The Merchant of Venice

probably written in either 1596 or 1597 by Shakespeare . During these years, British social contradictions gradually sharpen up which result in his deep thinking of his humanism and British reality, at that time, the oppression that Jews were suffering in British was more serious than in any other countries in Europe. Jews at that time lived a difficult life. They were suppres sed seriously, therefore they have to make living by lending out money at an exorbitant rate of interest.
The question of whether or not Shakespeare endorses the antiSemitism(反犹太主义) of the Christian characters in the play has been much debated.
The Plot
First
Theme---praise of love, friendship
the early commercial capitalism the contradiction between the bourgeoisie and the usurer
Shylock’s cries for a pound of flesh have made him one of literature’s most memorable villains(恶棍), but many readers and playgoers have found him a compelling and sympathetic figure.
Third
A pound of meat from Antonio
11
Part plot
of
the
Content
(内容）
（故事情节各 构成部分）
Background
（背景）
Problem
Antonio borrow 3,000 ducats from Shylock. If the debt isnot repaid on time, Antonio will pay one pound of his flesh. Antonio is unable to pay the debt because his ships are lost. Shylock demands his pound of flesh. The duke tells Shylock to have mercy on Antonio. So does Portia. Bassanio promises to pay twice even ten times the money Antonio has borrowed,but Shylock insists on having his pound of flesh.
Antonio’s debt,Shylock was inconsistent and unmoved,and stone-hearted insisted to get Antonio’s a pound of flesh in his chest, and was intended to cut it on the spot. Shylock’s crazy revenge reflected his ruthlessness and greed ,and his such charactors vengeful(复仇心重的） were expressed by Shakespeare in the comedy totally.
smart wise kind merciful decisive brave
Antonio
a middle-aged bachelor (单身汉）
merchant by trade who has his financial interests tied up in overseas shipments
Second
Agreement A pound of meat from Antonio
Gold
Silver
Choose it
Lead
Get marriortia
Get married
Nerissa
Gantiano
10
Agreement
He couldn’t return the money.
crafty(狡诈的 )


Tragic character 悲剧人物
After careful study of the Merchant of Venice,you can find that Shylock was undoubtly ,totally a tragic character.
Team Member:
成梦婷 张颖 周信康 邱淑琴
The Merchant of Venice
-a comedy with a great satire
Shakespeare’s most controversial play and one of the most wonderful masterpieces of describing misers (守财奴)in the literature.
Analysis of Main Characters in The Merchant of Venice
Main Characters:
01 02
Shylock 输入标题
Portia
Antonio 输入标题
03 04
Bassanio
Shylock:
"Villan " 恶棍
He is the person who enrich himself at other’s expense,and is just a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is egadged in usury,seeking exorbitant profits.He has no compassion for the poor,and in the bottom of his heart, money is supreme.





Jew-----under the racial discrimination and oppression 种族歧视及压迫
Portia:
Heroic character 英雄人物
Portia is commonly considered one of Shakespeare's greatest women, a noble and heroic character. At the beginning of the play, however, we do not see Portia’s potential for initiative and resourcefulness, This open appearance, however, proves to be a revealing introduction to Portia, who emerges as that rarest of combinations--a free spirit who abides rigidly by rules. Also, in her defeat of Shylock, she prevails by applying a more rigid standard than Shylock, agreeing that he can get a pound of flesh, but adding that it does not to allow for any loss of blood. Anybody can break the rules, but Portia’s effectiveness comes from her ability to make the law work for her. Being a wealth young girl, she is beautiful, gentle and tender, and full of stratagems. Her mind is equipped by humanism.
And what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer, as a Christian is? …If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge. Shylock was a Jew who beared the discrimination in Christian society. Under all sorts of unfair treatment, Shylock devoloped the abnormal personality. His desire of revenge almost couldn't separate with his shameful feeling. In another aspect, he also deserved our sympathy ,and he was just in racial oppression .And standing in the other side, Shylock was not resentful, hateful. the product of the society ,which made him a selfish ,indifference, greed person.