Merchant of Venice Study Guide - The New American Shakespeare ...

Merchant Study Guide page 3troubled deeply and has sent to a wiseDoctor of Law named Bellario, for advice.In walk Portia and Nerissa, disguised as ayoung male lawyer “Balthazar” and hisclerk. Balthazar asks Shylock to be mercifuland explains that “Though Justice be thyplea, consider this, That in the course ofJustice, none of us should see salvation.”Shylock wants justice, not the repayment ofthe loan, and since “there is no power inVenice can alter a decree established” he, bylaw, can have his pound of flesh. AsShylock prepares to take his lawful due,Balthazar warns him that by law he can takeno more or less that an exact pound of flesh,nor can he have any blood. If he takesanything else, his lands and goods areconfiscate. Shylock cannot do this and asksfor his principle, instead. Balthazar will notagree to this, since he already refused it oncein open court. In fact, he will not letShylock go at all, until all his goods, landsand money are turned over to Antonio andthe Duke, partly in trust for his new son-inlawand daughter. Before Shylock canleave, Antonio is allowed to decree twothings: the return of half his goods, but also,that Shylock give up his religion and convertto Christianity. Mercy, indeed.Portia, still disguised as the lawyer, asksBassanio for the ring she had given her newhusband, as payment for a job well done. Atfirst he refuses to hand it over but Antonioeventually changes his mind. Wheneveryone gets back to Belmont, much gaietyensues as Portia and Nerissa tease theirseemingly faithless husbands. All isrevealed in the end and everyone happilyreconciles.Before a Performance, ThinkAbout This:What is mercy in this play?Who is capable of mercy? Who deservesmercy? What do you believe?Why has Shylock remained such anindelible character for us?What do you think are Shylock’s strongpoints? What are his weaknesses? Arethese character traits that you recognize?What has made him this way?Base lead versus tawnie gold:What does Bassanio’s speech in Act III,scene ii mean to you? It starts with “So maythe outward shows be least themselves….”Which casket would you choose?Theatergoing Then and Now:Find out what the typical Elizabethanaudience was like and imagine what aperformance might have been like backthen. What is different about theatre goingnowadays? The answers may surprise you!Clue: What would this play be like to watchoutside, in the light of day?During a Performance, Watch AndListen For This:Notice what we hear about Shylock beforehis first entrance. Notice what others sayabout him after his first entrance. What dowe hear about Antonio from other people,especially Bassanio? What does Antoniodo- what does he say about other people?Whose actions speak louder than words andwhose words speak louder than theiractions?After a Performance, Talk AboutThis:Religion and the Elizabethan Age:Do some research and discover for yourselfwhat the Elizabethan experience of religionmight have been.Which religion was “Elizabethan” anyway?How many people of Jewish faith lived inEngland during the period that Shakespearewrote The Merchant of Venice?How does your own concept of otherpeoples and other faiths reflect or conflictwith an Elizabethan understanding of thosepeople or that faith?