Merchant of Venice

The Merchant of Venice

caterina bellot and sofia biz

The Merchant of Venice – Context & Plot

• Play written by William Shakespeare
• Set in Venice
• Main characters: Antonio, Bassanio, Portia, Shylock
• Bassanio needs money to marry Portia
• Antonio borrows money from Shylock
• Cruel contract: a pound of flesh
• Antonio cannot repay the debt
• Story ends in a trial scene
• Portia disguises as a male lawyer and saves Antonio

Main Themes – Appearance vs Reality

• People are different from how they seem
• Portia appears weak because she is a woman
• In reality, she is intelligent and powerful
• Disguise shows her true abilities
• Shylock seems only cruel
• He is also a man who suffers discrimination

Main Themes – Justice vs Mercy

• Theme shown clearly in the trial scene
• Shylock = strict justice

Follows the law exactlyWants revenge

• Portia = mercy

Believes mercy is more important than strict lawLaw should protect life

• Justice without mercy can be cruel

Favourite Character – Portia

• One of the main characters
• Rich and intelligent woman from Belmont
• Disguises as a lawyer in court
• Saves Antonio’s life
• Shows independence in a male society

Portia – Motivations, Strengths, Weaknesses

• Motivated by love and justice
• Loves Bassanio
• Believes in fairness and mercy
• Strengths:

IntelligentConfidentDetermined

• Weakness:

Can be manipulative

Portia – Development & Moral Judgement

• Changes during the story
• Starts limited by her father’s will
• Becomes active and powerful
• Morally:

Mostly sympatheticUses intelligence to save a life

• Represents a strong woman

Least Favourite Character – Shylock

• Jewish moneylender
• Disliked for cruelty and revenge
• Wants Antonio’s flesh, not money
• Refuses mercy

Shylock – Responsibility & Consequences

• Also a misunderstood victim
• Suffers discrimination by Christians
• “Hath not a Jew eyes?” shows pain
• Responsible for the conflict
• His choices make the situation worse
• Loses money and power

Character in Today’s World – Portia

• Would be a lawyer
• Same traits:

SmartConfidentHumble

• Uses YouTube/social media
• Always supports justice and equality
• Fights for women’s rights
• Promotes female emancipation

Interpretation – Is the Ending Fair or Unjust?

• Ending is partly fair

Antonio is savedLaw is respected

• Also unjust

Shylock punished too harshlyForced to change religion

• Justice is not equal for everyone

Thank You!