Closing Thought

Initially, I intended to read A Midsummer Night’s Dream, but I am glad that I chose The Merchant of Venice instead. Reading the summary online, I did not expect what seemed to be a simply story to be so good. However, there is often beauty in simplicity. The beauty of this work was that it not only created realistic characters, but it portrayed the relationships between these characters and a situation with an underlying topic. The tension between the Jews and Christians at this time was presented very well in this piece. While Shakespeare was most likely appealing to a mostly Christian audience, he always did a good job of putting in small parts to make the audience sympathize with, or at least understand the antagonist a little more. He also showed each side with their faults, and allowed for the unexpected hero to salvage the situation.

An interesting point of this play, and Shakespeare’s other plays such as Macbeth, is his representation of strong, clever women. Likely he was trying to appeal to Queen Elizabeth, a female monarch in a “man’s world.” However, it does seem that he has an affection for the female characters that can stand strong for themselves and really take control even in the “man/s world.” I find this interesting, and likely connected to his preference in women, as well as him looking to please the Queen.

Memorable Quotes

“All that glisters is not gold;

Often have you heard that told:

Many a man his life hath sold

But my outside to behold:

Gilded tombs do worms enfold,” (2.7.68-71).

This quote is taken from the scene about the courtship of Portia, however it's meaning goes beyond that of choosing the proper casket in order to obtain her hand in marriage. The quote summarizes the deception of vanity and materialism, which is as real now as it was during the Elizabethan period. Many are fooled by the attractive appearance of certain people and lifestyles. People assume that achieving this denotes happiness and success, not looking past the appearance at the reality of the situation. Now, with the advent of mass media, people buy into what is portrayed and become obsessed with achieving that portrayal. During the time in which this play was written, the nobility were regarded as the height of society. However, many of the nobility and "high society" citizens lead pretty miserable lives. An example would be Mary I and other kings and queens around this time period, for all the power of the nobility, it did not seem to make their lives any better.


“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world,”   (5.1.88-89).


Every action results in a reaction of some sort. This quote explains how one action can have an affect and multiply in the world. Even the smallest and seemingly insignificant actions affect another person in some way. The people in this world are all interconnected, thus even in a world full of darkness, one person's good deed can aid in the alleviation of the "darkness," and allow for more light to shine through.


“The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice,”  (4.1.182-195).


Mercy is incredibly important. Even with all of the evil in the world, a prevailing human quality seems to be mercy. In Christianity, God is the giver of mercy, He forgives for what we do not deserve to be forgiven for, and even more He blesses us with more than we warrant for our actions. By being merciful, one is exhibiting characteristics of being like God, under the idea that to be close to God is to try to be like Him, which is what Portia is explaining in this quote. This concept of mercy is an act of incredible kindness and an aspect of humanity. Humans are often inconsistent in their actions, and do unexpected things. In Shylock's case, he was expected to show mercy, but he did not. However, Antonio in turn showed Shylock mercy when he was not expected to. This compassion is what makes Antonio such a lovable and human character, and Shylock's acceptance of Antonio's mercy shows that he too is human.
Sources:

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. No Fear Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice. New

                York: Spark Publishing, 2003.

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Style Analysis

Shakespeare's writing style set up a lot of drama for the reader. In The Merchant of Venice he utilizes literary devices to set up this drama.

Dramatic Irony:

Once again, Shakespeare works to add suspense to the play. In Act 3, scene 4, we learn of Portia and Nerissa dressing up as men. The audience at this point does not understand what significance this will have for the play. However, in the following act we find that they will be acting as two law experts. Unbeknownst to their husbands, they are able to save their husbands' good friend dressed as the law experts. Even more, the two woman engage in a trial, something unheard of for this time, and come up with a creative way to free Antonio and inflict a proper penalty on Shylock for his behavior.
Portia and Nerissa's plan is presented after the reader feels that Antonio's case is a lost battle, leading the reader to believe that the next few acts are just going to be a description of Antonio's mutilation and consequent death. When the two women's plan is presented, it provides a way out, but one that is very unsuspected. Shakespeare's use of the two women is very crafty, they act as unanticipated heroes who save the day in a fashion that is so perfect. The reader is aware that it is the two women in the court, adding the intrigue that Bassanio and Gratiano are unaware of their wives' presence. Yet, the reader is also unsure of this event, not sure whether or not the two women will save the day or what will happen. This addition to the play was the ideal ending for the play, it was an ingenious resolution to the plot and added elements to make the reader unsure of what would happen next.

Meter and Rhyme Scheme:

Throughout the majority of this play, Shakespeare uses blank verse and prose. As with majority of his plays, Shakespeare writes in unrhymed iambic pentameter (blank verse), and the only instances in The Merchant of Venice that he writes in prose is for those that do not have a noble title.

Description:

Shakespeare's writing is very descriptive and maintains its poetic qualities even in plays. He emphasizes events, people, and other phenomena through his use of sensory details, imagery, similes, and metaphors.

Other Literary Devices:

Ad Hominem- In many cases when Shylock was demanding his "justice," friends of Antonio would respond back criticizing Shylock as a person and trying to demean him rather than attacking his arguments for what he perceived as "justice."
Shylock: "I'll have my bond..."
Solanio: "It is the most impenetrable cur/ That ever kept with men,"
(3.3.12-19)
Allegory- Essentially, the whole play itself is an allegory. Nevertheless, many characters independently serve as allegories to create the theme that the play teaches as a whole.
Allusions- Many biblical references and other philosophical and literary references are made all through the play.

• Biblical: Casting demons into  herd of swine, "...to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your/ Prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into," (1.3.28-29).
• Philosophical: Pythagoras philosophy of the soul, "...To hold opinion with Pythagoras/ That souls of animals infuse themselves/ Into the trunks of men," (4.1.31-33).
• Mythological: Dido, "In such a night/ Stood Dido with a willow in her hand/ Upon the wild sea banks, and waft her love/ To come again to Carthage," (5.1.9-12).

Sources:

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. No Fear Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice. New

                York: Spark Publishing, 2003.

Literary Devices. Literary Devices, 2015. Web. 2 Nov. 2015.
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Structural Analysis

Chronological Order

The Merchant of Venice is told chronologically, with each event being presented in the order which it occurred. While this is a simple and common way of presenting storylines, structuring the story in this manner works to build suspense. The reader of the play knows that something is going to happen, but what that "something" is, they do not know. In order to get to this "something," they must read the story all the way through. As the reader is reading, they are aware that each occurrence has some connection with what the end result will be, providing for more expectation about the resolution of the plot. Shakespeare employs this type of structure for majority of his plays, and it helps to build the dramatic, suspenseful anticipation of the audience which he desires.

Plot

There will be spoilers... Shakespeare's play is told chronologically, and thus it follows the basic sequence of a plot:

• Exposition: The audience is first introduced to Antonio and his friends. His friends are  trying to make sense of his melancholy attitude and find out what is wrong. They find that Antonio is worried about his ships (and essentially his wealth) which are out at sea, and he is unsure whether or not they will make it to their destinations. These ships play a central role in the play because their destiny becomes tied to Antonio's destiny as the plot unfolds. Shortly after, the audience meets Antonio's dearest friend, Bassanio, who he finds out is in love with beautiful Portia, but does not have enough money to go out and see her and show her that he is worth her love. Antonio agrees to loan Bassanio some money to help him out. This results in the two going to the bitter Jew, Shylock, to secure the loan. They make a deal, so that Antonio will not have to pay interest to the Jew, which entitles Shylock to a pound of Antonio's flesh if he does not give him his money back by a certain date. Antonio foolishly agrees.
• Rising Action: All is going well for Bassanio with his lovely Portia, however news is heard that Antonio's ships have crashed, meaning he has no money to pay Shylock back, unbeknownst to Bassanio. While Bassanio earns the right to marry Portia, Shylock has Antonio brought to the Duke so that Shylock can get his "justice." As soon as Bassanio finds out about what is going on, he rushes back to be with Antonio before he is basically killed (not even Superman can survive losing a pound of flesh).
• Climax: HOWEVER, Bassanio has obviously made a very good choice in a wife, because she, and her best friend Nerissa, wittingly come up with a plan to save the day. Dressed as men, the two women fool the court and get them to believe that they are friends of Doctor Bellario, who cannot make it to the trial, but authorizes his "friends" to take part in the trial in his place. Portia cleverly finds a way to not only save Antonio from losing a pound of flesh but to properly punish Shylock for his spiteful acts. And the women save the day. Again.
• Closing Action: Always saintly, Antonio offers to give back to Shylock some of what he would lose if he agreed with Portia's deal in exchange that he converts to Christianity and puts his runaway daughter and her Christian husband back in his will. Shylock agrees, and Antonio returns back home with his rescued friend so that Antonio can meet Bassanio's wife.
• Denouement: The cleverness continues as Portia and Nerissa decide on a way that they can let their husbands know their role in saving Antonio's life. They get the two men to give the women, who they still think are men, their wedding rings as payment for their helping Antonio. Portia and Nerissa rush home ahead of their husbands, discard their menswear, and wait patiently for their husbands' arrival. When the men return home, Portia and Nerissa pitch a fit about the giving away of their rings, and in turn give the men back the rings which they allegedly "gave away." They shrewdly make the men aware that they were the legal experts that stepped in and saved Antonio's life. Gratiano and Bassanio then express their incredulity, and soon after their desire to sleep with the clever "men" who saved their friend's life. the end.

Sources:

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. No Fear Shakespeare: The Merchant of Venice. New

                York: Spark Publishing, 2003.
This site has cookies.