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TheMerchantofVeniceStructure,Characters,ThemesThreeplots•Casketplot•(ActI–III)ResolvedwithmarriageofPortiaandBassanio•PoundofFleshplot•(ActI–IV)ResolvedwithCourtscene•Ringplot•(ActIII–V)ResolvedwithreconciliationscenebetweenPortiaandBassanio,NerissaandGratianoConnectionbetweenplots•Casketplot•BassanioneedsmoneytowooPortia,thusborrowsmoneyfromAntoniowhoneedtoborrowfromShylock,thePoundofFleshplot•BassaniofulfillsPortia’sfather’srequirementsbutsayscontractisn’tfinal“untilratifiedbyyou.”Portiahasfulfilleddutytofatherbymarrying,butRingplotallowsher“out.”•RingplottestswhetherBassaniowasreallywillingtoriskandhazardallhehadforlove.Connectionbetweenplots•PoundofFleshplot•AntonioborrowsmoneyfromShylocksoBassaniocanwooPortia,theCasketplot•PortiaalsoisthejusticewhopronouncessentenceonShylockforhisattemptonAntonio’slife,thePoundofFleshplot•Portia’sroleinsavingAntonioandtheirdesiretoshowtheirgratitudeallowshertheopportunitytorequesttheringfromBassanioaspayment,affectingtheRingplotConnectionbetweenplots•Ringplot•ThegiftoftheringbyPortiatoBassanioculminatestheCasketplotasasymbolfortheirloveandmarriage•Portia’sroleinrescuingAntonioallowshertorequesttheringaspaymentfromBassanio,connectingittothePoundofFleshplot•BygivingtheringtoAntoniotogivetoBassanio,Portiaoverridesthemalebondandmakeshimanadvocatefortheirmarriageasmostimportantbond.PotentialconflictforBassanio’sloveAntonioPortiaBassanioPotentialconflictBassanio’sbonds•Father/Son-likeand/orfriendshiprelationshipwithAntonio•FatherofPortia/SuitorbondthroughCasketchoice•Husband/WifebondwithPortia•Lovebond/promisethroughacceptanceofring•GratitudebondwithBallerio(PortiaindisguiseasDoctorofLaw)Couples•Portia/Bassanio•Realisticcouple–notjustbondwithfather,mustincludelove(excessivefeelingbuttryingtomaintaingoldenmean)•Nerissa/Gratiano•Sexualcouple–bet“stakedown”andprotectingNerissa’s“ring”•Jessica/Lorenzo•RomanticCouple–referencestofamousloversRecognizablecharacters•Heroine–Portia,disguisesherselfasman;teachesmenaboutlove(women’sconcern),alsoaboutlaw(men’sconcern)•Clown–LancelotGobbo,playstrickonfather•Villain–Shylock,personalgrudge,notMachiavellianWhowasMerchantofVenice?•Antonio•Hasmanyshipsinvariouspartsoftheworld•Shylock•Lendsoutmoneyforprofit•Bassanio•Gentleman,buttheonewhoendsupwiththe“GoldenFleece”:Portia,herfather’sfortuneShylock’sconversiontoChristianity•FromChristians’pointofview•Shylockcannotbe“saved”withoutChrist•Theyaredoinghimafavor•FromJews’pointofview•Shylockiscondemnedtobewithoutsociety•HecannotassociatewithotherJews•TheChristianswon’treallyaccepthim•TheyareimposingapenaltyworsethanlosingallhismoneyThemes•Choices–greedvs.willingnesstogive,risk•Appearancevs.Reality•Bonds,covenants•Risk,venturing(Antonio,Bassanio,suitors)•Boredom,ennui•Justice,mercy•TruenatureofLoveBasicInformation•Commentaryaboutracialandreligiousinteractions•ThemerchantisAntoniobutmanythinkthatitisShylock•Anti-Semiticvs.Semitism•AudiencesbothhateandpityShylock•WhyVenice:–Renownedforwealthandculturaldiversity–Cosmopolitanmarket–Religioustoleranceorlackthereof–True“sliceoflife”setting•TheJew:–Businesspeoplewhofindlawsnecessary–Moneyandpossessionsareevidenceofasuccessfullife–Contractsarejustbusinessnomatterwhatisinvolved–Oneeitherfulfillsthecontractordoesn’t,thereasonsareofnomatter