The Shakespeare Club
Thoughts and Notes:- The Merchant of Venice; perhaps Shakespeare's most non-PC play.
Themes
1. Jewry and usury.
2. Race.
3. Mocking infirmity.
4. Greed.
But it contains some of the most sublime poetry and many well known speeches
Starting from:
Act I Scene 1 Salerio: “My wind cooling my broth....”
Gratiano: “Let me play the fool;....”
Bassanio: “In my schooldays....”
Act I Scene 3 Shylock: “How like a fawning publican....”
“No, not take interest....”
“Signor Antonio, many a time and oft....”
Act II Scene 1 Morocco: “Mislike me not for my complexion....”
“Even for that I thank you.”
Act II Scene 6 Gratiano: “That ever holds. Who riseth....”
Act II Scene 8 Salario: “A kinder gentleman treads....”
Act III Scene 1 Shylock: “To bait fish withal.” (prose)
Act III Scene 2 Portia: “I pray you tarry, pause a day....”
Portia: “Let music sound while....”
Bassanio: “So may the outward shows....”
Portia: “You see me Lord Bassanio....”
Act IV Scene 1 Antonio: “I pray you think you question....”
“ I am a tainted wether of the....”
Portia: “The quality of mercy is not....”
Antonio: “But little. I am armed and....”
Act V Lorenzo and “The moon shines...” up to “...and he forgave it Jessica: her.”
Lorenzo: “How sweet the moonlight sleeps....”
“The reason is our spirits are....”
Portia and “That light we see is burning....” up to “....and
Nerissa would not be awaked.”
The characters of the characters have been discussed since Restoration times. Different productions have slanted the play very much (too much) one way, or other. End of Act IV Scene 1 and Scene 2 seem rather tacked on to the main story to give us Act V with a “happy” ending.
About 80% poetry to 20% prose – high poetry for a “comedy”.
