ENGLISH

• Merchant


  A person who trades in commodities produced by other people, especially one who trades with foreign countries
• Historically, a merchant is anyone who is involved in business or trade. Merchants have operated for as long as industry, commerce, and trade have existed.
• The Merchant of Venice is a play by William Shakespeare
• Venice


  • The richest city in Europe
  • Jewish people were targeted-negatively
  • Home to many tradesmen, foreigners and different religious views
  • Predominantly known for its prosperity through mercantilism which was powered by the ruling class
• Mercantilism


  An economic practice by which governments used their economies to expand state power at the expense of other countries
• Venice was a marketplace that was juxtaposed by prostitution and nunneries
• Transportation in Venice was done by the use of canal systems
• Religious Intolerance in 16th Century Venice

  • The two prominent religions were the high class Catholics and the tread-upon followers of Judaism
  • Jews were walled off in the Ghetto at night time while the Christians were able to roam free
  • Jews were required to wear certain colored hats, when they go outside of their homes, marking them of their religion
  • Jews were cast down and treated as second class citizens compared to Christians
  • Jews were treated with little or no respect. They were kicked or spitted on, cheated, and forced to wear red caps
• Venetian Women


  • The social structure of sixteenth century Europe allowed women limited opportunities for involvement; they served largely as managers of their households
  • Under the rule or command of men
  • Six of the most significant traits prescribed by men include: Chastity, Silence, Modesty, Reticence, Sobriety, and Obedience
• Shakespeare's England


  • Under the rule of Queen Elizabeth 1
  • Jews were expelled in the Middle Ages
  • Nation-wide conflict between Catholics and Protestants
  • Playwrights had to be careful not to offend anyone; especially the Queen!
  • Similarity to Venice: Important European city, Cosmopolitan (believes in Cosmopolitanism), Home to many foreigners
• Shylock


  A Jewish moneylender in Venice. Angered by his mistreatment at the hands of Venice's Christians, particularly Antonio, Shylock schemes to take out his revenge by ruthlessly demanding as payment a pound of Antonio's flesh.
• Antonio


  The merchant whose love for his friend Bassanio prompts him to sign Shylock's contract and almost lose his life. Antonio is something of an unpredictable figure, often inexplicable melancholy, and as Shylock points out, possessed of an incorrigible dislike of Jews.
• Portia


  A wealthy heiress from Belmont. Portia's beauty is matched only by her intelligence. Bound by a clause in her father's will that forces her to marry whichever suitor chooses correctly among three caskets. Her disguise of a young law clerk saves Antonio from Shylock's knife.
• Bassanio


  A gentleman of Venice, and a kinsman and dear friend to Antonio. Bassanio's love for the wealthy Portia leads him to borrow money from Shylock with Antonio as his guarantor. An ineffectual businessman, He proves himself a worthy suitor, correctly identifying the casket that contains Portia's portrait.
• Jessica


  Shylock's daughter, Jessica hates life in her father's house, and elopes with the young Christian gentleman, Lorenzo
• Lorenzo


  A friend of Bassanio and Antonio, Lorenzo is in love with Shylock's daughter, Jessica. He schemes to help Jessica escape from her father's house, and he eventually elopes with her to Belmont
• Gratiano


  A friend of Bassanio's who accompanies him to Belmont. A coarse and garrulous young man, Gratiano falls in love with and eventually weds Portia's lady-in-waiting, Nerissa.
• Nerissa


  Portia's lady-in-waiting and confidante. She marries Gratiano and escorts Portia on Portia's trip to Venice by disguising herself as her law clerk.
• Setting


  • In Shakespeare's era, setting plays, especially comedies, in Italy was a popular practice, and Shakespeare used Italian settings for many of his works.
  • 16th Century Two Worlds: Venice, Italy (Language of money, commerce, Male friendship, Justice/letter of law) and Belmont, Italy (Poetic Language, Love/marriage bonds, Mercy/spirit of law)
• Major Themes


  • Prejudice and Intolerance
  • Law, Mercy, and Revenge
  • Greed vs Generosity
• Stereotype


  A broad, often oversimplified assumption made about all members of a particular group. It can also be a label, an assumption, or an expectation based on appearance, ethnicity, gender, beliefs, and many more. Even seemingly positive stereotypes can be harmful.
• Prejudice


  A force that creates barriers and divisions between the people of Venice. The Christian characters show deep prejudice toward Shylock because of his Jewish identity.
• Themes include Hatred as a Cyclical Phenomenon and Revenge