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