the merchant of venice by william shakespeare. overview of slideshow important concepts historical...

The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

By William ShakespeareBy William Shakespeare

Overview of slideshowOverview of slideshow

Important concepts

Historical context

Main characters Subplots

Important concepts

Historical context

Main characters Subplots

Important ConceptsImportant Concepts

Usury:The practice of lending

money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate.

Usury:The practice of lending

money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate.

UsuryUsury

Condemned by most major religions at some point - some still

Moses, Muhammad, Plato, Aristotle all prohibited it

Condemned by most major religions at some point - some still

Moses, Muhammad, Plato, Aristotle all prohibited it

Protestant England - UsuryProtestant England - Usury

Queen Elizabeth more lenient view of usury.

Allowed for commercial ventures - New World

Contrasted Vatican

Queen Elizabeth more lenient view of usury.

Allowed for commercial ventures - New World

Contrasted Vatican

Anti-SemitismAnti-Semitism

England the first European country to expel Jews in 1290

Allowed back into country under Oliver Cromwell in late 17th century

England the first European country to expel Jews in 1290

Allowed back into country under Oliver Cromwell in late 17th century

Jewish Stereotypes in England

Jewish Stereotypes in England Ritual murder

Desecration of the host

Poisoning wells Spreading the

plague Stubborn, non-

believers

Ritual murder Desecration of the

host Poisoning wells Spreading the

plague Stubborn, non-

believers

Dr. Rodrigo LopezDr. Rodrigo Lopez

Portuguese Jew fled Spanish Inquisition

Became the personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I

Executed for treason 1594

Portuguese Jew fled Spanish Inquisition

Became the personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I

Executed for treason 1594

Lopez and BarabasLopez and Barabas

Shakespeare was likely to have attended Lopez’s execution

Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta 1592

Barabas

Shakespeare was likely to have attended Lopez’s execution

Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta 1592

Barabas

Main Characters - AntonioMain Characters - Antonio

Wealthy, merciful merchant of Venice

Borrows money from Shylock to give to his friend, Bassanio

Humble, generous entrepreneur

Wealthy, merciful merchant of Venice

Borrows money from Shylock to give to his friend, Bassanio

Humble, generous entrepreneur

Main Characters - ShylockMain Characters - Shylock

Wealthy Jewish usurer

Old Testament justice, revenge, greed?

Wealthy Jewish usurer

Old Testament justice, revenge, greed?

Main characters - BassanioMain characters - Bassanio

Young aristocrat, spendthrift

Very close to Antonio

Seeks Portia’s hand

Young aristocrat, spendthrift

Very close to Antonio

Seeks Portia’s hand

Main Characters - PortiaMain Characters - Portia

Wealthy beautiful heiress in Belmont

Dutiful, generous, seeks true love

Subverts role of women to save Antonio and trick Bassanio

Wealthy beautiful heiress in Belmont

Dutiful, generous, seeks true love

Subverts role of women to save Antonio and trick Bassanio

Nerissa and GratianoNerissa and Gratiano

Friends of Bassanio and Portia who are foils to their love,

Involved in the “ring plot”

Friends of Bassanio and Portia who are foils to their love,

Involved in the “ring plot”

JessicaJessica

Shylock’s daughter

Steals from Shylock, abandons him, and marries a Christian and converts

Shylock’s daughter

Steals from Shylock, abandons him, and marries a Christian and converts

Two WorldsTwo Worlds

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Two WorldsTwo Worlds

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Two WorldsTwo Worlds

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Two WorldsTwo Worlds

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Venice Language of

Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Belmont Poetic language Love marriage

bonds Mercy spirit of law

Old vs. New TestamentOld vs. New Testament

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Old vs. New TestamentOld vs. New Testament

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Old vs. New TestamentOld vs. New Testament

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Old vs. New TestamentOld vs. New Testament

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to

judgment”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Christianity Mercy/

Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy

is not “strained”

Three plots #1Three plots #1

Casket PlotPortia’s test for her

suitorsResolved with Porti

a’s marriage to Bassanio

Casket PlotPortia’s test for her

suitorsResolved with Porti

a’s marriage to Bassanio

Three plots #2Three plots #2

Pound of Flesh Plot

Shylock’s bondResolved in Act IV - the courtroom scene

Pound of Flesh Plot

Shylock’s bondResolved in Act IV - the courtroom scene

Three Plots #3Three Plots #3

Ring PlotComedic twist Portia and Nerrisa

trick their husbands

Resolved in ACT V

Ring PlotComedic twist Portia and Nerrisa

trick their husbands

Resolved in ACT V

The EndThe End