The Merchant of VeniceTwo WorldOld vs. New TestamentThree plotsConnection between plotsSlide 6Slide 7Potential conflict for Bassanio’s loveBassanio’s bondsCouplesRecognizable charactersWho was Merchant of Venice?Shylock’s conversion to ChristianityThemesThe Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of VeniceStructure, Characters, ThemesStructure, Characters, ThemesTwo WorldTwo World•VeniceVenice•Language of money, Language of money, commercecommerce•Male friendshipMale friendship•Justice / letter of lawJustice / letter of law•BelmontBelmont•Poetic languagePoetic language•Love / marriage Love / marriage bondsbonds•Mercy / spirit of lawMercy / spirit of lawOld vs. New TestamentOld vs. New Testament•JudaismJudaism•Justice / RetributionJustice / Retribution•Letter of LawLetter of Law•““A Daniel come to A Daniel come to judgment”judgment”•ChristianityChristianity•Mercy / ForgivenessMercy / Forgiveness•Spirit of LawSpirit of Law•““Quality of Mercy is Quality of Mercy is not strained”not strained”Three plotsThree plots•Casket plot Casket plot •(Act I – III) Resolved with marriage of Portia (Act I – III) Resolved with marriage of Portia and Bassanioand Bassanio•Pound of Flesh plot Pound of Flesh plot •(Act I – IV) Resolved with Court scene(Act I – IV) Resolved with Court scene•Ring plot Ring plot •(Act III – V) Resolved with reconciliation (Act III – V) Resolved with reconciliation scene between Portia and Bassanio, Nerissa and scene between Portia and Bassanio, Nerissa and GratianoGratianoConnection between plotsConnection between plots•Casket plotCasket plot•Bassanio needs money to woo Portia, thus borrows Bassanio needs money to woo Portia, thus borrows money from Antonio who need to borrow from money from Antonio who need to borrow from Shylock, the Pound of Flesh plotShylock, the Pound of Flesh plot•Bassanio fulfills Portia’s father’s requirements but Bassanio fulfills Portia’s father’s requirements but says contract isn’t final “until ratified by you.” says contract isn’t final “until ratified by you.” Portia has fulfilled duty to father by marrying, but Portia has fulfilled duty to father by marrying, but Ring plot allows her “out.”Ring plot allows her “out.”•Ring plot tests whether Bassanio was really willing Ring plot tests whether Bassanio was really willing to risk and hazard all he had for love.to risk and hazard all he had for love.Connection between plotsConnection between plots•Pound of Flesh plotPound of Flesh plot•Antonio borrows money from Shylock so Bassanio Antonio borrows money from Shylock so Bassanio can woo Portia, the Casket plotcan woo Portia, the Casket plot•Portia also is the justice who pronounces sentence on Portia also is the justice who pronounces sentence on Shylock for his attempt on Antonio’s life, the Pound Shylock for his attempt on Antonio’s life, the Pound of Flesh plotof Flesh plot•Portia’s role in saving Antonio and their desire to Portia’s role in saving Antonio and their desire to show their gratitude allows her the opportunity to show their gratitude allows her the opportunity to request the ring from Bassanio as payment, affecting request the ring from Bassanio as payment, affecting the Ring plotthe Ring plotConnection between plotsConnection between plots•Ring plotRing plot•The gift of the ring by Portia to Bassanio culminates The gift of the ring by Portia to Bassanio culminates the Casket plot as a symbol for their love and the Casket plot as a symbol for their love and marriagemarriage•Portia’s role in rescuing Antonio allows her to Portia’s role in rescuing Antonio allows her to request the ring as payment from Bassanio, request the ring as payment from Bassanio, connecting it to the Pound of Flesh plotconnecting it to the Pound of Flesh plot•By giving the ring to Antonio to give to Bassanio, By giving the ring to Antonio to give to Bassanio, Portia overrides the male bond and makes him an Portia overrides the male bond and makes him an advocate for their marriage as most important bond.advocate for their marriage as most important bond.Potential conflict for Bassanio’s lovePotential conflict for Bassanio’s loveAntonioAntonioPortiaPortiaBassanioBassanioPotential conflictPotential conflictLove / FriendshipLove / FriendshipLove / MarriageLove / MarriageBassanio’s bondsBassanio’s bonds•Father/Son-like and/or friendship relationship with Father/Son-like and/or friendship relationship with AntonioAntonio•Father of Portia/Suitor bond through Casket Father of Portia/Suitor bond through Casket choicechoice•Husband/Wife bond with PortiaHusband/Wife bond with Portia•Love bond/promise through acceptance of ringLove bond/promise through acceptance of ring•Gratitude bond with Ballerio (Portia in disguise as Gratitude bond with Ballerio (Portia in disguise as Doctor of Law)Doctor of Law)CouplesCouples•Portia / BassanioPortia / Bassanio•Realistic couple – not just bond with father, must Realistic couple – not just bond with father, must include love (excessive feeling but trying to include love (excessive feeling but trying to maintain golden mean)maintain golden mean)•Nerissa / GratianoNerissa / Gratiano•Sexual couple – bet “stake down” and protecting Sexual couple – bet “stake down” and protecting Nerissa’s “ring”Nerissa’s “ring”•Jessica / LorenzoJessica / Lorenzo•Romantic Couple – references to famous loversRomantic Couple – references to famous loversRecognizable charactersRecognizable characters•Heroine – Portia, disguises herself as man; Heroine – Portia, disguises herself as man; teaches men about love (women’s concern), teaches men about love (women’s concern), also about law (men’s concern)also about law (men’s concern)•Clown – Lancelot Gobbo, plays trick on Clown – Lancelot Gobbo, plays trick on fatherfather•Villain – Shylock, personal grudge, not Villain – Shylock, personal grudge, not MachiavellianMachiavellianWho was Merchant of Venice?Who was Merchant of Venice?•AntonioAntonio•Has many ships in various parts of the worldHas many ships in various parts of the world•ShylockShylock•Lends out money for profitLends out money for profit•BassanioBassanio•Gentleman, but the one who ends up with the Gentleman, but the one who ends up with the “Golden Fleece”: Portia, her father’s fortune“Golden Fleece”: