The Merchant of Venice

1. Themes

1.1. 1. Prejudice and hatred is cyclical and difficult to escape.

1.1.1. "Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last; you spurn'd me such a day; another time you call'd me a dog; and for these courtesies i'll lend you thus much moneys?"

1.1.2. Quote 2

1.1.2.1. "If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. The villany you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction."

1.1.3. Quote 3

1.1.3.1. He tells me flatly there is no mercy for me in heaven, because I am a Jew's daughter; and he says, you are no good member of the commonwealth, for in converting Jews to Christians you raise the price of pork.

1.2. 2. Mercy is a necessary quality and should be freely given.

1.2.1. Quote 1

1.2.1.1. The quality of mercy is not strain'd, It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest; It blesseth him that gives and him that takes: 'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes The throned monarch better than his crown; His sceptre shows the force of temporal power, The attribute to awe and majesty,

1.2.2. Quote 2

1.2.2.1. 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 whisp'ring humbleness, Say this: "Fair sir, you spet on me on Wednesday last; You spurned me such a day; another time You call'd me 'dog'; and for these courtesies I'll lend you thus much moneys"?

1.2.3. Quote 3

1.2.3.1. But mercy is above this sceptered sway. It is enthroned in the hearts of kings; It is an attribute to God Himself; And earthly power doth then show likest God's When mercy seasons justice.

1.3. 3. It is difficult to emphasize love and loyalty over personal gain.

1.3.1. Quote 1

1.3.1.1. To you, Antonio, I owe the most in money and in love, And from your love I have a warranty To unburden all my plots and purposes How to get clear of all the debts I owe.

1.3.2. Quote 2

1.3.2.1. "My daughter, O my ducats, O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter,"

1.3.3. Quote 3

1.3.3.1. I hate him for he is a Christian; But more for that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis, and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice.

2. Acts

2.1. 1.

2.1.1. Antonio talks with his fellow businessmen about why he is sad

2.1.2. Portia dislikes that she has to marry someone that someone else chose. She dislikes all of her suitors

2.1.3. Shylock and Antonio make a deal, lots of tension is passed between both of them

2.1.4. We learn Antonio has been mean to Shylock in the past, and Shylock does not really like Antonio

2.2. 2.

2.2.1. Lancelot becomes Bassanio's servant after leaving mShylock

2.2.2. Lorenzo plans his escape with Jessica, and they steal things from Shylock. They then disguise themselves and escape.

2.2.3. The Prince of Morocco picks from one of the caskets to try to suit Portia. He chooses the gold casket, and was wrong.

2.2.4. The Prince of Arragon picks from another one of the caskets to try and suit Portia. He chooses the silver and is also wrong.

2.2.5. Nerissa tells Portia that Bassanio has arrived to try and suit Portia as well.

2.3. 3.

2.3.1. We receive news about Jessica from Salario and Salarino. Then, the two tease Shylock for being a jew, and he states why he thinks he should be treated equally. He then makes his point for justifying revenge.

2.3.2. Bassanio chooses a casket to try to suit Portia. He chooses the lead casket, and is correct. He then receives a ring, which he must under no circumstance lose. If he does this, he will be married to Portia.

2.3.3. Portia talks with Launcelot and Jessica, and allows them to marry. She then talks to Nerrisa about them getting wed.

2.3.4. Lorenzo and Launcelot show slight anger toward each other. Launcelot talks with Jessica about becoming a christian.

2.4. 4.

2.4.1. Antonio is brought into the court room and is about to have to have a pound of flesh cut off from him.

2.4.2. The Duke shares his opinion on the matter, showing that he disagrees with Shylock, but there is nothing he can do.

2.4.3. Portia enters in a disguise as a man and talks to Shylock. She acts like she supports him, then gives a speech about why Shylock should give mercy. Shylock denies.

2.4.4. Portia tricks Shylock and points out laws. She explians how Shylock can only cut off a pound of flesh, and no blood or anything other than flesh. By law, if he takes any blood (etc.) he must be killed and he will lose his money.

2.4.5. Portia and Nerissa trick Bassanio in giving away his ring, which means that Portia no longer has to merry Bassanio, because he lost the ring he was supposed to keep.

2.5. 5.

2.5.1. Jessica and lorenzo meet Portia and Nerissa, asfter launcelot told them to meet his master

2.5.2. Jessica and Lorenzo talk about heir love

2.5.3. Portia and Nerrissa forgive Bassanio and Gratiano and give them new righs to keep track of

3. Characters

3.1. Character Names

3.1.1. Antonio

3.1.2. Salarino

3.1.3. Salanio

3.1.4. Bassiano

3.1.5. Lorenzo

3.1.6. Gratiano

3.1.7. Portia

3.1.8. Nerissa

3.1.9. Shylock

3.1.10. Duke

3.1.11. Lorenzo

3.1.12. Tubal

3.1.13. The Princes

3.1.14. Lancelot

3.1.15. Leonardo

3.1.16. Servants

3.1.17. Jessica

4. Vocabulary

4.1. Spurn'd

4.1.1. Reject with disdain or contempt; Reject

4.2. Notary

4.2.1. Witness

4.3. Hie

4.3.1. Go quickly; go

4.4. Livery

4.4.1. A uniform worn by a servant; uniform

4.5. Vailent

4.5.1. Possessing

4.6. Tenour

4.6.1. The subject of a metaphor

4.7. Bleat

4.7.1. To make a wavering cry; cry

4.8. Gaping

4.8.1. Wide open

4.9. Forfeiture

4.9.1. Losing or giving up something; sacrificing

4.10. Ducats

4.10.1. Gold coin currency in Europe; money

4.11. ague

4.11.1. An illness with fever and shivering; sickness

4.12. Edifice

4.12.1. A large building; buidling

4.13. Grandsire

4.13.1. A term for grandfather; grandfather

4.14. Conceit

4.14.1. Excessive pride in oneself; confident

4.15. Gudgeon

4.15.1. A small European freshwater fish; fish

4.16. Continuance

4.16.1. Remaining in operation; continuing

4.17. Uttermost

4.17.1. Most extreme

4.18. Presages

4.18.1. A sign that something bad will happen

4.19. Superfluity

4.19.1. A excessively large amount of something