 1600 Golden age in English history Queen Elizabeth never married During her reign, England was a Protestant nation Queen Elizabeth was a patron of the arts Period of relative wealth and prosperity Powerful Patriarchy Watch for evidence of male control. Several women will play restricted roles.
Anti-Semitism in Elizabethan England Anti-Semitism As you know, Jewish people have suffered terrible persecution throughout history Frequently prevented from owning businesses/land, but allowed to lend money New Testament said usury was sinful, so Christians couldn t lend with interest Jewish people who did were often seen as benefitting from others misfortunes Shakespeare s audiences were well aware of this prejudice against Jews. Officially expelled from England from 1290-1655 The Jew of Malta - Christopher Marlowe
Themes Prejudice Appearance vs. Reality Friendship Self-interest vs. Love Justice vs. Mercy
Literary Terms Allusion Aside Comic Relief Foreshadowing Metaphor Pun Soliloquy Theme Internal Rhyme Irony (verbal, situational, dramatic) Malapropism
Characters Antonio - title character, older merchant, good friend Salerio and Solanio - friends of Antonio and Bassanio, comment on play s action Bassanio - young man with expensive taste and rich friends, wants to woo Portia Gratiano - Bassanio s clownish friend, falls in love with Portia s servant Nerissa Lorenzo - Bassanio s friend, falls in love with Shylock s daughter Jessica Portia - intelligent, rich, beautiful noblewoman controlled by her father Nerissa - Portia s handmaid
Characters Shylock - clever Jewish merchant of Venice, simultaneously tragic and villainous Prince of Morocco - suitor of Portia Launcelot Gobbo - Shylock s comic servant Old Gobbo - Launcelot s blind, distant father Jessica - Shylock s daughter Prince of Arragon - one of Portia s greedy suitors Tubal - Shylock s friend Duke of Venice - reigning official of Venice
Three Plots Casket Plot Portia s late father helps/hinders her courtship process. Is he taking control, or is he giving her more of a voice that she would have otherwise? Read carefully! Bond Plot Bassanio needs cash, so he turns to his bff Antonio. Antonio s money is at sea, so he sends Bassanio to Shylock. Note the terms of Shylock s loan, and prepare for drama. Ring Plot Rings - those symbols of eternal love - can sure cause trouble...
Two Settings Belmont vs. Venice Fairy tale vs. realistic Female vs. male Romantic vs. mercantile Feudal vs. capitalist Folkloric vs. modern Shakespeare likes to set up such dichotomies and then show us their similarities. Think of Venice and Cyprus in Othello. As you read, consider whether Belmont is Venice s opposite or its logical partner.
Act I
Act I scene i Setting: A Venetian street Topics to consider: Why is Antonio so sad? Describe Gratiano and Lorenzo. How does Bassanio try to flatter Antonio before asking for money? What does Antonio suggest Bassanio do about his need for money?
Act I scene ii Setting: Belmont. A room in Portia s house. Topics to consider: Identify the terms of Portia s father s will. Note the three caskets. Which is the right choice? How do you already know? Identify a few examples of the suitors Portia critiques. What does Portia think of Bassanio? Key Quote: If to do were as easy to know what were good to do, chapels had been churches, and poor men s cottages princes palaces (1.2.12-14).
Act I scene iii Setting: Venice. A public place. Topics to consider: What are the terms of the loan Bassanio secures? Why doesn t Shylock like Antonio? How do Antonio and Bassanio feel about this loan arrangement? Key Quote: Mark you this, Bassanio, the devil can cite scripture for his purpose (1.3.97-98).
Act II
Act II scene i Setting: Belmont. A room in Portia s house. Topics to consider: Note the formality of the casket scenes. What new term of Portia s father s will is learned here? When will this suitor make his choice?
Act II scene ii Setting: Venice. A street. Topics to consider: Who is Launcelot Gobbo, and what action is he considering? Why doesn t Launcelot Gobbo s father recognize him? For whom does Launcelot Gobbo prefer to work? What do Gratiano and Bassanio argue about? What decision is made? Key Quote: It is a wise father that knows his own child (2.2.76-77).
Act II scene iii Setting: The same. A room in Shylock s house. Topics to consider: Who is Jessica? Is she sympathetic toward Launcelot Gobbo? Explain. How does Jessica feel about her father? To whom does she ask Launcelot Gobbo to give a letter? Why?
Act II scene iv Setting: The same. A street. Topics to consider: In this scene, the gentlemen are preparing for a masque. What is a masque? What are the contents of Jessica s letter to Lorenzo?
Act II scene v Setting: The same. Before Shylock s house. Topic to consider: What words of Jessica indicate her plans to elope? Key Quote: Farewell, and if my fortune be not cross d, I have a father, you a daughter, lost (2.6.56-57).
Act II scene vi Setting: The same. Topics to consider: Gratiano marvels that Lorenzo is late. Why? How does Jessica disguise herself?
Act II scene vii Setting: Belmont. A room in Portia s house. Topics to consider: What is contained in the correct casket? Which casket does the Prince of Morocco choose? Why? Describe the lesson there. Why doesn t the Prince of Morocco choose the lead casket? How does Portia reveal her prejudice at the end of this scene?
Act II scene viii Setting: Venice. A street. Topics to consider: For what two reasons does Shylock bewail the loss of his daughter? What is the news about Antonio s ships? What does this foreshadow?
Act II scene ix Setting: Belmont. A room in Portia s house. Topics to consider: Describe the Prince of Arragon s character. What additional terms of Portia s father s will are learned in this scene? Which casket does the Prince of Arragon choose (of course)?
Act III
Hath now a jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses (3.1.59-70). Act III scene i Setting: Venice. A street. Topics to consider: To whom does Salanio compare Shylock? What happens in this scene that whets Shylock s appetite for revenge? What does Shylock say he will do with Antonio s pound of flesh? Identify two pieces of news that Tubal has for Shylock. Why was the ring so important to Shylock? Key Quote:
Act III scene ii Setting: Belmont. A room in Portia s house. Topics to consider: How can we tell that Portia likes Bassanio? Does Portia aid her suitor in choosing the correct casket? What gift does Portia give to Bassanio? What was the third key plot again? Note the parallelism with Nerissa and Gratiano. What does the letter Salerio brings Bassanio reveal? What is Portia s reaction to this letter?
Act III scene iii Setting: Venice. A street. Topics to consider: How do we know Shylock is determined to have revenge? What does Antonio think his chances of escape are? Who does Antonio want to see? Why?
Act III scene iv Setting: Belmont. A room in Portia s house. Topics to consider: What does Portia tell Lorenzo that she and Nerissa plan to do? Who is the man to whom Portia asks Balthasar to take a letter? What do Portia and Nerissa plan to do in secret?
Act III scene v Setting: The same. A garden. Topics to consider: What does Launcelot Gobbo say is Jessica s greatest hope for salvation? What does Jessica think of Portia? Key Quote: It is very meet the Lord Bassanio live an upright life; for having such a blessing in his lady, he finds the joys of heaven here on earth (3.5.73-76).
Act IV
Act IV scene i Setting: Venice. A court of justice. Topics to consider: For whom does the Duke have sympathy? When does Antonio give up? What does Bassanio offer? Why doesn t Doctor Bellario attend the trial? Who comes in his place? Why should the court listen to this replacement? Where is the pound of flesh to be taken from? What does Portia request first? How do the tables turn on Shylock? What is his reaction? How does the Duke show mercy toward Shylock? What does Antonio suggest? What does the lawyer request as payment from Bassanio? Significance?
Act IV scene i Key Quote: The quality of mercy is not strain d, it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven upon the place beneath. It is twice blest: it blesseth him that gives and him that takes. Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes the throned monarch better than his crown. His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, the attribute to awe and majesty, wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings, it is an attribute to God himself; and earthly power doth then show likest God s when mercy seasons justice (4.1.184-96).
Act IV scene ii Setting: The same. A street. Topics to consider: What must Shylock do to finalize the court proceedings? What does the lawyer s clerk intend to ask Gratiano? To whose house does Gratiano direct the lawyer s clerk?
Act V
Act V scene i Setting: Belmont. Avenue to Portia s house. Topics to consider: How do Portia and Nerissa tease Bassanio and Gratiano when they return? What mission does Antonio fulfill regarding the missing rings? What good news does Portia announce to Antonio? Key Quote: Ay, if a woman live to be a man (5.1.160).
Essential Questions
Essential Questions What causes prejudice? Can money buy happiness? When is a person obligated to break the rules? How do parents influence their children? Who defines justice?