The Merchant of veniceThe Merchant of venice

A Comedy in Five ActsA Comedy in Five Acts by William Shakespeareby William Shakespeare

What is What is ANTISEMITISM?ANTISEMITISM?

Hatred of the JewsHatred of the Jews

When did anti-Semitism When did anti-Semitism begin?begin?

Why did Why did people hate people hate the Jews?the Jews?

Myth 1:Myth 1: Blood LibelBlood Libel

Myth 2:Myth 2: Jews caused the Jews caused the plagueplague

Jewish Ghetto in VeniceJewish Ghetto in Venice

Jews were allowed out of the ghetto during the day to practice their three legal

professions: textile trading, medicine, and money

lending.

Jews were required to wear certain Jews were required to wear certain identifying items of clothing.identifying items of clothing.

A ducat, the Italian currency, was worth about 7 dollars.

Usury: the lending of money with interest.

Usury was forbidden by the Christian church; therefore,the Jews were often the money lenders. The Jews were

taxed very heavily, so they charged high interest.

What was the name of Shakespeare’ s Theater?

The Globe

Theater

TThe New Globe Theater in London was patterned after the original.

Here is the stage of the new Globe.Here is the stage of the new Globe.

Three tiers of seats rest under an open sky.Three tiers of seats rest under an open sky.

Who played the female roles in Shakespeare’s plays?

Elizabethan Comedy:

Focuses on the failings and bad

habits of mankind. Makes fun of

these weaknesses to promote social

change.

Shakespeare’s Comic DevicesShakespeare’s Comic Devices

1. Happy ending1. Happy ending2. Mistaken identity2. Mistaken identity3. Women are smarter than men3. Women are smarter than men4. Villain is punished in the end4. Villain is punished in the end

5. Stock Characters (stereotypes)5. Stock Characters (stereotypes)

a. Clown (physical humor)(Lancelot Gobbo)

b. Talks all the time(Gratiano)

Stock Characters, continued . . .Stock Characters, continued . . .

C. Jewish Characters:C. Jewish Characters:1. Stingy, complaining old man1. Stingy, complaining old man

(Shylock)(Shylock)2. Young woman coverts to Christianity2. Young woman coverts to Christianity

(Jessica)(Jessica)

Depending on where it is performed, The Merchant of Venice can be a very

anti-Semitic play. It was Hitler’s favorite Shakespearean play!

Why would Shakespeare set his comedy Why would Shakespeare set his comedy in Venice?in Venice?

Venice, the center of the renaissance, was Venice, the center of the renaissance, was called the jewel box of Europe.called the jewel box of Europe.

The carnival in Venice lasted four months of every year.The carnival in Venice lasted four months of every year.

The Rialto Bridge was considered The Rialto Bridge was considered the “Wall Street” of Venice.the “Wall Street” of Venice.

The Merchant of VeniceThe Merchant of VeniceThemes of the PlayThemes of the Play

Appearances can be deceiving.Appearances can be deceiving.

Revenge is always destructive.Revenge is always destructive.

Portia, Shakespeare’s first great woman Portia, Shakespeare’s first great woman character, lived in a castle in the character, lived in a castle in the

imaginary kingdom of Belmont, on the imaginary kingdom of Belmont, on the Mediterranean Sea.Mediterranean Sea.

Portia’s father’s Portia’s father’s

will stated that will stated that her suitor must her suitor must choose the choose the casket (box) casket (box) which which contained her contained her picture.picture.

The Gold Casket Inscription

“Who chooseth meshall gain

what many mendesire.”

The Silver Casket Inscription

“Who chooseth me

shall getas much

as he deserves.”

The Lead Casket Inscription

“Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.”