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Merchant of Venice

Merchant of Venice. William Shakespeare. Comedy. A play with happy ending Element of humour is not the parameter. Stage. Globe theatre Projecting stage with spectators on three sides Little movable furniture Effect to be achieved through imagination-hence detailed descriptions

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Merchant of Venice

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  1. Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare

  2. Comedy • A play with happy ending • Element of humour is not the parameter

  3. Stage • Globe theatre • Projecting stage with spectators on three sides • Little movable furniture • Effect to be achieved through imagination-hence detailed descriptions • Verbal descriptions without visual effects

  4. Background • Themes borrowed from contemporaries • He wrote for employment and providing work to actors • Wrote for the public • Avoided too many intellectual problems • Anti Jewish feeling in Elizabethan England • Humiliation of a jew would please the audience

  5. Setting, key plot moments and characters • Setting-Venice, Belmont • Main characters-Antonio, Bassanio, Salarino,Salerio • Guess-main theme of the play • Opinion about the plot

  6. Scene 1-understand Antonio and Bassanio’s characters • One pair- read Antonio’s dialogue • What do you know about Antonio’s mood? • One pair- Salerio’s speech- reasons offered by him • Antonio’s explanation-one pair • All read Bassanio’s long speech-Bassanio’s philosophy, why does he want money,Antonio’s reaction to it. • Write it in your own words and back it up with quotes

  7. Half class-Antonio • Half class-Bassanio • Discuss characters and relationship

  8. Main issues in MOV • Love story leading to happy marriage • Wooing of Portia • Friendship between Antonio and Bassanio

  9. 4 episodes in the play • Pound of flesh bond leading to the trial scene • Elopement of Jessica with Lorenzo • Successful choice of caskets-Bassanio wins portia • Loss of rings

  10. Dramatic Irony • Bassanio choosing the right casket • Women disguising themselves as men • Trial scene

  11. Antonio and Bassanio • Theme of friendship • Antonio values relations more than his business • Invests carefully • overconfident of his finance • Concerned for his friend • Ready to borrow money for Bassanio’s sake • Read to sign any deal • Passive figure

  12. ACT 1 • 1.11.What is the tone of Antonio's first speech (1.1.1-7)? What explanations do Salerio and Solanio come up with (and what do they tell us about Antonio)? How does Antonio respond to their suggestions? How does he see his position in the world (1.1.77-79)?2.Why has Bassanio asked to meet Antonio (1.1.119-21)? What does he start talking about instead (1.1.122-134)? How do these two topics come together? How does he describe Portia and his quest for her (and her wealth)? (See 1.1.161-176.) Why can't Antonio give him the money he needs now? What will he do about it?

  13. Bassanio • Active and extravagant • Good friend • Interested in Portia for her beauty and money • Has no money- is in debts • still asks Antonio for money – to retrieve everything back

  14. Relationship • Trust • Support • concern • sacrifice • well wishers • True friendship • Antonio takes more initiative in helping

  15. Scene II • Problem for Portia • Opinion about different suitors • Conversation between Portia and Nerissa • Portia’s character

  16. 1.21.In reading the play, we know from the stage direction that Portia enters at the beginning of 2.1, but an audience in the theatre doesn't know that. How soon might an audience know that it is Portia who is talking to Nerissa? Based on Bassanio's description of Portia at the end of 1.1, what might first identify her as Portia?2.How does Portia feel at the beginning of the scene? How does this compare to the beginning of 1.1?3.How does Portia talk about "law" in 1.2.15-18? How does "law" apply to her (1.2.18-23)? How has her father controlled her choice of a husband even after his death (1.2.24-28)? Given the "roll call" of the suitors in 1.2.28-93, what do Portia's prospects look like? But what changes in1.2.94-101?

  17. 1.31.How would you describe the relations between Christians and Jews in Venice as represented by 1.3? What seems to be the main difference between the Jews and the Christians, at least the merchants? (See 1.3.36-47.) What Biblical story does Shylock use to justify his taking of interest? How does Shylock respond to the Christians' methods of making money? (See 1.3.13-23.)2.How has Antonio treated Shylock in the past, and what does Antonio think about that?3.What agreement does Antonio reach with Shylock for the three thousand ducats Antonio will give to Bassanio? Does Antonio expect to have any problem paying back the money? Why or why not?

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