TheMerchantofVeniceWilliamShakespeareIntroductiontheShakespeare(seeHamlet)Theintroduction&sourceoftheplayTherelationshipbetweencharactersStoryanalysisThemesandMotifsSocialsignificanceTradeofVenice

SituatedontheAdriaticSea,VenicealwaystradedwiththeByzantineEmpireandtheMuslimworldextensively.Bythelatethirteenthcentury,VenicewasthemostprosperouscityinallofEurope.Atthepeakofitspowerandwealth,ithad36,000sailorsoperating3,300ships,dominatingMediterraneancommerce.Duringthistime,Venice'sleadingfamiliesviedwitheachothertobuildthegrandestpalacesandsupporttheworkofthegreatestandmosttalentedartists.TheCityofVeniceTheMerchantofVeniceWrittensometimearound1597WrittenasaromanticcomedysinceitisaboutloveandendshappilyFuses（融合）

manydramaticelements:romanticcourtship（求愛期）,riddling（解開）

lovetests,eloping（私奔）

lovers,comicconfusions,agripping（引人注意的）

courtroomtrial,andaseeminglyharmoniousfinalactAtthecoreoftheplayisShylock,theJewishmoneylender.Heonlyappearsinfiveofthe20scenes,buthispresencedominatestheplay.TheatricalTraditionsofJews

猶太人在戲劇上的傳統(tǒng)體現(xiàn)RootsofShakespeareandramabeginwith

mysteryandmiracleplaysoftheMiddleAges,whichwereperformedbythechurchforalargelyilliterate(文盲)audienceabout

OldandNewTestamentstories.JewswereoftenviewedasresponsibleforChrist’scrucifixion（釘死在十字架上）.Jewsbecametheevilvillains（反派角色）

ofElizabethandrama.Theywereone-dimensional（一元空間）stereotypicalcharacters.TheJewofMalta(馬耳他島的猶太人),

writtenin1589byChristopherMarlowe,isonesuch

work.

MarlowewasShakespeare

greatestrival.TheJewofMaltaTheMerchantofVeniceBothmoney-lendersBothhavedaughterswholeavehomewithfather’smoneyBothdespicable（卑鄙的）charactersBarbarasisavillainwhosteals,cheats,andindulgesinmurderuntilhefinallymeetsagruesomeend,boilinginoil.Shylockispresentedasacomplexman,whoseeveryactioncanbeunderstood,andwhoultimatelyelicitssympathyfromthemodernaudience.JewsinEngland1075inOxford:Jewswerenotconfinedtoghettos（貧民區(qū)）

asmanyoftheirEuropeancounterparts,buttheywerenotallowedtobecitizens.BecauseChristianscouldnotlendmoneywithinterest,manyJews

earnedlucrative（獲利多的）

livingsas

usurers.Intryingtoregaindebtowedtothem,Jewsbecamethetargetofresentment.Late12thCentury:Anti-Semiticsentiment（反猶情緒）

culminatedin（達(dá)到頂峰）

twomassacres,oneatthecoronation（加冕禮）

ofRichardIin1189(30Jewskilled),andtheotherinthecityofYorkin1190(150Jewskilled).Infact,theMagnaCarta（1215年制定的大憲章）,isatestament（實(shí)際證明）

togrowingAnti-Semiticfeelings—twoclauses（法律條款）

statethatifadebtordiesdebtispaid,neitherheirorwidowisresponsibleforpayingit.1275:Jewsforbiddentobemoney-lendersaswellasotheredictsimplemented:taxationofJewsover12yearsoldandwearingbadges（標(biāo)記）

thatidentifiedthemasJews.1290(until1655):

ExpelledfromEnglandJewsinElizabethanSocietyThreatofCivilWarStavedoff（防止…發(fā)生）

threatofrebellionbydealingruthlesslywiththreatoftreason,realorperceivedClimateofreligiousintolerance（不容異說）

againstChristiansJewswhoconverted（更換信仰）

livingquietlyinEnglandduringElizabeth’sreignIn1593RodrigoLopez,theQueen’sphysician,wasaccusedoftryingtopoisonher,allegedlyinleaguewith（與……聯(lián)合）

theKingofSpain.Hewasconvictedoftreasonandhungin1594,andbecausehewasoneoftheaboveJews,yetanotheroutbreakofanti-Jewishsentimentoccurred.Therefore,itisn’tknownwhetherShakespeareevercameintocontactwithanyonewhowasJewish.Shakespeare’sIntent?Giventheanti-JewishclimateinElizabethanEnglandandShakespeare’sportrayalofShylockasanegativestereotype,itwouldbereasonabletoassumeShakespearewasanAnti-Semite.However,therestofthedetailsoftheplaydonotsupportthis.Ithasbeensuggestedthatthe

realevilisthecorruptvaluesystemoftheprincipalChristiancharacters.

Antonio,themerchantofthetitle,istheworstbigot（抱有偏見的人）

Portiaisalsoaracist,butnotonlywereJewsheronlyvictims.InfluenceonAnti-SemitismRegardlessofwhatShakespeare'sownintentionsmayhavebeen,theplayhasbeenmadeuseofbyanti-semitesthroughouttheplay'shistory.Onemustnotethattheendofthetitleinthe1619edition"WiththeExtremeCrueltyofShylocktheJew…"mustaptlydescribehowShylockwasviewedbytheEnglishpublic.TheNazisusedtheusurious（放高利貸的）

Shylockfortheirpropaganda.ShortlyafterKristallnacht

in1938,"TheMerchantofVenice"wasbroadcastforpropagandisticendsovertheGermanairwaves.Productionsoftheplayfollowedin

Luberk(1938),Berlin(1940),andelsewherewithintheNaziTerritory.ThedepictionofJewsinEnglishliteraturethroughoutthecenturiesbearsthecloseimprintofShylock.WithslightvariationsmuchofEnglishliteratureupuntilthe20thcenturydepictstheJewas“amonied,cruel,lecherous（好色）,avaricious（貪婪）

outsidertoleratedonlybecauseofhisgoldenhoard(財(cái)產(chǎn)積蓄)”.

ContrastsPresentedinthePlayJewagainstChristianLoveagainsthateUsuryagainstventuretradingMercyagainstjusticeAppearancesarerarelywhattheseem:goldandsilverproveworthless,identitiesaremistaken,womendisguisedas（偽裝）

mentricktheirhusbands.SubplotsBond

Plot契約情節(jié)CasketPlot首飾盒情節(jié)ElopementPlot私奔情節(jié)RingPlot戒指情節(jié)

Theseplotsareinterwoventhroughouttheplay.ReadingShakespeare:AReviewUnlockingShakespeare'sLanguage,byRandalRobinson

UnusualWordArrangements

Iatethesandwich.

Ithesandwichate.

AtethesandwichI.

AteIthesandwich.

ThesandwichIate.

ThesandwichateI.Robinsonshowsusthatthesefourwordscancreatesixuniquesentenceswhichcarrythesamemeaning.

Locatethesubject,verb,andtheobjectofthesentence.

Noticethattheobjectofthesentenceisoftenplacedatthebeginning(thesandwich)infrontoftheverb(ate)andsubject(I).

Rearrangethewordsintheorderthatmakesthemostsensetoyou(Iatethesandwich).

Poetry

Wespeakinprose(languagewithoutmetrical（韻律的）

structure).

Shakespearewrotebothprose（散文）

andverse（韻文）

(poetry).

Muchofthelanguagediscussionwewillhaveinthisguiderevolvesaround（圍繞著）

Shakespeare'spoetry.

So,itisimportantthatyouunderstandthefollowingterms:

BlankVerse（無韻詩、素體詩）:

unrhymediambicpentameter（不押韻的五音部詩）.參照書本94頁起

（introducedbyChristopherMarlowe）IambicPentameter（抑揚(yáng)格五音部）:

fivebeatsofalternating（交互的）

unstressedandstressedsyllables;tensyllablesperline.Omissions

Again,forthesakeofhispoetry,Shakespeareoftenleftoutletters,syllables,andwholewords.

Theseomissionsreallyaren'tthatmuchdifferentfromthewaywespeaktoday.

Wesay:

"Beentoclassyet?"

"No.

HeardAlbrecht'sgivin'atest."

"Wha'supwi'that?“ Weleaveoutwordsandpartsofwordstospeedupourspeech.

Ifwewerespeakingincompletesentences,wewouldsay:

"Haveyoubeentoclassyet?"

"No,Ihavenotbeentoclass.

IheardthatMrs.Albrechtisgivingatesttoday."

"Whatisupwiththat?"AfewexamplesofShakespeareanomissions/contractionsfollow:

'tis~itis

ope~open

o'er~over

gi'~give

ne'er~never i'~in

e'er~ever

oft~often

a'~he

e'en~evenSourceTherearemanypossibletextsthatShakespearecouldhaveusedinwritingTheMerchantofVenice.HischiefsourcewasataleinanItaliancollectionentitledIlPecoroneorTheSimpleton,writtenin1378byGiovanniFiorentino,andpublishedin1565.Inaddition,ShakespearecouldhaverelieduponaplaycalledTheJew.HealsocouldhaveusedanovelcalledZelauto,writtenbytheEnglishplaywrightAnthonyMundayin1580.Lastly,inapproximately1591,ChristopherMorlowewrotetheJewofMalta.

Longtimeago,amancalledAntoniolivedinVenice.Hewasamerchant,owningmanyshipswhichtradedwithdistantcountries.Andhewasagoodmanaswellasarichone.HisbestfriendBassanio,whofellinlovewithabeautifulandrichladycalledPortia,wasnotawealthyman.Sohedidn’taskPortiatomarryhim.Atlast,heaskedAntoniotolendhimsomemoney,sothathecouldvisitPortiaatBelmont.IthappenedthattimeallAntonio’sshopswereatsea,andhewouldn’thavemoneytolendBassaniountiltheshipsreturned.Sotheydecidedtogotoamoney-lender.

Now,anoldJewnamedShylocklivedinVenice.TheJewsinthosedayswerethemoney-lendersofVenice.HeaskedAntoniotosignabondpromisingthathemightcutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbodyifthemoneywasnotpaid.SoBassaniounwillinglytookthemoney,andsailedawaytoBelmont.

Storyintroduction

Infact,PortialovedBassaniotoo.Sotheyarrangedtogetmarried.However,theirhappinesswassoondisturbedbyabadnews:Antonio’ssixships,fullofriches,hadallbeenwreckedatsea,whichalsomeantAntoniolostallhismoney.ShylockwasextremelyhappyafterheheardthenewsandhewenttocutoffapoundoffleshfromAntonio’sbody.Whenhebegansharpeningthelongknifehehadbroughtwithhim,alawyerentered.Portiawasthelawyer,butnoneofothersknewrecognizedher.Finally,PortiawassocleverthatshesavedAntonio’slife.

TheDukeofVeniceThe

PrinceofMarocco

suitorsofPortiaThePrinceofAragonAntonio,amerchantofVeniceBassanio,hisfriend,suitorofPortiaPortia,theladyofBelmontShylock,ajewofVeniceGratianoSalerio

friendsofAntonioeBassanioSolanioLorenzo,inlovewithJessica Balthasar

Nerissa,Portia’swaiting-woman

Stephano

servantsofPortiaJessica,daughterofShylock

Tubal,ajewofVenice,Shylock’sfriend LauncelotGobbo,servantofShylockLeonardo,servantofBassanio OldGobbo,fatherofLauncelotThecharactersintheplay

ShylockWho

He

isAsuccessfulJewishmoneylenderwhoismuchmalignedoverhisreligionandthepracticeofmoneylenderssuchashimselfofcharginginterest.WhatHedoesandwhathappenstoHe?Helendsthe3000ducatsBassanioneedstocourtPortiaandhopefully,payoffhisdebtstoAntonio.Thereishoweveracatch;ifthedebtisnotrepaid,Antonioassecuritywillforfeitonepoundofhisflesh.ItisShylockwhoisresponsiblefortheimmortallines,"Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?ifyoupoisonus,dowenotdie?andifyouwrongus,shallwenotrevenge?"KeyWords:GlibWorld-wiseMercenaryslickandflimflamRolesofShylockJewUsurerFatherShylockRole１:Usurer/MiserShylockisagreedyandheartlessmoneylenderwholendsmoneytoChristian.Heill-treatshisservantHeholdshisdaughterandducatstightly.Role２:JewThe“Humanity”ofShylockhasbeenprovedmanytimes.Heisnotmerelyamonstertorevile辱罵andcurse;hisviewpointisfullygivenandcan,onoccasion,commandthewholesympathyofanaudience.ThefirstfullopportunityforthisishissarcasticdialoguewithAntonio:shouldIbendlow,andinabondman’skeyWithbatedbreath,andwhisp’ringhumblenessSaythis:“Fairsir,youspetonmeonWednesdaylast,Youspurn’dmeaday,anothertimeYoucall’dmedog:andforthesecourtesiesI’lllendyouthusmuchmoneys”?(Ⅰ.iii.II8-24)20’20’’Role２:JewThenextfullopportunityforShylocktostatehiscaseisthespeech:HathnotaJeweyes?HathnotaJewhands,organs,dimensions,senses,affections,Passions?fedwiththesamefood,hurtwiththesameweapons,Subjectothesamediseases,healedbythesamemeans,

Warmedandcooledbythesamewinterandsummer,as

AChristianis?Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?

Ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?ifyoupoison

Us,dowenotdie?andifyouwrongus,shallwenotrevenge?(III.i.)52’40’’Hereheclaimsahearingonthegroundsthathesuffersasothermen,andwilltakerevengelikethem.Role２:JewSopowerfulhasShylock’sjustificationproved,thatitissometimesforgottenthatavillain壞人

isspeaking.Ithastobepointedoutthat“WhatiscommonlyreceivedasShylock’spleafortoleranceisinrealityhisjustificationofaninhumanpurpose.”ShakespearehascreatedinShylockanoutcastwhosuffersandisdriventoextremityinhissuffering,butnomatterhowharshlytheChristianstreathim,heremainstheJewwhointendstokillhisenemy,aharsh,cynical,andruthlessvillain.Whetherhissufferingforceshimtobeavillain,orwhetherhisvillainycauseshimtosuffer,Shakespeareisnotconcernedtosay.Butthereisajudgment:attheendofthetrialscene,Shylock‘sdesignsaredefeatedandhehastoacceptconversiontoChristianity.Role3:Father/MasterBesidesbeingaJew,heisalsoanoldfatherwithayoungdaughterwhoescapesfromhimtoescapesfromhimtomarrythemansheloves.Shylock'sfunctioninthisplayistobetheobstacle,themanwhostandsinthewayofthelovestories;suchamanisatraditionalfigureinromanticcomedies.Heisalsoacruelmasterwhorefusestoallowhisservant(LauncelotGobbo)beingstuffed,whichresultsinLauncelotGobbo’sbetrayal.Duke

ofVeniceWho

He

isAsjudgeoverthecourtcasebetweenShylockandAntonio,hehasthepowertopardonadeathsentenceWhatHedoesandwhathappenstoHimIntheplay,heisputinadifficultpositionbyShylock;hedoesn'twantAntoniotodie,buttoignoreShylock'slegalrightswouldbetoplaceallofVeniceindisreputeasaplacetoconductbusiness.AntonioWho

He

isAVenetianmerchantofconsiderablewealth,hemakeshismoneyfrom"ventures",ormercantileenterprisesusinghisfleetofships.WhatHedoesandwhathappenstoHimMuchlikedbyhisfriends,Salanio,GratianoandSalarino,AntonioisowedmoneybyhisfriendBassanio.ThetitleofthisplayisconsideredtobederivedfromthischaracteraswellasthecharacterofShylock.Keywords:generousnoblewarm-heartedkinduprightJessicaWhoSheis?ThedaughterofShylockWhatShedoesandwhathappenstoShe?Herelopingwiththe"Christian"Lorenzoandherstealingofhisproperty,angersShylockgreatly.PortiaPortiaWho

She

isTheheroineofthisplay,Portiaisawealthyandbeautifulwomanwhoisdesiredbymany,somuchsothatherfatherhasdevisedaningenioustestallsuitorsmustperformtowinherhandinmarriage

Thisconsistsofasuitorchoosingoneofthreechestsinwhichherportraitlies.What

She

doesandwhat

happens

to

HerFarfrombeingmerelybeautiful,Portiaalsopossessesasharpmind,one,whichsavesAntoniofromdoomatthehandsofShylock.KeyWords:Keen-wittedintelligentbravemercifulwell-educatedQuick-witted,wealthy,andbeautiful,PortiaembodiesthevirtuesthataretypicalofShakespeare’sheroines—itisnosurprisethatsheemergesastheantidote解毒藥

toShylock’smalice惡意.Atthebeginningoftheplay，sheisanearprisoner,feelingherselfabsolutelyboundtofollowherfather’sdyingwishes.Thisopeningappearance,however,provestobearevealingintroductiontoPortia,whoemergesasthatrarestofcombinations—afreespiritwhoabidesrigidlybyrules.InherdefeatofShylockPortiaprevails獲勝

byapplyingamorerigid剛硬的standardthanShylockhimself,agreeingthathiscontractverymuchentitleshimtohispoundofflesh,butaddingthatitdoesnotallowforanylossofblood.Anybodycanbreaktherules,butPortia’seffectivenesscomesfromherabilitytomakethelawworkforher.Portiarejectsthestuffinessthatrigidadherencetothelawmightotherwisesuggest.Inhercourtroomappearance,shevigorouslyappliesthelaw,butstillflouts藐視conventionbyappearingdisguisedasaman.AfterdeprivingBassanioofhisring,shestopsthetrickbeforeitgoestoofar,butstilltakesitfarenoughtoberateBassanioandGratianofortheircallousness無情.AsmanypeoplehavepointedoutthatPortiaseemslikeanextremelymercifulperson,bothinthecourtsceneandinhertreatmentofhersuitors.Portia,oneoftheplay’sleadingcharacters,isfunctioningasameremouthpiece(代言人)intheplay’sclimactic(高潮的)scene.Shespeakswordsofacharacterwhoneverevenappears.NerissaWho

is

ShePortia'swaiting-maid.What

She

doesandwhat

happens

to

herShetendstoPortiaandalsohelpsPortiasaveAntonio'slife.ShelatermarriesBassanio'sfriendGratiano.TheprinceofMoroccoWhatHedoesandwhathappenstoHim?Hechoosesthegoldcasket,whichisthewrongoneandlosestherighttomarryPortia.WhoHeis?He’soneofPortia'ssuitors.LauncelotGobboWhoHeisAclownandservanttoShylock.What

He

doesandwhat

happens

to

HimHeaidsintheescapeofJessicafromShylockandworksforBassanio.TheprinceofArragonWho

He

isAsoneofPortia'ssuitors.What

He

doesandwhat

happens

to

HeThissuitoralsofailstowinthefairPortia'shandinmarriagewhenheincorrectlychoosesthesilvercasket.FAMOUSQUOTES"Ifyouprickus,dowenotbleed?ifyoutickleus,dowenotlaugh?ifyoupoisonus,dowenotdie?andifyouwrongus,shallwenotrevenge?".–(ActIII,sceneI)."Thedevilcancitescriptureforhispurpose".-(ActI,sce.III)."Ilikenotfairtermsandavillain'smind".-(ActI,sceneIII)Iholdtheworldbutastheworld,Gratiano,Astage,whereeverymanmustplayapart;Andmineasadone.(Acti.scene.1.)Superfluitycomessoonerbywhitehairs,butcompetencyliveslonger.(Acti.sce.2.

)Idoteonhisveryabsence.

(Acti.scene.2.)Thedevilcancitescriptureforhispurpose.

(Acti.sce.3.)Mislikemenotformycomplexion,Theshadow’dliveryoftheburnish’dsun.(Actii.scene.1.

)Itisawisefatherthatknowshisownchild.

(Actii.sce.2.)Inthetwinklingofaneye.

(Actii.scene.2.

)Butloveisblind,andloverscannotseeTheprettyfolliesthatthemselvescommit.

(Actii.sce.6.)

Allthatglistersisnotgold.(Actii.)Shakespeare’sfourcomedies

：AMidsummerNight'sDreamAsyoulikeitTwelfthNightThemerchantofVeniceThefourmisersinliterature：

Harpagon

（French

MoliereTheMiser）

Grandet（French

Balzac

EugenieGrandet

）

Plyushkin

（Russian

GogolDeadsouls）

Shylock（EnglishShakespearsThemerchantofVenice)friendsBassanioGratiano

nerissaDukejudgejudgeaccuserShylock

lawyerPotiaPotiaLawyer被告

Antonio

defendant

apoundoffleshAcontentiouscase1、What’sthestoryabout?2、Whoarethepeopleinvolvedintheconflict?3、What’stheconflictofthetwosides?Thefirsthalf：ShylockintendedtorevengeandpunishAntonio

.

（Shylock’s

play）Thesecondhalf：Potia

intellegentlydefendedShylockandwonthecase.

（Potia’splay）kindfriendshipmercycontrastgreedycruelcunning1、Inthefirsthalfofthedebate,what’stheattitudesoftheaccuserandthedefendant？What’stheirpersonalities？What’stherhetoricaldeviceusedhere?“apoundofflesh”duebillAntonio

Shylockconcede

insistAskformercyTriplepaybackAskfordoctorConcede3timesRefuse3timesPotiaShylockMustcut，lawpermission，verdictofthecourtThreatenthelifeofthecitizen,confiscate

property,losethesuitPlayhardtoget1、ThebattlebetweenPotiaandShylockcanbedevidedintotworounds.2、Thetworoundsofdebatecanbedevidedintothreeparts.3、InwhatwaydidPotiawon？conversionsuspenceUpsanddowns4.Fromthetworoundsofdebate，what’sthefeelingimpactingontheaudience？vengeful

Money-orientedCallous&cunning

intellegentkindcourageous

ShylockCutapoundoffleshPotialosewincontrast

What’sthepersonalitiesofthem？What’stherhetoricaldeviceusedhere?ThemeIntheplayShakespearepraisesfriendship,loveandthewisdomofkindpeople.Itisastoryoffriendshipandloveversusgreedandmoney;goodversusevil;Loveandmoneyversusreligions;thelawwasusedjustly.ThisisthehumanismduringtheRenaissance.

CommentaryTheMerchantofVenice

isclassified

asacomedyinthefirstfoliobuttheplayismoreremembered

for

itsdramatic

scenes,anditisbestknownforthecharacterofShylock.

WeconsidertheMerchantofVeniceoneofthebestShakespearean

plays,

becausethroughthecharacter

Shakespear

represents

manyfeaturesoftheEnglishsociety,suchasfriendship,loveandracism.Sowerecommend

thisplaytothosewhowanttoknowmoreaboutkeyissuesintheEnglishRenaissancesociety,whicharealsoextremelyup-to-date.Shylock

SymbolismImageryAllegory

ShylockaskedforapoundofAntonio’sfleshasaguaranteeforBassanio’sdebt,whichisdefinitelytoounusualtonotbesymbolic.There’sabunchofdifferentwaystointerpretwhyonearthShylockwouldwantapoundofflesh,andwhyAntoniowouldbeintogivingitup.

ApoundoffleshItemergesmostasametaphorfortwooftheplaysclosestrelationships,butalsocallsattentiontoshylock’sinflexibleadherencetothelaw.ThefactthatBassanio’sdebtistobepaidwithAntonio’sfleshissignificant,showingthattheirfriendshipissobindingthatithadmadethemalmostone.Shylock’sdeterminationisstrengthenedbyJessica’sdepartureasifhewereseekingrecompenseforthelossofhisownfleshandbloodbycollectingitfromhisenemy.lastly,thepoundoffleshisaconstantreminderoftherigidityofshylock’sworld,wherenumericalcalculationsareusedtoevaluateeventhemostseriousofsituations.shylockneverexplicitly(明確的)demandsthatAntoniotodie,butasksinsteadinhisnumericalmindforapoundinexchangeforhis3000ducats（達(dá)卡銀幣）.Wheretheothercharactersmeasuretheiremotionswithlongmetaphorsandwords,shylockmeasureseverythinginfarmoreprosaic(無聊的)andnumericalquantities.Earlyon,there’ssomebrouhaha（躁動(dòng)）aboutthefactthatChristianswilleatthefleshofanything.Ontheotherhand,Shylock,asheisJewish,willnoteatpork.ThoughhesaysAntonio’sfleshisn’tworthasmuchasbeeformutton,there’sstillasenseofsomesecretdelighthemightgetfromtakingthisforbiddenflesh.Anothercontroversialinterpretationhingesonthereligioussignificanceofthepoundofflesh.GarethArmstrong’s2005interpretationofTheMerchantofVenice,called“Shylock,”accordingtotheFreudian（弗洛伊德）interpretation,hingesonthepenis（陰莖）.ThethoughthereisthatthetakingofapoundoffleshisShylock’sowniterationoftheJewishritual（宗教）ofcircumcision（凈化）,orthecuttingoftheforeskin（包皮）fromthepenis.Shylockcan’tgetAntoniotocomearoundtoJudaismbyproselytizing（勸誘改宗）,sohehasAntoniolosefleshandthusbecomemorelikeaJew.

Venice&BelmontVenice,asinShakespeare’stime,isthecityofcommercewherewealthflowsinandoutwitheachvisitingship.Veniceisalsoacosmopolitan(世界性)cityatthefrontierofChristendom（基督教世界）,societyinVeniceisapredominantly（支配的）maleworld.Belmont,ontheotherhand,isthehomeofPortiaandhermysteriouscaskets,itisaplaceofromanceandfestivity.Belmontisidealized“greenworld”thatisremovedfromtheruthlessness（無情的）oftherealworld,unlikeVenice,itiscontrolledbywomen.Oneoftheplay’smostobvioussymbolsarethethreecasketsofgold,silver,andlead.Thisgimmickofchoosingacaskettochooseasuitorwasanoldfolktale,andShakespearelikelytookitfromthemedievalGesta

Romanorum(中世紀(jì)拉丁文獻(xiàn)，以短小故事的形式講述了羅馬時(shí)代的風(fēng)俗和傳奇)whichhadbeentranslatedintoEnglishin1577.gold,silverandleadcasketsIntheplay,Portia’sfatherleftbehindthreecasketstosymbolizethreedifferentkindsoflove.There’salsosomeseriouspaternalism(家長式制度)caughtupinthegame–Portiamustmarrywhomeverchoosesthecorrectcasket,regardlessofherownfeelingsorpreferences.ItpointsoutthatPortia’sfatherwasawiseman–hisgameislikelycarefullydevisedsothatonlyonewhotrulylovesPortiacanhaveher.Unlikemanyotherchallengesintheplay,thecasketgamereliesonnothingbutmeritforjudgment.Everyman–regardlessofrace,creed,orcountry–hasashotatherhand.Thesuitors’ownwisdom,andnotanyprejudiceagainstthem,willdecidetheirfateThePrinceofMoroccochoosesthegoldchest.HereasonshewantsPortia,tohim,love,asrepresentedbygold,isnotaboutthecontentsofthecasketbutitsouterappearanceasacovetedthingofvalue.Thislovesymbolicallyrunsnodeeperthanasurfacelevel,andsoPortia’sfatherwouldn’thavesoperfunctoryandmaterialamanwinhisdaughter.ThePrinceofArragonisundonebythesilverchest,ashereasonsheisasdeservingasanyman.Unfortunately,heisnot.

Bassanioistheonewhochoosestherightcasket,finally.Hedismissesgoldbecauseappearancesareoftendeceiving,andhedismissessilverbecauseitissobaseandmaterialametalthatitisusedascommoncurrencyincoins.Neitheroftheseusesreekoflovetohim.Hischoiceofleadisverysymbolic:itisprobablyhowheimagineshimself,ashehaslessornamentationtoofferthantheothersuitors.Still,it’sthescriptthatseemstomovehim–he’swillingtotwiceriskwhathe’slostasameanstogettingitallback.He’srewardedforthisbecauseitseemsPortia’sfatherbelievesthattrueloveisaboutbeingabletoriskitall.

CharacteristicsHumanismArtScienceReligionSelf-awarenessHumanismInsomewaysHumanismwasnotaphilosophyperse,butratheramethodoflearning.Incontrasttothemedievalscholasticmode,whichfocusedonresolvingcontradictionsbetweenauth