A Merchant Of Venice Flashcards
1
Q
Themes - Prejudice
A
- Religous prejudice was common
- Jews had little freedom
- Shylock has hostile attitude towards christian characters - he refuses to “eat” “drink” or “pray” with them
- Hatred is deep rooted in the play
Attitudes change over time - somethin gnormal in those times would be very shockin gin modern time
2
Q
Themes - Wealth and Money
A
- Venice was a rich and powerful state due to the trade roots
- Jews were very important to the economy, unlike christians they were not aloud to practise usury
- Money is central to the plot as the main plot hinges to the loan of which antonio asked for from shylock
- Money is at the forefront of characters minds e,g bassanio marries portia to clear his debts, shylock is attached to money and finds the cost of jessicas betrayal more upsetting.
- ” dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear”
3
Q
Themes - Appearence and Reality
A
- Appearence means a lot to characters e,g characters associate there outward appearence with maintainging there influence and reputation
- Appearence can be deceptive - shakespear warns against attacheting to much signficance to an appearence, his message to the auidance is that not everything is what it seems
- Disguises entertain the auidence, disguises van also create a sence of irony or even dramatic irony
4
Q
Themes - Love
A
- Marriage wasn’t always about love - marriage between christians and jews was forbidden therefore jessica converted to marry lorenzo this act jessica commited was seen as egil in venice
- Love is important to some characters - Portia wants to choose a husband how ever fufills her Fathers wish of the method of choosing the correct husband, love is alos seen as motivation and something to work for.
- Male friendship is a form of love - Many close friendships espically Antonio and Bissanio, these types pf friendship make shulock seem isolated
5
Q
Themes - Justice and Mercy
A
- Not everyone views justice in the same way e.g the christian characters cant understand way shylock dosent drop his case against antonio
- different attitudes e.g old testsment new testament
- Christians urge shylock to show mercy e.g in act 1 scene 1 portia defends the reference of mercy by pursing revenge will condemn his soul
- Not every gets what they deserve e.g the harshness of shylocks punoshment trying to take justice on Antonio
6
Q
Characters - Minor Characters
A
- Salerio and Solanio keep the audience informed - their actions have limeited impact on the plot and are mainly used as narrative devices to communicate impact of events - A2 S3 they give a breif account of shylocks rectiaon to jessicas betrayal
- Lancelots main role is to provide comedy as he is portrayed as a clown character, is the only recurring character to speak in prose which sets him apart from characters
- The duke holds authority in venice, he is the most influential man in venice, tge duke should be impartial but he makes it obvious from the start of A4 S1 that hes on antonios side - he tells antonio hes sorry for him and calls shylock an “inhuman wretch”.
7
Q
Characters - Lorenzo and Gratiano
A
- Lorenzo is in love with jessica, he is passionate “How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!” And sincere “ You have a nonle and a true conceit of godlike amity”
- Gratiano is an energetic character, he is outspoken “ too wild too rude and bold of voice” as well as spomtaneous “ my eyes, my lord, can look as swift as yours” Gratiano is also described as a liabilty and bissanio describes his behaviour as wild and fears it could hurt his and portias marriage.
8
Q
Characters - Jessica
A
- Jessica can be seen as a victim, jessica hates living with shylock and the only time they are seen together A2 S5 shylock uses lots of imperatives e.g “Do as I bid uou” which creates an oppressive atmosphere.
- Jessica is independent, “ though I am daughter by blood, I am not to his manner” she is determined, “I have a father, you a daighter, lost” as well as insensitive!, “Here, catch this casket, it is worth the pains”.
- Isn’t totally inocent as she betrays shylocks trust and steals from him, the money is then given to the opposite religon.
9
Q
Characters - Shylock
A
- Shylock is often seen as a villian as in A1 shakespear introduces Shylock as a greedy moneylender with a bloodthirsty desire for revenge, as well,as they way characters talk about shylock adds a negative impression of him
- Shylock is prejudice “I hate him for he is a Christian”, stubborn, “I’ll have my bond” as well as ill-treated “sufference is the badge of all our tribe”
- He is a vengeful character as he is still out to get antonio for all the bad he has done to shylock
- He isnt a complete monster as he is only victimised for his faith and this could make a modern day audience feel sorry for him however in that era it was normal to be prejudice to another religon other than Christianity.
10
Q
Characters - Nerrisa
A
- Nerissa is a voice of reason, as portias parents are dead nerissa is her main sorce of advice, she reminds portia that her “good fortunes” outweigh her “miseries” and reasures her that she will find a worthy husband.
- Nerissa is intellegent “they are sick that surfeit with too mush as they that serve with nothing”, she is perceptive, “Bassanio, lord love, if thy will it be” as well as playful “ the docters clerk, in lieu of this last night did lie with me.
- She is close with portia and this is shown when she disgises herself to be the lawyers clerk.
11
Q
Characters - Bassanio
A
- Bassanio is well liked, Bassanios cheerful and courteous nature makes him a very likeable character
- Bassanio is friendly
