Shakespeare Research Assignment

PortiaMerchant Of Venice

Part A

Establishing the background

Merchant Of Venice

• Merchant of Venice is a romantic comedy.• Set in Venice, Italy• Set in late 16th century

Plot Synopsis

• Merchant of Venice is a romantic comedy, about two friends who get them selves into money trouble. They rely on others to bail them out of this situation.

Which of the 6 forms of conflict are in the Merchant of Venice.

• Man to Man ( Shylock to Antonio ). When Shylock faces of with Antonio in court.

• Man to Self ( Shylock ). When he discovers that he has been defeated in court by Portia ( disguised as Balthazar the law clerk ).

Who is Portia

She is a rich, beautiful, and intelligent heirness.She is bound by the lottery set fourth in her fathers will, which gives potential suitors the chance to choose between three caskets, containing gold, silver and lead. If one of them chooses the correct casket (containing lead), they win Portia’s hand in marriage. But she favours Bassanio

Portia is…..

Portia is a secondary character, even though she plays a rather big role in getting Antonio free. She has her own sub-plot of the three caskets.

Main source of Conflict

The main source of conflict is Man to Man. It involves Shylock and Antonio, when Shylock takes Antonio to court, and demands ‘a pound of flesh’ from him, due to him not being able to repay the debt.

Outline of the structure of Merchant of Venice.

BeginningExposition: Bassanio asks his good friend Antonio ( a wealthy Merchant ) for 3000 ducats to subsidies his expenditure as a suitor of Portia. Antonio agrees, but since he is cash poor he promises to cover a bond if he can find lender. He turns to Shylock the Jewish money lender an he signs Antonio as the guarantor of the loan.

Exciting Force: When Antonio discovers that he is unable to pay off the loan to Shylock, due too his ships being lost at sea.

Outline of the structure of Merchant of Venice.

MiddleConflict/Rising action: When Shylock jumps at the opportunity to be able to take the ‘pound of flesh’ the Antonio now owes him.

Turning Point: When Shylock takes Antonio to court and Portia dresses up as a lawyer, and gives her famous ‘mercy’ speech.

Outline of the structure of Merchant of Venice.

MiddleCatastrophe/Falling action: When Portia digs Shylock into hole so big, he can not get out. She does this by pointing out the flaws in the contract. One example is when she says “ if the scale do turn, but in the estimation of a hair, thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate”. She is referring to the ‘ pound of flesh ‘ that shylock wants from Antonio.

Outline of the structure of Merchant of Venice.

EndResolution: Shylock, accepts defeat and then as a punishment the judge forces him to turn to Christianity. Then, the judge as well as Antonio, grant Jessica ( Shylock’s daughter ) and her husband, Lorenzo, Shylock’s wealth and estate.Comic/Dramatic Relief: When Portia admits to Bassanio that she tricked him into handing over his wedding ring to save Antonio to ‘ The lawyer’ ( Portia dressed up ). This proves to Portia that his loyalties lie with Antonio, not with her, so she ends their marriage.

Part B

Exploring the Character

What relationships does Portia have with other characters?

Portia had a very close relationship with Bassanio, to the were the two get married. They wanted their relationship to last, so they promised each other that if they were to part with their wedding ring, they should also part their love.

What motivations drive your character?

Portia’s husband, Bassanio’s, best friend,Antonio finds himself in strife. When Shylock takes Antonio to court and demands a pound of flesh.So with Bassanio being very close with him, Portia feels that she can at the least try and help Antonio. This is when Portia gives her famous ‘ mercy’ speech.

How do they behave towards others?

Portia is an unselfish and generous person.Her use of money reflects in Bassanio’s belief, that money is to be used only in the sense of helping loved ones. She also shows her unselfishness when she helps Antonio escape his punishment.

How do they change in the play?

Portia wanting Bassanio desperatly, is delighted when he chooses the lead casket to win her hand in marriage. When they get married, they make a promise to each other, if they were to part with their wedding ring, then they would have to part their love. So when Portia saves Antonio’s life in court, she asks Bassanio ( who is oblivious to Portia being in disguise ) for his wedding ring, that he had promised never to part with. So she changes from being on cloud nine with being with Bassanio, to where she questions his love for her.

The Three Caskets.

In Portia’s father’s will it said each of her suitors must choose correctly from one of three caskets. The three caskets contained Gold, Silver and Lead, if they choose the right casket ( Lead ) they get Portia. They also had quotes on them. The Prince of Morocco chooses the Gold casket interpreting its slogan "Who chooseth me will get what many men desire" referring to Portia. The second suitor, the conceited Prince of Arragon, chooses the silver casket, which proclaims "Who chooseth me will get what he deserves", imagining himself to be full of merit.

The Three Caskets

Both suitors leave empty-handed, having rejected the lead casket because of the unworthiness, and the uninviting nature of its slogan: "Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath." The last suitor is Bassanio, who Portia desperately wants to succeed. After much pondering he falls on the Lead casket, winning Portia’s hand.

Bibliography

http://www.wikipedia.org/Learnt: Plot

http://www.shmoop.com/Learnt: Character Info

http://www.sparknotes.com/Learnt: Character Info

http://www.enotes.com/Learnt: Quotes

The Essential Shakespeare SeriesEditor: Tania Roxborogh

Learnt: Plot, Quotes

The Shakespeare LibraryAuthors: Wendy Greenhill, Paul Wignall

Learnt: Character Info