Lorenzo. With this film, Weber became the first woman to direct a full-length feature film in America. The climax of the play is set in the court of the Duke of Venice. bootless. Are not with me esteemed above thy life; (Auden sees the theme of usury in the play as a comment on human relations in a mercantile society. [28], Kean and Irving presented a Shylock justified in wanting his revenge; Adler's Shylock evolved over the years he played the role, first as a stock Shakespearean villain, then as a man whose better nature was overcome by a desire for revenge, and finally as a man who operated not from revenge but from pride. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan, so that he can pursue the wealthy Portia, who lives in Belmont. Similarly, it is possible that Shakespeare meant Shylock's forced conversion to Christianity to be a "happy ending" for the character, as, to a Christian audience, it saves his soul and allows him to enter Heaven. (Later, Thomas Heyes' son and heir Laurence Heyes asked for and was granted a confirmation of his right to the play, on 8 July 1619.) The Merchant of Venice PDF A full version of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice text NoSweatShakespeare.com Making Shakespeare easy and accessible . Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice. Lorenzo (Merchant of Venice) Jessica (Merchant of Venice) Drabble Collection; Fluff; Hurt/Comfort; Summary. He identifies himself as Balthazar, a young male "doctor of the law", bearing a letter of recommendation to the Duke from the learned lawyer Bellario. The date of composition of The Merchant of Venice is believed to be between 1596 and 1598. For other uses, see. Shylock's fatal flaw is to depend on the law, but "would he not walk out of that courtroom head erect, the very apotheosis of defiant hatred and scorn? [10] The title page of the Quarto indicates that the play was sometimes known as The Jew of Venice in its day, which suggests that it was seen as similar to Marlowe's early 1590s work The Jew of Malta. OPTIONS: … [67], In the 2009 spy comedy OSS 117: Lost in Rio, a speech by the nazi Von Zimmel parodies Shylock's tirade. With slight variations much of English literature up until the 20th century depicts the Jew as "a monied, cruel, lecherous, avaricious outsider tolerated only because of his golden hoard".[15]. The 1600 edition is generally regarded as being accurate and reliable. ICSE Solutions Selina ICSE Solutions ML Aggarwal Solutions. Lorenzo is a friend of Bassanio. This scene is set in Shylock’s house. [4] Elements of the trial scene are also found in The Orator by Alexandre Sylvane, published in translation in 1596. In such a night JESSICA: Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, Stealing her soul with many vows of faith, And ne'er a true one. LORENZO In … Braham Murray directed. Antonio's frustrated devotion is a form of idolatry: the right to live is yielded for the sake of the loved one. Thomas Doggett was Shylock, playing the role comically, perhaps even farcically. Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice broken down into key moments. And featuring Maggie Smith as Portia. Characters (23 total) Click on a name to see all of that character's speeches. This version (which featured a masque) was popular, and was acted for the next forty years. Lorenzo is pals with Antonio and Bassanio. Antonio has already antagonized Shylock through his outspoken antisemitism and because Antonio's habit of lending money without interest forces Shylock to charge lower rates. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of The Merchant of Venice and what it means. LORENZO. ", Even if Shakespeare did not intend the play to be read this way, the fact that it retains its power on stage for audiences who may perceive its central conflicts in radically different terms is an illustration of the subtlety of Shakespeare's characterisations. Part of the BBC's Shakespeare Festival, the play also marked that 500 years had passed since the Venetian Ghetto was instituted. Bassanio does not want Antonio to accept such a risky condition; Antonio is surprised by what he sees as the moneylender's generosity (no "usance" – interest – is asked for), and he signs the contract. The cast included. It is difficult to know whether the sympathetic reading of Shylock is entirely due to changing sensibilities among readers – or whether Shakespeare, a writer who created complex, multi-faceted characters, deliberately intended this reading. If you prick us, do we not bleed? As Balthazar, Portia in a famous speech repeatedly asks Shylock to show mercy, advising him that mercy "is twice blest: It blesseth him that gives and him that takes" (Act IV, Sc 1, Line 185). By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13. The Merchant of Venice (2004) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. speech on humanity. Teach your students to analyze literature like LitCharts does. Michael Radford, director of the 2004 film version starring Al Pacino, explained that, although the film contains a scene where Antonio and Bassanio actually kiss, the friendship between the two is platonic, in line with the prevailing view of male friendship at the time. If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. The forfeit of a merchant's deadly bond after standing surety for a friend's loan was a common tale in England in the late 16th century. Thus, if Shylock were to shed any drop of Antonio's blood, his "lands and goods" would be forfeited under Venetian laws. Shylock. Rowe expressed doubts about this interpretation as early as 1709; Doggett's success in the role meant that later productions would feature the troupe clown as Shylock. The Duke, wishing to save Antonio but unable to nullify a contract, refers the case to a visitor. Portia says the Duke may waive the state's share, but not Antonio's. "Our English Homer; or, the Bacon-Shakespeare Controversy". There was, states Auden, a traditional "association of sodomy with usury", reaching back at least as far as Dante, with which Shakespeare was likely familiar. Why, I am sure, if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh. Antonio has taken this potentially fatal turn because he despairs, not only over the loss of Bassanio in marriage but also because Bassanio cannot requite what Antonio feels for him. Why, revenge. 2.3. Shylock has Antonio brought before court. The same. LitCharts Teacher Editions. The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. The Duke then threatens to recant his pardon of Shylock's life unless he accepts these conditions. Lorenzo Merchant of Venice | Merchant of Venice Characters Lorenzo Character Sketch of Lorenzo in Merchant of Venice Merchant of Venice Workbook Answers LORENZO a minor character in the play a man of culture romantic bent of mind a sincere and devoted lover a dependable person philosophical temperament a good judge of human nature Lorenzo ... Read more Character Sketch of Lorenzo in Merchant … Read Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Act 2, scene 4 for free from the Folger Shakespeare Library! Poet John Donne, who was Dean of St Paul's Cathedral and a contemporary of Shakespeare, gave a sermon in 1624 perpetuating the Blood Libel – the entirely unsubstantiated anti-Semitic lie that Jews ritually murdered Christians to drink their blood and achieve salvation. Caldecott, Henry Stratford (1895). However, Shylock adamantly refuses any compensations and insists on the pound of flesh. LORENZO: In such a night Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew, And with an unthrift love did run from Venice As far as Belmont . In Venice, a merchant named Antonio worries that his ships are overdue. In this film, Henryk Szpilman reads Shylock's "Hath Not a Jew eyes?" Lecture by James Shapiro: "Shakespeare and the Jews". . [12], In a series of articles called Observer, first published in 1785, British playwright Richard Cumberland created a character named Abraham Abrahams, who is quoted as saying, "I verily believe the odious character of Shylock has brought little less persecution upon us, poor scattered sons of Abraham, than the Inquisition itself. One of the reasons for this interpretation is that Shylock's painful status in Venetian society is emphasised. Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary. [68][69], Christopher Moore combines The Merchant of Venice and Othello in his 2014 comic novel The Serpent of Venice, in which he makes Portia (from The Merchant of Venice) and Desdemona (from Othello) sisters. Shortly after Kristallnacht in 1938, The Merchant of Venice was broadcast for propagandistic ends over the German airwaves. Hath not a Jew eyes? It is the basis of the text published in the 1623 First Folio, which adds a number of stage directions, mainly musical cues.[6]. Antonio also asks that "for this favor" Shylock convert to Christianity and bequeath his entire estate to Lorenzo and Jessica. Antonio parts with his gloves without a second thought, but Bassanio gives the ring only after much persuasion from Antonio, as earlier in the play he promised his wife never to lose, sell or give it. The Duke spares Shylock's life and says he may remit the forfeiture. The play is frequently staged today, but is potentially troubling to modern audiences because of its central themes, which can easily appear antisemitic. Overview Synopsis Characters Scenes Full Play Quarto 1 Reviews Documents. [11], Regardless of what Shakespeare's authorial intent may have been, the play has been made use of by antisemites throughout the play's history. The play has inspired many adaptions and several works of fiction. Scene 1. To some critics, Shylock's celebrated "Hath not a Jew eyes?" Those who see the speech as sympathetic point out that Shylock says he learned the desire for revenge from the Christian characters: "If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? About “The Merchant of Venice Act 5 Scene 1” Relaxing at Belmont, Lorenzo and Jessica playfully compare themselves to famous lovers. One of the last shots of the film also brings attention to the fact that, as a convert, Shylock would have been cast out of the Jewish community in Venice, no longer allowed to live in the ghetto. Similar to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, the play occurs in the gaps between scenes of the canonical The Merchant of Venice, with the characters gradually recognizing how conflicts over assimilation and anti-Semitism recur throughout past, present, and future. ), Other interpreters of the play regard Auden's conception of Antonio's sexual desire for Bassanio as questionable. He has a great appreciation of nighttime and a deep love of music, but is not quick-witted enough to keep up with Lancelot’s wordplay. Exeunt. Antonio, says Auden, embodies the words on Portia's leaden casket: "Who chooseth me, must give and hazard all he hath." JESSICA Nay, let me praise you while I have a stomach. A garden. [61], Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List (1993) depicts SS Lieutenant Amon Göth quoting Shylock's "Hath Not a Jew eyes?" Jeremy Irons, in an interview, concurs with the director's view and states that he did not "play Antonio as gay". "[13] Cumberland later wrote a successful play, The Jew (1794), in which his title character, Sheva, is portrayed sympathetically, as both a kindhearted and generous man. [59], David Henry Wilson's play Shylock's Revenge, was first produced at the University of Hamburg in 1989, and follows the events in The Merchant of Venice. Instant downloads of all 1379 LitChart PDFs (including The Merchant of Venice). [55], The rock musical Fire Angel was based on the story of the play, with the scene changed to the Little Italy district of New York. If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions; fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? Venice produces merchants such as Antonio, whereas Belmont produces Lorenzo, a lazy beggar. I feel there has to be a great love between the two characters ... there's great attraction. [23], Arthur Sullivan wrote incidental music for the play in 1871. The great thing about Shakespeare and why he's so difficult to pin down is his ambiguity. [70], Naomi Alderman's The Wolf in the Water is a radio-play first broadcast on BBC Radio 3 in 2016. The play continues the story of Shylock's daughter Jessica, who lives in an anti-semitic Venice and practices her Jewish faith in secret. She cites a law under which Shylock, as a Jew and therefore an "alien", having attempted to take the life of a citizen, has forfeited his property, half to the government and half to Antonio, leaving his life at the mercy of the Duke. They cite as evidence that Shylock's "trial" at the end of the play is a mockery of justice, with Portia acting as a judge when she has no right to do so. Productions of the play followed in Lübeck (1938), Berlin (1940), and elsewhere within the Nazi territory. What's that good for? Scene 5. Venice. The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 3 Summary Workbook Answers The Merchant of Venice Act 2 Scene 3 Summary. Her father left a will stipulating that each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets, made of gold, silver and lead respectively. Lorenzo in The Merchant of Venice: William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice centers around themes of hate, marriage, love, sacrifice, and greed. Also notable is Portia's speech about "the quality of mercy". ", "How do you make Shakespeare work on the radio?". This introduces the sub-plot of Lorenzo- Jessica love story. Having squandered his estate, he needs 3,000 ducats to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. 45 Now, Balthasar, 46 As I have ever found thee honest-true, 47 So let me find thee still. A room in PORTIA’S house. Bassanio, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont. In 1741, Charles Macklin returned to the original text in a very successful production at Drury Lane, paving the way for Edmund Kean seventy years later (see below). A court of justice. In love with Shylock’s daughter Jessica, he helps her run away from her father’s, with the aid of Graziano and Salerio. [54], In both versions of the comic film To Be or Not to Be (1942 and 1983) the character "Greenberg", specified as a Jew in the later version, gives a recitation of the "Hath Not a Jew eyes?" The eligibility for the award is encapsulated by the inscription on the play's lead casket, "Who chooses me must give and hazard all he hath. Tell her the process of Antonio's end, If you tickle us, do we not laugh? The Merchant of Venice Shakespeare homepage | Merchant of Venice | Entire play ACT I SCENE I. Venice. JESSICA 42 I wish your ladyship all heart's content. [66], The Pianist is a 2002 film based on a memoir by Władysław Szpilman. Full text, summaries, illustrations, guides for reading, and more. Whether Bassanio had not once a love. [71][72], Sarah B. Mantell's Everything that Never Happened is a play first produced in 2017 at the Yale School of Drama. One interpretation of the play's structure is that Shakespeare meant to contrast the mercy of the main Christian characters with the Old Testament vengefulness of a Jew, who lacks the religious grace to comprehend mercy. PORTIA 43 I thank you for your wish, and am well pleased 44 To wish it back on you: fare you well Jessica. Here to this devil, to deliver you. The doctor is Portia in disguise, and the law clerk who accompanies her is Nerissa, also disguised as a man. At Venice, Antonio's ships are reported lost at sea, so the merchant cannot repay the bond. To bait fish withal; if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. 30 days of Lorenzo and Jessica. For instance, in the 2004 film adaptation directed by Michael Radford and starring Al Pacino as Shylock, the film begins with text and a montage of how Venetian Jews are cruelly abused by bigoted Christians. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? He flees with her to Genoa, before moving on to Belmont at Salerio’s insistence, to help support Bassanio when the latter finds out about Antonio’s losses. [27] Jacob Adler was the most notable of the early 20th century: Adler played the role in Yiddish-language translation, first in Manhattan's Yiddish Theater District in the Lower East Side, and later on Broadway, where, to great acclaim, he performed the role in Yiddish in an otherwise English-language production. Joseph Fiennes, however, who plays Bassanio, encouraged a homoerotic interpretation and, in fact, surprised Irons with the kiss on set, which was filmed in one take. [7] English Jews had been expelled under Edward I in 1290 and were not permitted to return until 1656 under the rule of Oliver Cromwell. In love with Shylock’s daughter Jessica, he helps her run away from her father’s, with the aid of Graziano and Salerio. Antonio says he is content that the state waive its claim to half Shylock's wealth if he can have his one-half share "in use" until Shylock's death, when the principal would be given to Lorenzo and Jessica. Antonio agrees, but since he is cash-poor – his ships and merchandise are busy at sea to Tripolis, the Indies, Mexico and England – he promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender, so Bassanio turns to the Jewish moneylender Shylock and names Antonio as the loan's guarantor. The play was mentioned by Francis Meres in 1598, so it must have been familiar on the stage by that date. [58] In this retelling, Shylock and Antonio are friends and share a disdain for the crass anti-Semitism of the Christian community's laws. Gratiano is a likeable young man, but he is often flippant, overly talkative, and tactless. This was the first known attempt by a dramatist to reverse the negative stereotype that Shylock personified. I don't think they have slept together but that's for the audience to decide."[20]. [63], The German Belmont Prize was established in 1997,[64] referring to 'Belmont' as "a place of destiny where Portia's intelligence is at home." Exeunt [Jessica and Lorenzo]. There is one allusion to Venus in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. After all the other characters make amends, Antonio learns from Portia that three of his ships were not stranded and have returned safely after all. Jessica is the daughter of Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice (c. 1598).In the play, she elopes with Lorenzo, a penniless Christian, and a chest of her father's money, eventually ending up in Portia and Bassanio's household. "[65], One of the four short stories comprising Alan Isler's The Bacon Fancier (1999) is also told from Shylock's point of view. "Arnold Wesker, 83, Writer of Working-Class Dramas, Dies", "Arnold Wesker: the radical bard of working Britain", "French Spy Spoof Set in Swinging '67 Rio", "The Merchant of Venice: what happened next", "Review: 'Everything That Never Happened' reconsiders 'The Merchant of Venice' through a Jewish perspective", "Everything That Never Happened – Boston Court Pasadena", The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Merchant_of_Venice&oldid=990759431, Articles with incomplete citations from June 2020, Wikipedia articles with SUDOC identifiers, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, Gratiano – friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Nerissa; later the husband of Nerissa, Lorenzo – friend of Antonio and Bassanio; in love with Jessica; later the husband of Jessica, Nerissa – Portia's waiting maid – in love with Gratiano; later the wife of Gratiano; disguises herself as Portia's clerk, Launcelot Gobbo – servant of Shylock; later a servant of Bassanio; son of Old Gobbo, Duke of Venice – authority who presides over the case of Shylock's bond, Salarino and Salanio (also known as Solanio) – friends of Antonio and Bassanio, Salerio – a messenger from Venice; friend of Antonio, Bassanio and others, Magnificoes of Venice, officers of the Court of Justice, gaolers, servants to Portia, and other attendants and Doctor Bellario, cousin of Portia. Belmont. Many modern readers and theatregoers have read the play as a plea for tolerance, noting that Shylock is a sympathetic character. BASSANIO: But life itself, my wife, and all the world He hath disgraced me and hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies – and what's his reason? speech redeems him and even makes him into something of a tragic figure; in the speech, Shylock argues that he is no different from the Christian characters. [24], Jewish actor Jacob Adler and others report that the tradition of playing Shylock sympathetically began in the first half of the 19th century with Edmund Kean,[25] and that previously the role had been played "by a comedian as a repulsive clown or, alternatively, as a monster of unrelieved evil." This page was last edited on 26 November 2020, at 10:00. It was performed in Edinburgh in 1974 and in a revised form at Her Majesty's Theatre, London, in 1977. Another interpretation of Shylock and a vision of how "must he be acted" appears at the conclusion of the autobiography of Alexander Granach, a noted Jewish stage and film actor in Weimar Germany (and later in Hollywood and on Broadway).[30]. Both Antonio and Shylock, agreeing to put Antonio's life at a forfeit, stand outside the normal bounds of society. The play was entered in the Register of the Stationers Company, the method at that time of obtaining copyright for a new play, by James Roberts on 22 July 1598 under the title The Merchant of Venice, otherwise called The Jew of Venice. [21] In 1701, George Granville staged a successful adaptation, titled The Jew of Venice, with Thomas Betterton as Bassanio. May 31, 2020 by Vijay Kushwaha “Class 12 English” “The Merchant of Venice” Introduction UP Board Master for “Class 12 English” “The Merchant of Venice” Introduction are a part of UP Board Master for Class 12 English. Edward Petherbridge as Lorenzo in a 1972 BBC production of The Merchant of Venice, directed by Cedric Messina. The same. ... Lorenzo, Jessica and Salerio arrive from Venice with a letter for Bassanio from Antonio, in which he explains that he is ruined and Shylock is determined to exact his revenge by demanding his pound of flesh according to the bond. [3] In addition, the test of the suitors at Belmont, the merchant's rescue from the "pound of flesh" penalty by his friend's new wife disguised as a lawyer, and her demand for the betrothal ring in payment are all elements present in the 14th-century tale Il Pecorone by Giovanni Fiorentino, which was published in Milan in 1558. Shylock is at first reluctant to grant the loan, citing abuse he has suffered at Antonio's hand. She says that the contract allows Shylock to remove only the flesh, not the blood, of Antonio (see quibble). Fare ye well: We leave you now with better company. More important, however, he's the guy who hits the jackpot when he elopes with Jessica. [53], Ralph Vaughan Williams' choral work Serenade to Music (1938) draws its text from the discussion about music and the music of the spheres in Act V, scene 1. [26], From Kean's time forward, all of the actors who have famously played the role, with the exception of Edwin Booth, who played Shylock as a simple villain, have chosen a sympathetic approach to the character; even Booth's father, Junius Brutus Booth, played the role sympathetically. Merchant of Venice Act 3 Scene 4 Summary. But what should be a happy ending is violated and broken by Antonio and Shylock. There is one other such idolator in the play: Shylock himself. Bassanio approaches his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice, who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out. The play ran about 15 shows from 3–7 September 2018. Scene 2. All's Well That Ends Well Antony & Cleopatra As You Like It Comedy of Errors Coriolanus Cymbeline Double Falsehood Edward 3 Hamlet Henry 4.1 Henry 4.2 Henry 5 Henry 6.1 Henry 6.2 Henry 6.3 Henry 8 Julius Caesar King John King Lear King Richard 2 Love's Labour's Lost Macbeth Measure for Measure Merchant of Venice Merry Wives of Windsor Midsummer Night's Dream Much Ado About Nothing … Whoever picks the right casket wins Portia's hand. [8] In Venice and in some other places, Jews were required to wear a red hat at all times in public to make sure that they were easily identified, and had to live in a ghetto. Enter BASSANIO, LORENZO, and GRATIANO SALANIO Here comes Bassanio, your most noble kinsman, Gratiano and Lorenzo. He finally agrees to lend the sum to Bassanio without interest upon one condition: if Antonio were unable to repay it at the specified date, Shylock may take a pound of Antonio's flesh. In a 1902 interview with Theater magazine, Adler pointed out that Shylock is a wealthy man, "rich enough to forgo the interest on three thousand ducats" and that Antonio is "far from the chivalrous gentleman he is made to appear. The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction. Launcelot comes to take his leave from Shylock, but finds his master’s daughter, Jessica, sitting alone in the house. Act IV. Bassanio and Gratiano leave for Venice, with money from Portia, to save Antonio's life by offering the money to Shylock. The second suitor, the conceited Prince of Aragon, chooses the silver casket, which proclaims, "Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves", as he believes he is full of merit. "Shylock, however unintentionally, did, in fact, hazard all for the sake of destroying the enemy he hated, and Antonio, however unthinkingly he signed the bond, hazarded all to secure the happiness of the man he loved." English society in the Elizabethan and Jacobean era has been described as "judeophobic". He demands his pound of flesh from Antonio. Lorenzo praises Portia for valuing true friendship by sending her husband to Venice for Antonio’s help without any delay. [17] In the trial Shylock represents what Elizabethan Christians believed to be the Jewish desire for "justice", contrasted with their obviously superior Christian value of mercy. One example is the Shakespeare-aficionado Chang in Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991), a Klingon, who quotes Shylock. (IV, i), In his essay "Brothers and Others", published in The Dyer's Hand, W. H. Auden describes Antonio as "a man whose emotional life, though his conduct may be chaste, is concentrated upon a member of his own sex." Setting : Belmont Characters : Lorenzo, Portia, Nerissa. In this play Shylock gets his wealth back and becomes a Jew again.