The Merchant of Venice

1. The Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 2 Matt & Jefferson

2. Summary • Shylock has taken Antonio to the prison/court • Antonio pleads with Shylock to listen, but Shylock refuses • Shylock promises that he will take his bond. And will be granted justice • "Thou call'dst me dog before thou hadst a cause, But since I am a dog, beware my fang" • Intertextual reference and anopomorphism • Shylock walks off, reiterating that justice will be done • Solanio declares that Shylock is a horrible man • Antonio believes that Shylock hates him because he has bailed out Shylock's debtors. • Solanio states that he is sure that the Duke will not grant the bond. • Antonio disagrees and says that the court of Venice must uphold the law, as the economy is at stake. • Antonio prays desperately that Bassanio will arrive to “see me pay his debt, and then I care not” (III.iii.56).

3. Device One • Antonio speaks in iambic pentameter • Eg. "I'll follow him no more with bootless prayers" Line 20 • The effect is that Antonio appears to be a different class to Shylock • Antonio has verse, Shylock has prose • Sounds more spoken thoughts, less intelligent, anger

4. Device Two • Vivid emotive imagery, anthropomorphism • Similar to how Stanley from Streetcar is often described as a bear

5. Device Three • Foreshadowing • Shylock will refusal to give up the bond, as he is offered it later on in the court • This will be his downfall as he does not accept the money

6. Device Four • Dual readings/double entendre • The last line can have different interpretations • “Pray God Bassanio come to see me pay his debt, and then I care not” • Could be either • A reference to their homosexual love, how he needs to see Bassanio • Antonio wants Bassanio to see him die, to make him feel guilty

7. Device Five • Repetition of “Bond” • Shylock's hammering repetitions drive home the point that he is not to be baulked of his revenge. • “I will have my bond..”