merchant

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 5

The Merchant of Venice

goals:

By the end of the period you can answer questions about: 

- the characters ( who's who, what are their relations)

- the important themes and motifs in the play

- the language used 

- important quotes; (what, why, where, how? )

real vs fake

How 'real'are the characters in the play? 

Are they 'putting up a show'? 

Bassanio and Antonio

how honest are they?

anti-Semitism

is it all 'in jest'? 

themes in 'Merchant'?

themes

- money and wealth

- love and hate

- friendship and loyalty

- mercy and justice

- revenge

- parent- child relationships

- real vs fake

- religion

-...?

1. Shakespeare places a scene in Belmont against one in Venice. What contrasts does he want us to see in these locations? What are the main concerns/issues of importance in Belmont?

Bassanio contacts Shylock regarding the loan. What are the terms of the loan?

What does it mean for Antonio to be “bound” to a loan?

What does it mean when Shylock says, “Antonio is a good man” (l.12)?

Shylock does a risk analysis of Antonio’s ability to repay the loan in ll.13-26. What are the risks?

Once Antonio enters, Shylock’s aside gives us insight into why he dislikes Antonio. How would his
feelings reflect the political position Jews held in Elizabethan society?

Shylock 

 Signor Antonio, many a time and oft    / In the Rialto you have rated me / About my moneys and my usances.

Still have I borne it with a patient shrug, For sufferance is the badge of all our tribe.

You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine— And all for use of that which is mine own.

Well then, it now appears you need my help.

Go to, then! You come to me and you say,“Shylock, we would have moneys.” You say so!—

You, that did void your rheum upon my beard 

And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur       Over your threshold! Moneys is your suit.

What should I say to you? Should I not say, “Hath a dog money? Is it possible A cur can lend three thousand ducats?” Or

Shall I bend low and in a bondman’s key With bated breath and whispering humbleness, say this: “Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last; You spurned me such a day; another time You called me ’dog’—and for these courtesies I’ll lend you thus much moneys?”

Shylock directly confronts Antonio regarding the way Antonio has treated Shylock in the past. What
wrongs has Antonio committed against Shylock?

Shylock’s love of money is undeniable. Why does Shylock tell the story of Jacob and Laban?

Shylock directly confronts Antonio regarding the way Antonio has treated Shylock in the past. What wrongs has Antonio committed against Shylock?