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The Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice. By William Shakespeare. Overview of slideshow. Important concepts Historical context Main characters Subplots. Important Concepts. Usury: The practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate. Usury.

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The Merchant of Venice

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  1. The Merchant of Venice By William Shakespeare

  2. Overview of slideshow • Important concepts • Historical context • Main characters • Subplots

  3. Important Concepts • Usury: The practice of lending money and charging the borrower interest, especially at an exorbitant or illegally high rate.

  4. Usury • Condemned by most major religions at some point - some still • Moses, Muhammad, Plato, Aristotle all prohibited it

  5. Protestant England - Usury • Queen Elizabeth more lenient view of usury. • Allowed for commercial ventures - New World • Contrasted Vatican

  6. Anti-Semitism • England the first European country to expel Jews in 1290 • Allowed back into country under Oliver Cromwell in late 17th century

  7. Jewish Stereotypes in England • Ritual murder • Desecration of the host • Poisoning wells • Spreading the plague • Stubborn, non-believers

  8. Dr. Rodrigo Lopez • Portuguese Jew fled Spanish Inquisition • Became the personal physician to Queen Elizabeth I • Executed for treason 1594

  9. Lopez and Barabas • Shakespeare was likely to have attended Lopez’s execution • Christopher Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta 1592 • Barabas

  10. Main Characters - Antonio • Wealthy, merciful merchant of Venice • Borrows money from Shylock to give to his friend, Bassanio • Humble, generous entrepreneur

  11. Main Characters - Shylock • Wealthy Jewish usurer • Old Testament justice, revenge, greed?

  12. Main characters - Bassanio • Young aristocrat, spendthrift • Very close to Antonio • Seeks Portia’s hand

  13. Main Characters - Portia • Wealthy beautiful heiress in Belmont • Dutiful, generous, seeks true love • Subverts role of women to save Antonio and trick Bassanio

  14. Nerissa and Gratiano • Friends of Bassanio and Portia who are foils to their love, • Involved in the “ring plot”

  15. Jessica • Shylock’s daughter • Steals from Shylock, abandons him, and marries a Christian and converts

  16. Venice Language of Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law Belmont Poetic language Love marriage bonds Mercy spirit of law Two Worlds

  17. Venice Language of Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law Belmont Poetic language Love marriage bonds Mercy spirit of law Two Worlds

  18. Venice Language of Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law Belmont Poetic language Love marriage bonds Mercy spirit of law Two Worlds

  19. Venice Language of Money/commerce Male friendship Justice/rule of law Belmont Poetic language Love marriage bonds Mercy spirit of law Two Worlds

  20. Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to judgment” Christianity Mercy/Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy is not “strained” Old vs. New Testament

  21. Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to judgment” Christianity Mercy/Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy is not “strained” Old vs. New Testament

  22. Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to judgment” Christianity Mercy/Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy is not “strained” Old vs. New Testament

  23. Judaism Justice/retribution Letter of law “A Daniel come to judgment” Christianity Mercy/Forgiveness Spirit of Law Quality of mercy is not “strained” Old vs. New Testament

  24. Three plots #1 • Casket Plot Portia’s test for her suitors Resolved with Portia’s marriage to Bassanio

  25. Pound of Flesh Plot Shylock’s bondResolved in Act IV - the courtroom scene Three plots #2

  26. Ring Plot Comedic twist Portia and Nerrisa trick their husbands Resolved in ACT V Three Plots #3

  27. The End

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