Tammy’s Reviews > The Merchant of Venice > Status Update

He compares himself to Hercules in trying to use his scimitar to do brave deeds to win her but acknowledges that relying on forturne is the only way. She warns him that he cannot talk about marriage once he makes his choice if he loses. It would be interesting if he picks gold because on the outside he is all gold but he’s also vain and pompous so the inside would be death. Morocco might be the gold casket! WOW

AII SI The Prince of Morocco meets with Portia and Nerissa. He is stuck up and compares himself to Phoebus, Apollo, the sun god. I wonder if he will pick gold because of his connection to the sun. He refers to the sunny land where he lives and the cold sunless land where she lives. He talks about complexion and hue (just as she did earlier) and I wonder if Shakespeare is cautioning about inner versus outer.

Antiono has complete confidence that he will have three times three the value of the bond (27,000 ducats) in three months. He calls the offer kindness. After Shylock leaves, Antonio takes Shylock’s offer as kindness but Bassanio is suspicious. I wonder how the play would change had Antonio truly reconciled. However, then there would be no play. LOL

Antonio has called him names (including dog) and spit on Shylock’s wool clothing and beard and Shylock has born it patiently. Shylock asks if this now voids Antonio’s spit and name-calling. He asks if a dog can lead money. Should he grovel while lending Antonio money. This could be acted two ways: genuine or fake. He is full of hatred but would he forgive if Antonio took the next step in reconciliation.

Shylock uses this as an opportunity to teach Antonio that what Jacob did with the ewes and rams is an indirect form of interest. His point is that thrift is a blessing if theft was not involved. Antonio says that blessings are in the hands of heaven and he does not think gold and silver can multiply like sheep. Before calculating the interest, he reminds Antonio of how he’s been treated by Antonio.

His words are measured but his asides are not. He says Antonio is a fawning publican. He hates him for two main reasons: Antonio lends money for free, cutting into Shylock’s business, and Antonio rails (complains violently) at him in front of others for charging interest and for being a Jew. We can see why Shylock hates him in kind. Then Shylock asks Antonio why he is borrowing because it’s against his principles.

Act I introduces the three key players in three acts: Antonio, Portia, and Shylock. The first thing Shylock says three thousand ducats, plus it’s in three months! Shylock says Antonio is good (sufficient) while Bassanio assumes it means good (ie, versus evil). Here is third example of hazard: having all the ships at sea. Shylock refuses to dine with Bassanio and Antonio because he implies he is a Jew.

Nerissa brings up a 7th and that is Bassanio. I love that! However, she is rejecting everyone from another land and accepting one most like her land (technically Italy was not united in this time). She is looking at exteriors and some are odd. She does know Bassanio much better. Maybe knowing him prevents her from seeing beyond the surface of others. She outright rejects Morocco for his complexion. Superficial.

The right man will know how to read the clues and pick the right casket. It’s like passing a test of wisdom. It’s all about the outer versus the inner of the casket pointing to the outer versus the inner of the soul. She even admits that she can teach 20 to do the right thing but can’t follow her own advice. She can teach the letter but cannot follow the spirit. She mocks 6 suitors (for good reason).

Portia (golden curls) is the golden casket. She like Antonio has melancholy but hers is due to her father’s casket situation. She reminds me of Elizabeth for finding it fun to mock her suitors. She does not want to follow the will of her dead father but I can’t help but wonder if it is like US not wanting to follow the will of our father in Heaven. Nerissa says to trust him because he is virtuous.