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THE MERCHANT of VENICE: Know-The-Show Guide The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: Know-the-Show Guide The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Know-the-Show Audience Guide researched and written by the Education Department of Artwork by Scott McKowen The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: Know-the-Show Guide In this Guide – The Life of William Shakespeare ............................................................................................... 2 – The Merchant of Venice: An Introduction .................................................................................. 3 – The Merchant of Venice: A Synopsis ......................................................................................... 5 – Who’s Who in the Play ............................................................................................................. 7 – Sources and History .................................................................................................................. 8 – Shylock: Villain or Victim ........................................................................................................ 10 – The Merchant of Venice: Antisemitism in Shakespeare’s London ............................................. 12 – Commentary & Criticism ........................................................................................................ 13 – Theatre in Shakespeare’s Day .................................................................................................. 14 – In this Production ................................................................................................................... 15 – Explore Online ....................................................................................................................... 16 – Sources & Further Reading ...................................................................................................... 17 1 The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: Know-the-Show Guide The Life playwright. He wrote approximately 38 plays, two epic poems, William and over 150 sonnets. His work was immensely popular, appealing to members of all social spheres including Queen Elizabeth I and Shakespeare King James I. While the plays were well-liked, Shakespeare’s of work was not considered by his educated contemporaries to be exceptional. By 1608, Shakespeare’s involvement with theatre William Shakespeare, widely began to dwindle, and he spent more time at his country home in recognized as the greatest English Stratford. He died in 1616. dramatist, was born on April 23, 1564. He was the third of eight Most of Shakespeare’s plays found children born to John Shakespeare their first major publication and Mary Arden of Stratford- in 1623, seven years after upon-Avon in Warwickshire, Shakespeare’s death, when England. Shakespeare’s father was two of his fellow actors put a prominent local merchant, and the plays together in the First Shakespeare’s childhood, though Folio. Other early printings National Portrait Gallery, London little is known about it for certain, of Shakespeare’s plays were appears to have been quite normal. called quartos, a printer’s In fact, it seems that the young term referring to the format in Shakespeare was allowed considerable leisure time because his which the publication was laid writing contains extensive knowledge of hunting and hawking. out. These quartos and the First In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a farmer. Folio texts are the sources of all She was eight years his senior, and the match was considered modern printings of Shakespeare’s unconventional. plays. The Shakespeare Family It is believed that Shakespeare left Stratford-upon-Avon and went Coat of Arms to London around 1588. By 1592, he was a successful actor and 2 The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: Know-the-Show Guide as barristers or lawyers. The Merchant The basis of the plot in of Venice most romantic An Introduction comedies like this is the The responses to and interpretations of The Merchant of Venice have conflict between changed and varied greatly since it was written in the mid-1590s. the lovers and As one of Shakespeare’s most suspenseful plays, Merchant has a someone or wonderfully intricate plot, complex characters, and some remarkably something funny moments; all of which have kept it quite popular. Much like keeping Jessica and Lorenzo in Belmont by John Boydell. The Taming of the Shrew, however, its social-politics have given many them apart. contemporary audiences pause. However, looking at this one aspect of The principle obstacle in The Merchant of Venice is Shylock’s hold on the play alone undermines its many attributes, including the fact that it Antonio, best friend to Bassanio. contains some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful, pithy, and memorable lines. When approaching the play, here are some ways to break it down Common to all of these works is the fact that, despite the label of for a more intricate examination. [Caution: Spoilers Ahead] “romantic comedy,” there is often a bittersweet or cruel undertone to the joy that concludes each play. Antonio, though freed from Shylock’s THE ROMANTIC COMEDY: murderous bond and his ships miraculously saved, is more alone at the The Merchant of Venice is, by structural definition, a romantic comedy. end of the play than he was in the beginning. Shylock is forced to reject This was a very popular and often-performed genre in Shakespeare’s Judaism as punishment for his murderous plot to destroy Antonio and is day. Other plays that fall into this category include The Two Gentlemen forced to become a Christian. Jessica, though willing to convert for the of Verona, As You Like It, and Twelfth Night. In all these plays, the chief man she loves, is still an outsider in a world of Christians. These are all element and motivation for the action is love. In addition to the hero examples of what makes Shakespeare’s romantic comedies a rich tapestry and heroine, usually two or three other couples are united by the end of emotions, a complex portrait of society, and why they continue to be of the play. In this play, Portia and Bassanio (the hero and heroine) are popular and meaningful today. married along with Gratiano and Nerissa, and Lorenzo and Jessica. In these plays the heroine also spends a portion of the play successfully FOUR STORIES IN ONE: disguised as a man; in this case, Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare has skillfully woven two major 3 The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey THE MERCHANT OF VENICE: Know-the-Show Guide dramatic plots and two minor plots together. The “casket story” centers only uses the money to court his love. Portia, a wealthy heiress, offers all on Portia and Bassanio. In accordance with her father’s will, Portia may her money to save her love’s friend. This generosity, however, does not only marry the man who chooses correctly among three small caskets; make them perfect people; Shakespeare paints them as far more complex one of gold, one of silver, one of lead. This is the first obstacle the hero characters, with each their own set of foibles. and heroine must overcome. The “bond story” focuses on the conflict between Shylock and Antonio. When Antonio is unable to repay a debt In the “casket story,” Portia’s suitors are required to choose between to Shylock on time, Shylock demands that, as the bond states, he receive gold, silver and lead caskets. The suitors who have chosen the gold and a pound of Antonio’s flesh cut from the place nearest the heart. Shylock the silver caskets are mocked for their obvious greed. Both are more is unrelenting and is only defeated by Portia in the last moments of the interested in Portia’s dowry than the woman herself. Bassanio chooses trial scene. the leaden casket, which says “who chooseth me MONEY, MONEY, MONEY Shakespeare then interweaves these stories with an “elopement must give and hazard all he tale” and a “ring story.” Though not essential to the overall plot, the hath.” Precious metals are “Marxist interpretations of the elopement of Jessica and Lorenzo is a principal contributor to Shylock’s not important to him. He play have shown the Christians rage. The ring story, which takes place in Act V, is another example of chooses the casket that warns of Venice to be as obsessed with the heroine’s ability to outwit the men in the play. him that, as in any successful wealth as Shylock. Conversations and loving relationship, one among Salerio, Solanio, Gratiano, GREED VS. GENEROSITY: must give of oneself and risk and Lorenzo in particular reveal The contrast between greed and generosity plays a vital role in The personal loss. Bassanio’s the dehumanizing centrality of Merchant of Venice, and acts as a scale by which we judge the choice involves ‘giving’ commerce, jewelry, gold, and characters in the play. Shylock, as a money-lender, values money for rather than’ getting’ and profit in Christian Venice. Even its own sake. He sees it as the means and the end of his desires, and he is therefore victorious in the first scene of the play, Shakespeare paints a portrait of a man obsessed with his possessions. in winning Portia’s hand in it is possible to read Antonio’s When relating to others, Shylock treats them as items that he either marriage. depressive state as an aspect does or will possess. When his daughter elopes and takes his money, of his overwhelmingly material he cannot distinguish which loss is more painful, crying, “My daughter! existence.”
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