Hernandez 1

Hernandez, David

Mr. Morris

Adv. World Literature

09 March, 2017

6. Merchant of Venice

Plot Elements, Christian Motifs, Poetic Syntax in a Culture of Anti-Semitism

Shakespeare wrote many memorable plays throughout his life including the one we

watched and acted out in class, The Merchant of Venice. Set in 16th century Italy, the play

contains many side plots but overall focuses on a young merchant named Antonio and his debt

owed to a Jewish moneylender named Shylock. While Shakespeare uses the bond plot, the

sacrifice of many characters, and similes to portray Shylock as an evil antagonist, the film uses

insight on Shylocks life, anti-semitism in a Christian society, and dramatic irony to portray him

as more of a sympathetic victim.

The movie and play both follow the same plot, however the movie uses extra scenes to

change our perspective on Shylock. In The Merchant of Venice, the main storyline follows the

Bond Plot between Antonio and Shylock. Antonio borrows money from Shylock, but when he is

unable to pay in time Shylock takes him to court in hope of having him killed. Despite being

offered triple the money, he still refuses to spare his life (4.1 Shakespeare). Shylock not

accepting the money cements his evil personality to the audience and shows the severity of his

intentions. This plot development helps portray Shylock in a more evil villainy way. In the film,

there are several scenes that were not in the original play. One acts as a prologue and shows

Shylock being spit on by Antonio as the Jews are being harassed by the Christians. Another
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shows Shylock in tears after his daughter had run away from home (Radford). Both these

scenes show the softer side of Shylock and the troubles he has had in his life. They provoke the

audience to feel sad for Shylock and that helps build him as a sympathetic victim of a hateful

society. Despite these different details, Shylock is still the main antagonist of both the film and

play.

The story takes place in Christian dominated Venice, and many motifs can be seen.

Antonio, I am married to a wife, Which is as dear to me as life itself, But life itself, my wife, and

all the world, Are not with me esteemed above thy life. I would lose all, ay, sacrifice them all

Here to this devil, to deliver you (Shakespeare 4.1.294-301). This scene shows Bassanio

offering the life of his wife over Antonios. The theme of sacrifice is an important one in

Christianity and them offering sacrifices to save Antonio further deepens Shylocks role as a

villain. In the film Shylock, eloquently argues that Jews are human beings just as Christians are,

but Christians such as Antonio hate Jews simply because they are Jews (SparkNotes). A

common theme in Christianity is the view that Jews are lesser than them. Shylock having to

make this statement makes him seem like more of a victim of the discrimination against his

kind, thus making him a sympathetic victim. These along with poetic devices help add depth to

Shylocks role.

Poetic syntax also plays a role in determining whether Shylock is a villain or not. Mark

you this, Bassanio, the devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy

witness is like a villain with a smiling cheek, A goodly apple rotten at the heart: O, what a

goodly outside falsehood hath (Shakespeare 1.3.93-98). This simile used by Antonio compares

Shylock to the devil himself. By using such strong words, Shylock is portrayed as more of an evil
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person. I will go before, sir. Mistress, look out at window, for all this: There will come a

Christian boy, will be worth a Jewess' eye (Radford). This example of dramatic irony shows that

Shylock is enjoying his dinner, but known to the audience is that his daughter is planning to run

away with his fortune. This makes the audience feel bad for him in a way because everything

bad seems to happen to Shylock. This paired up with the extra scenes from the film of Shylock

being abused and crying makes him even more of a sympathetic victim.

Anti-semitism is evident throughout the film and play. During the 16th century, Jews

were not able to own property and were even forced to live in segregated ghettos and wear

symbols that identified themselves. Martin Luther, the founder of the 16th century

Reformation and Protestantism, wrote a pamphlet in 1545 entitled The Jews and Their Lies,

claiming that Jews thirsted for Christian blood and urging the slaying of the Jews (William).

Even such influential leaders in Europe like Martin Luther supported the slaying and hatred of

Jews. The Jews had a rough time in Europe and encountered hate from almost everyone around

them.
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Works Cited

"Literary Devices." The Merchant of Venice. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.

McDonald, John F., Vinod Kumar, and William Shakespeare. The Merchant of Venice. New

Delhi, India: Campfire, 2011. Print.

"The Merchant of Venice." SparkNotes. SparkNotes. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "The Merchant of Venice Summary." Shmoop. Shmoop University, 11

Nov. 2008. Web. 18 Mar. 2017.

Toll, William. "Anti-Semitism and the American Racial Context: A Historical Inquiry." History

Compass 12.4 (2014): 374-87. Print.

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Thesis Development (Answer as Comments):

1. Describe what you think the essay is going to be about from the authors thesis.
2. Is the author developing a thesis that is relevant to prompt? Why or why not?
3. Does the thesis have an argued position, or is it just a restatement of the prompt?

Concrete Evidence (Answer as Comments):

4. What is the concrete evidence for the position in the draft? If none are present, suggest
areas of further development regarding your own research with the prompt.

Style (Answer as Comments):

5. Who is the authors target audience (is the essay academic, or informal)? Does the target
audience match the content and tone of the essay?
6. Is the author using the correct essay format? If they have not, is it for good reasons?
7. Is the writing interesting and engaging? Is it something you can see being published in an
online journal? Suggest two specific areas of improvement.

Knowers Subjectivity (Answer as Comments):

8. Does the author show an awareness of his or her own perspective as a knower in relation
to other perspectives, such as those that may arise, for example, from academic and
philosophical traditions, culture or position in society (gender, age, and so on)? How so?

Grammar (Answer as Comments):

9. Is the language clear and central terms explained or developed?

10. Is factual information correct and properly cited?
11. 3 Questions for the author to consider:
12. Other comments (1 paragraph summary):

Rubric rating submitted on: 4/8/2017, 11:46:44 AM by justintylermorris@gmail.com

3 2 1 0

Christian Motifs, Essay makes Essay makes Essay makes little Essay lacks two or
Plot Elements, and effective use of adequate use of or inaccurate use of more prompt
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Poetic Syntax explicit Christian explicit Christian explicit Christian requirements which
Your score: 3 motifs (Antonios motifs (Antonios motifs (Antonios include: Christian
sacrifice, Bassanios sacrifice, Bassanios sacrifice, Bassanios motifs (Antonios
love or love or love or sacrifice, Bassanios
indebtedness, indebtedness, indebtedness, love or
Portias Mercy Portias Mercy Portias Mercy indebtedness,
Monologue, etc.) Monologue, etc.) Monologue, etc.) Portias Mercy
Plot elements (Bond Plot elements (Bond Plot elements (Bond Monologue, etc.)
Plot being fair or Plot being fair or Plot being fair or Plot elements (Bond
unfair to Shylock, unfair to Shylock, unfair to Shylock, Plot being fair or
Casket plot showing Casket plot showing Casket plot showing unfair to Shylock,
Christian hypocrisy Christian hypocrisy Christian hypocrisy Casket plot showing
or proper love or proper love or proper love Christian hypocrisy
contrasting with contrasting with contrasting with or proper love
Shylock, etc.) and Shylock, etc.) and Shylock, etc.) and contrasting with
poetic syntax (the poetic syntax (the poetic syntax (the Shylock, etc.) and
extent to which extent to which extent to which poetic syntax (the
Shylocks diction Shylocks diction Shylocks diction extent to which
and Iambic and Iambic and Iambic Shylocks diction
Pentameter reveals Pentameter reveals Pentameter reveals and Iambic
sympathy and sympathy and sympathy and Pentameter reveals
humanity). Essay humanity). Essay humanity). Essay sympathy and
makes specific, makes general and relies on a humanity). Essay
concrete references vague references to disjointed summary relies on a
to characters and characters and of the text without disjointed and/or
conflicts within conflicts within fully addressing the incomplete
their respective their respective prompt . Essay does summary of the text
plots. Essay also plots. Essay also not rely on any without fully
gives a full literary gives some literary literary critique. addressing the
critique while critique. prompt. Essay does
developing a not rely on any
nuanced approach literary critique.
to the text.

Quality and Depth Thesis provides a Thesis provides an Thesis provides a Thesis is not
of Thesis and correct invitation adequate invitation little invitation and adequate and/or is
Argument and overview of the and overview of the overview of the missing.
Your score: 3 purpose and clearly purpose and purpose and does
discusses vaguely discusses not fully discuss
specifically how how Merchant of how Merchant of
Merchant of Venice Venice and the Venice and the
and the author author depict author depict
depict Shylock as an Shylock as an Shylock as an
antagonist or victim. antagonist or victim. antagonist or victim.
Your voice is clear While your voice is Improve your thesis
and your argument somewhat unclear, by making your
is introduced your argument is voice clear by
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correctly. You introduced taking a position

properly outline in sufficiently. You and fully answering
1-2 sentences the adequatly outline in the prompt. Attempt
answer to the 1-2 sentences the to outline in 1-2
prompt using a answer to the sentences the
variety of prompt using some answer to the
descriptive language basic descriptive prompt using at
(adjectives, language least some basic
complex sentence (adjectives, descriptive language
structure, etc.). complex sentence (adjectives,
structure, etc.). complex sentence
structure, etc.).

Overall Topic sentences are Most paragraphs includes a topic The body consists
Structure/Complete supported with include a topic sentence but is of fewer than two
ness specific details and sentence, but is superficially paragraphs and or
Your score: 3 examples. often disjointed connect to the topic the content is highly
Transitional words with the content of and doesn't repetitive. No
or phrases join the paragraph. Some introduce the transitional words
paragraphs. In-text transitional words paragraph or phrases are used.
citations are present or phrases are used. effectively. Few In-text citations are
and consistent with In-text citations are transitional words not present or are
the argument. not always present or phrases are used. not consistent with
Credibility of or are not always In-text citations are the argument.
sources are clear consistent with the rarely consistent Credibility of
and evident. argument. with the argument. sources not clear
Credibility of Credibility of and evident.
sources are sources are
sometimes clear and sometimes clear and
evident. evident.

Comments:
Well done. Very impressed.