The document provides background information on William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. It discusses the setting of late 1500s Venice, which was a rich and cosmopolitan city but also intolerant of Jews who faced discrimination. It outlines some of the main characters, including Antonio the merchant, Bassanio, Portia the heiress, and Shylock the Jewish moneylender. It then summarizes each act, focusing on the developing plot and highlighting tensions between Antonio and Shylock over an unpaid loan. The document raises interpretive questions about Shakespeare's portrayal of religious intolerance and gender roles.

1. by William
Shakespeare
Presented by Mehmoona Asma
The Merchant
of Venice

2. A Little History
Lesson…
• Venice in the late-1500’s
–The richest city in Europe
–Home to many tradesmen,
foreigners, and different religious
views
–Jewish people were targeted –
negatively

3. Religious
Intolerance
• Jewish people confined to
ghetto
–Gated “community”
• Treated with little or no
respect
–Kicked or spit on
– Cheated
– Forced to wear red caps
•Can be seen in The Merchant of
Venice!

4. Venetian Women
• Not respected
• Under the
rule/command of men
– In the play:
•Jessica and her father
•Portia and her father
– But not necessarily their
father
•Husbands, brothers, uncles, etc.
• No political power
http://www.flickr.com/photos/medievalarchive/3772847894/

5. Shakespeare’s
England
(in the mid-1500’s)
• Under the rule of Queen Elizabeth I
• Jews expelled in the Middle Ages
• Nation-wide conflict between Catholics and
Protestants
• Playwrights had to be careful not to offend anyone;
especially the Queen!
• Similar to Venice:
–Important European city
–Cosmopolitan
–Home to many foreigners

6. Let the Play
Begin!
• Things to remember while
reading:
– Religious intolerance
– Role of women
– Importance of trade and
economics
• Pay attention to:
– Relationships
•Between men and women
– How are the women treated?
– How are the Jews treated?

7. Important
Characters
•
•
Antonio: a merchant of Venice
Bassanio: Antonio’s friend; Portia’s
suitor
----------------------------------------------------------
--------------------------------------------
•
•
Shylock: a Jew
Jessica: Shylock’s daughter
Portia: an heiress “looking for” a husband
• Nerissa: Portia’s friend and lady-in-
waiting
http://www.venezia.net/venice/merchant_of_venice.htm
http://www.behindthename.com/name/jessica/images
http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/004TMV_Lynn_Collins_008.html

8. Act One
Summary
• Antonio = very influential
merchant
– Has many ships out at sea
• Bassanio is pursuing Portia
–Her father wants her to marry
•“Casket Game”
•Portia: not impressed
• Shylock is
mocked by
Antonio
– The deal http://dforecastle99.webs.com/picturesofoldeships.htm

9. Interpretations, Analyses, or
Ideas? Act One
• Why is Antonio sad?
–He is in love?
–He is nervous about ships?
• The casket game will
rule out unworthy
suitors
–Explanation
• Relationship
between Antonio
and Shylock
–What it says about the prejudices of Venice at
the time http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/5700/5793/merchant_1.htm

10. Act Two
Summary
• Portia’s suitors:
– Morocco chooses
gold– Arragon chooses
silver
•Significance
• Shylock’s daughter,
Jessica–
Her plot and elopement; Shylock’s
lament
http://dvd.ign.com/dor/objects/761591/william-shakespeares-the-merchant-of-
venice/images/william-shakespeares-the-merchant-of-venice-20050725020901095.html
http://www.hotflick.net/pictures/004TMV_Antonio_Gil-Martinez_002.html

11. Interpretations, Analyses, or
Ideas?
Act Two
• Is there such thing as true love in this
play?
• What can be said of Shylock?
–Directly (according to text)
– Indirectly
(interpretations,
analyses, or ideas?)
http://www.shakespearebythesea.org/press.html

12. Act Three
Summary•
– Shylock rejoices, then returns to cursing daughter
• Father’s sins delivered on daughter?
• (Portia in her disguise
)
Bassanio tries the “Casket Game”
– Chooses lead and wins
• Significance?
• News of Antonios ships,Antonio is
bankrupt; Shylock gets his revenge
– …or does he?
• Portia’s loyalty to Antonio: a plot hatches
Interpretations, Analyses, and Ideas?
– Shakespeare: painting Shylock as malicious? Or justifiable?
http://daphne.palomar.edu/christine/projects/shakespeare/default.htm
http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Ellen-Terry-1847-1928-as-
Portia-in-the-Merchant-of-Venice-Posters_i1367749_.htm

13. Act Four
Summary
• Antonio’s trial
– Portia to the rescue
– How it all backfires on
Shylock
• Shylock’s punishment– Half of hizzs estate 
Antonio
• Interpretations, Analyses, or Ideas?
–Contract between Antonio and Shylock =
fair?
•Why Shylock turns down the money
http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/definitions/shylock?cx=partner-
pub-0939450753529744%3Av0qd01-tdlq&cof=FORID%3A9&ie=UTF-8&q=shylock&sa=Search#922

14. Act Five
Summary
• Happy Ending!
–Jessica and her lover
– Portia and Bassanio
•The “Ring Game”
• Interpretations, Analyses, or
Ideas?
– What the “Ring Game” says about
Portia
•And women in general http://www.bard.org/news/photos/merchant/photos2010merchant.html

15. And
so…
• Shakespeare: anti-
Semitist?
–Or an advocate for the
Jews?
• The cross-dressing women: is he
empowering them?
– Or: powerful = “become” men?
• What do the three caskets mean?
• What are YOUR thoughts?
http://www.worth1000.com/entries/287550/venice-architecture

16. Fi
ne
(The
End)
http://www.lowflyzone.org/2007/11/venice-without-flying/

17. References
Shakespeare, William, and Stephen Greenblatt.
The Norton Shakespeare. New York: W.W.
Norton, 2008. Print.