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Title: Quick Notes for The Merchant of Venice
Description: Notes contain key points that should be noted from the play as well as a brief discussion of major themes.
Description: Notes contain key points that should be noted from the play as well as a brief discussion of major themes.
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MERCHANT OF VENICE
POINTS TO NOTE
Reason why Bassanio needed to borrow money – He lived an extravagant lifestyle and
accumulated debts he cannot repay
...
By marrying Portia, all wealth will be transferred from her to him, thereby
making him capable of repaying his debts
...
Laughed at my losses, mocked at my
gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies
...
Caskets
Gold – “Gain what many men desire” – Skull
Silver – “Get as much as he deserves” – Blinking idiot (mirror)
Lead – “Must give and hazard all he hath” – Portia’s counterfeit (portrait)
The gold and silver caskets warn against the fact that beauty (outward appearances) and
(material) wealth are transitory and are all an illusion
...
3 Conditions of the Deal to choose Portia (Act 2 Scene 9 Line 9)
Never reveal the casket that was chosen
Never woo a lady for marriage
Leave immediately
Portia’s main points about mercy (Act 4 Scene 1 Line 179)
Not forced
From Heaven
An Attribute of God
Twice Blessed (Blesses the Giver and the Receiver)
Mercy not Justice, results in Salvation
3 Conditions of Portia’s ring to Bassanio (Act 3 Scene 2)
Never part with it
Don’t lose it
Don't give it away
Claims Brought against Shylock in Court
If he shed one drop of Christian blood he will die
all his goods will be confiscated
As an alien (Jew) plotting against the life of a citizen (Christian) ½ his wealth goes to
Antonio
½ his wealth goes to the
state
his life is in the hands of
the Duke
Mercy/Judgement Shylock receives in court
Duke allows him to live
Antonio asks the Venetian court to grant Shylock the ½ of his wealth belonging to the state
Antonio asks to give the other ½ to give to Lorenzo upon Shylocks death
Antonio requests that Shylock must convert from Judaism to Christianity
Antonio asks that the rest of Shylock’s wealth goes to Lorenzo and Jessica upon his death
MERCHANT OF VENICE
THEMATIC DISCUSSION
LOVE:
Brotherly Love
Antonio + Bassanio
Antonio is willing to sacrifice everything he has for Bassanio’s happiness, “my purse, my person,
my extremest means lie all unlocked to your occasions
...
Antonio insists that Bassanio be happy and not feel obligated to think about him while courting
Portia
...
John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this that a man lay down his life for his friends
...
” (Act 2 Scene
9 Line 51)
Bassanio is also willing to lay his life down for his friend Antonio, “The Jew shall have my flesh,
blood, bones, and all, ere thou shalt lose for me one drop of blood
...
I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all here to this
devil, to deliver you
...
The strength of
Antonio/Bassanio’s friendship is much more powerful than that of Portia/Bassanio’s relationship
...
Portia’s father has established a
system whereby the person who rightly chooses the casket, will be one who truly loves Portia
...
He chooses the lead casket bearing the
inscription to “give and hazard all” because he seems to understand that love is sacrifice
...
She pleads with him to
prolong his choosing, as she fears losing him
...
Portia’s love and understanding towards Bassanio is also
shown when she allows Bassanio to leave on their wedding day to rescue Antonio, as she respects
their love
...
For she is wise
...
and true she is
...
” He even states that she looks
“sweet, even in the lovely garnish of a boy
...
” (Act 2 Scene 6 Line 37)
Love at first sight
Gratiano + Nerissa
“My eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours
...
You loved,
I loved
...
When Bassanio describes the woman
he loves the issue of her wealth precedes that of her beauty and his love for her, “In Belmont is a
lady richly left, and she is fair
...
” (Act 1 Scene 1 Line 160)
Shylock + Wealth
In Act 3 Scene 1, it is unclear whether Shylock is lamenting the loss of his daughter or his
wealth
...
two thousand ducats
...
precious jewels
...
I shall
never see my gold again
...
” (Act 3 Scene 1) He even wishes that Jessica was dead
at his feet with the jewels and ducats with her safe, clearly demonstrating where his love lies
...
” He says “I would be friends with you, and have your love
...
Portia and Nerissa in disguise as men deceive even their own husbands and an entire court into
believing that they are men
...
Bassanio pretends to be a wealthy gentleman in order to win Portia’s affections
...
I was a braggart
...
The caskets teach the lesson that appearances are deceptive as the least appealing casket turns
out to be the most valuable, while the most valuable caskets are unrewarding
...
Jessica deceives her father into believing that she was trustworthy
...
” (Act 2 Scene 7 Line 79)
Religious prejudice is also openly demonstrated throughout the play
...
” Shylock also reveals the reason
why Antonio hates him in Act 3 Scene 1, “He hath disgraced me
...
”
Shylock also divulges the reason why he hates Antonio in Act 1 Scene 3, “I hate him for he is a
Christian
Title: Quick Notes for The Merchant of Venice
Description: Notes contain key points that should be noted from the play as well as a brief discussion of major themes.
Description: Notes contain key points that should be noted from the play as well as a brief discussion of major themes.