Spark notes pdf of merchant of venice to download

The xtual basis for its use are the many Biblical allusions in Merchant of Venice and in the rather clear allegory in the trial scene. Shylock sets himself up as a representative of justice, while Portia pushes mercy. In this motif, the four daughters of God Mercy, Peace, Justice, and Truth argue over the fate of damned mankind.

Truth agrees with her, but Mercy and Peace call for forgiveness. Justice replies that forgiveness would destroy any practical sanctions for God's Law. The dilemma is resolved when Christ sacrifices himself and so satisfies justice: the Atonement of Christ allows Mercy to function for the salvation of humankind. This story may be in the background of the play.

In a simple-minded sort of way, the Old Testament can be classed as calling for justice while the New Testament calls for mercy. This is too simple, of course.

The Old Testament prophets stressed mercy as well as justice, and the commandment to love is within the Law itself [Deuteronomy 6. Note Well: The trial scene is an exception that supports the rule that Shakespeare is "never" allegorical; I think it's safe to assume that if Shakespeare were allegorical elsewhere, he would be just as blatant there.

Until someone makes that report to the class or I talk about the Biblical references myself , you might do well to have some initial help. Daniel: the primary allusion here is to the Book of Susanna in the Apocrypha.

The virtuous Susanna is accused of adultery by two lecherous elders who had tried to seduce her. She is condemned to death, but is saved by the wisdom of young Daniel, who examines both elders and finds a contradiction in their stories. Prodigality: Note that Shylock is about the only one in the play who knows the value of a ducat. Note Christ's lines, "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin.

Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day" Matthew 6. Also, "How hard it will be for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" Mark The moral of this parable surely is God's forgiveness for those who will return to him; still it seems to endorse good hearted--or not so good hearted--wastefulness, that is repented of, over cautious thrift.

See Luke Mercy: In Christian theology, the Law kills. Hence, the faithful are saved only through Christ's sacrifice and the mercy of God see next item. Hazarding: In Christian theology, no one can be saved by merit or by good works.

Only faith and God's grace offer salvation. This point is especially stressed by Protestants. The most essential point of human existence, then, is a "hazard. After the 13th century, the prohibition against lending also wasn't observed by all Christians.

Some of these Jews did quite well at it and became rich. After the 13th century, many Christians joined Jews as early bankers especially Italians at first, then all sorts of others. Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance, interest rates were very high.

Still, the religious attitude toward it and the popular one for that matter remained unchanged through the Reformation and on into the 17th century. All Christians are brothers and sisters in Christ; hence, they shouldn't lend upon interest either. Wisdom: "The wisdom of this world is foolishness with God: for it is written, He catcheth the wise in their own craftiness" 1 Corinthians 3. I modernize the spelling. The Geneva version is the one Shakespeare usually used--at least the one he usually used later in his life.

Note that Portia's pleas is for mercy, not Christian love. Shylock sins mightily in Old Testament as well as in Christian terms: against mercy, obviously, but also against true justice, as described in the Law and the Prophets. Therefore also will I make thee sick in smiting thee, and in making thee desolate because of they sins. Thou shalt eat and not be satisfied, and thy casting down shall be in the midst of thee, and thou shalt take hold, but shalt not deliver: and that which thou delivereth, will I give up to the sword" Micah 6.

The Geneva title for this section is "Treasures of Wickedness. Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, but thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighbor, and suffer him not to sin. Thou shalt not avenge, nor be mindful or wrong against the children of the people, but shalt love thy neighbor as thy self. And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him. But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be as one of your selves, and thou shalt love him as thy self: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Note three folk motifs in Merchant of Venice: the three caskets, the bond for a pound of flesh, and the final episode with the rings. This last has to do with forgiveness, certainly, but it is also just a long dirty joke: "ring" had the slang meaning of "pudend" Eric Partridge, Shakespeare's Bawdy.

Try to see what connections there are between the caskets and the bond motif. Hazarding, merit, and Christian foolishness might be involved. Consider the possibility that part of the "problem" of Merchant of Venice might be the combination of these fairy-tale motifs with the reality of Shylock and the merchant world of Venice. Music seems to be important in the play: it makes Jessica sad; Shylock hates it.

Does music represent some sort of order--harmony--that transcends the commercial bonds of Venice? Note the demonic references with Shylock.

Bassanio selects the correct casket, Nerissa falls in love with Gratiano, and the couples decide to have a double wedding. Antonio will have to pay Shylock his pound of flesh, prompting Bassanio to return to Venice. Shylock takes Antonio to prison. Antonio knows that it is unlikely that the Duke of Venice will break the terms of the contract even to save Antonio from death.

Portia believes in the importance of helping Bassanio rescue Antonio, and she decides that she and Nerissa will go to Venice in disguise to help their new husbands. Lorenzo promises Jessica that he will be as good a spouse to her as Portia will be to Bassanio. Antonio allows Shylock to escape with half his estate if Shylock agrees to convert to Christianity and leave everything to his daughter and Lorenzo in his will.

Nerissa decides that she will try to get Gratiano to also give up his ring so that the women can torment their new husbands back in Belmont. All the couples meet up in Belmont where Portia and Nerissa torment Bassanio and Gratiano until they finally reveal that they were the lawyer and clerk in Venice.

These silly tears drops do something drown my manly spirit. Farewell, good Launcelot. I am his daughter by blood, but I have not But though I am a daughter to his blood, inherited his manners. Oh, Lorenzo, if you keep your I am not to his manners. O Lorenzo, promise I will end this pain by becoming a Christian and If thou keep promise, I shall end this strife, your loving wife. Become a Christian and thy loving wife.

All in an hour. We haven't prepared well enough for this. We haven't got ourselves torchbearers yet. We have two hours It's only four o'clock now. We have two hours to get ready. To furnish us. My friend Launcelot, what's the news? Truly written by a beautiful hand, 1 A pun on how "fair" could mean 15 And whiter than the paper it writ on one whiter than the paper it wrote on.

Something about love, is it? Where are you going? Take this. Tell gentle Hold here, take this. Tell gentle Jessica Jessica that I won't fail her. Tell her this privately. And you I will not fail her.

Speak it privately. I have a torchbearer. Will you prepare you for this masque tonight? I am provided of a torchbearer. Yes, sure thing, I'll go see to it right away. And so will I. That's a good plan. Wasn't that letter from the beautiful Jessica? She hath directed I must tell you everything. If her father the Jew ever gets into heaven, it will be If e'er the Jew her father come to heaven, thanks to his gentle, good daughter.

Come now, go with me. Unless she do it under this excuse: That she is issue to a faithless Jew. Come, go with me. Beautiful Jessica will be my torchbearer. You can be the judge of the The difference of old Shylock and Bassanio. What, Jessica!

I'm calling for you! I do not bid thee call. Who told you to call for her? I didn't order you to do that. What is your will? You called? I have been invited to a dinner, Jessica. Here are my keys. There are my keys. But then again, why should I go? They haven't invited me I am not bid for love.

They flatter me. They're just trying to flatter me. Jessica, my girl, look after the house. I am Look to my house. I am right loath to go. There are bad things being stirred up There is some ill a-brewing towards my rest, for me, for I had a dream about money bags last night. For I did dream of money bags tonight.

My young master doth expect I beg you, sir, go to the dinner. My young master expects your reproach. And I expect his. I will not say you And they've been planning together. I'm not saying you will shall see a masque, but if you do then it was not for definitely see a masquerade party, but if you do then it 2 Nosebleeds were considered 25 nothing that my nose fell a-bleeding on Black Monday really was a true omen when my nose started bleeding 2 ominous, especially on church feast last at six o'clock i' th' morning falling out that year last Black Monday at six o'clock in the morning, just like Ash days.

Wednesday four years ago in the afternoon. Hear you me, Jessica. What, is there a masquerade party planned? Listen to me, Lock up my doors, and when you hear the drum Jessica. Lock up my doors, and when you hear the party 30 And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, drum and the vile squealing of the thin flute, don't look out Clamber not you up to the casements then, of the balconies or put your head out into the street in order Nor thrust your head into the public street to look at the foolish Christians with masked faces.

Shut up To gaze on Christian fools with varnished faces. By Jacob's staff 3 I left for Padan-arum a poor man with 35 Let not the sound of shallow foppery enter swear that I have no intention to feast and party tonight.

My sober house. Go ahead of me, Launcelot. Tell Oxford's World Classics, I have no mind of feasting forth tonight. But I will go. Say I will come. Mistress, look out at window, for all this. There will come a Christian by [To Jessica] Mistress, despite your father's warnings, look Will be worth a Jewess' eye.

You'll see a Christian come by who's worth your Jewish eye. What did that foolish Christian tell you? He said, "Farewell, mistress. He works Snail-slow in profit, and he sleeps by day as slowly as a snail and sleeps more than a cat during the More than the wildcat. Drones hive not with me. I'll have worker bees only for my hive. So I'll let him go, 4 This is a strange wish, considering Therefore I part with him, and part with him and send him to go use up all that man's money, which he that creditors would want their 50 To one that would have him help to waste borrowed from me.

Maybe I'll be debtors to have enough money to pay His borrowed purse. Well, Jessica, go in. Do as I tell you. Shut all the doors after you. Perhaps I will return immediately. Keep safe what you want to keep, as they say. That saying is Do as I bid you. Shut doors after you. Fast bind, fast find. Desired us to make stand. He's nearly late.

Who riseth from a feast That's always true. Who leaves a meal as hungry as when he 10 With that keen appetite that he sits down? What horse retraces its steps with as much Where is the horse that doth untread again eagerness as when it went forward?

The chase is always the His tedious measures with the unbated fire most exciting part. When a ship leaves its native bay its sails That he did pace them first? All things that are, are hugged and embraced by the loving wind! How like the prodigal doth she return, With overweathered ribs and ragged sails 20 Lean, rent, and beggared by the strumpet wind!

More of this hereafter. Here comes Lorenzo. We can talk about this more later. My sweet friends, forgive me for being late.

I didn't keep Not I but my affairs have made you wait. Come Here dwells my father Jew. This the house of the Jew that will be my father-in- law. Who's there? Tell me for more certainty, Who are you? It is Lorenzo, your love. Who do I For who love I so much? And now who knows love as much as you? And who other than yourself knows But you, Lorenzo, whether I am yours?

Heaven and you yourself both know that you are mine. It is worth the pains. Here, catch this box. It's worth the effort. I'm very ashamed of how I look in For I am much ashamed of my exchange. But love is blind and lovers cannot see the But love is blind, and lovers cannot see little faults in their relationships.

If they could, Cupid The pretty follies that themselves commit, himself would blush at how ridiculous I look disguised as a For if they could Cupid himself would blush boy. Come down. You must be my torchbearer. What, I'm supposed to hold up a candle so you can see my They in themselves, good sooth, are too too light. The torchbearer brings things to 45 And I should be obscured.

But Even in the lovely garnish of a boy. The night is going by quickly, and But come at once, they're waiting for us at Bassanio's feast. I swear, she's too gentle to be a Jew. Call me crazy, but I love her with all my heart. If I'm any 55 For she is wise, if I can judge of her.

And if my eyes are And fair she is, if that mine eyes be true. Moreover, she has proven And true she is, as she hath proved herself. And since she is wise, beautiful, and And therefore, like herself--wise, fair and true-- loyal, she will always be in my heart. Are you here now? Gentlemen, let's go! Our fellow party- Our masquing mates by this time for us stay. Sir Antonio? Where are all the rest? Ah, Gratiano! Where is everyone else? It's nine o'clock.

Our 65 'Tis nine o'clock. Our friends all stay for you. There's not going to be a No masque tonight. The wind is come about. The wind is blowing, so Bassanio presently will go aboard. Bassanio is going to get on his sailboat right away. I have I have sent twenty out to seek for you. I desire no more delight I'm glad.

I don't want a party. All I want is to be on our way 70 Than to be under sail and gone tonight. I choose the right casket? One of them has my picture inside, Prince. If you choose If you choose that, then I am yours withal.

May some god help me make my choice! Let's see. I will I will survey th' inscriptions back again. What does the lead casket What says this leaden casket? For some lead? Risk everything Must give--for what?

For lead? Hazard for lead? This casket's inscription doesn't bode well. If I am This casket threatens. Men that hazard all going to risk everything, it must be in hope of a big reward. Do it in hope of fair advantages. A golden mind doesn't stoop to trash. I won't risk or give up A golden mind stoops not to shows of dross. But I do myself a 30 If thou beest rated by thy estimation, disservice in underestimating what I deserve.

I deserve her Thou dost deserve enough, and yet enough by my noble birth and my wealth, by my good graces and May not extend so far as to the lady, good breeding. But even more than this, I deserve her And yet to be afeard of my deserving because of my love for her. What if I didn't consider the Were but a weak disabling of myself. Let's see the saying 35 As much as I deserve! The In graces, and in qualities of breeding. They come from the four corners But more than these, in love I do deserve.

The deserts of the What if I strayed no further, but chose here? All the world desires her. They From the four corners of the earth they come cross the sea as if it is a little stream to see beautiful Portia. To kiss this shrine, this mortal breathing saint. One of these three caskets contains her heavenly picture.

Is 45 The Hyrcanian deserts and the vasty wilds it likely that ugly lead would contain her? I'd be damned if I Of wide Arabia are as thoroughfares now thought such a horrible thought. It would be too terrible to For princes to come view fair Portia. Or is she in the silver The watery kingdom, whose ambitious head one, worth ten times less than gold?

What a sinful thought! Spits in the face of heaven, is no bar Such a rich gem as she is has never been set in anything 50 To stop the foreign spirits, but they come worse than gold. In England there's a gold coin that's As o'er a brook to see fair Portia. Give me the key. I choose this one, and hope that my To think so base a thought. It were too gross choice will bring me joy! O sinful thought! Never so rich a gem Was set in worse than gold.

But here an angel in a golden bed Lies all within. Here do I choose, and thrive I as I may! And if my There, take it, Prince. And if my form lie there picture is within, then I am yours. Then I am yours. Oh hell, what is this? A skull, and inside the eye socket is a A carrion death, within whose empty eye scroll. I'll read what's written on it.

Many a man has given up his life just to Often have you heard that told. But golden tombs contain nothing but Many a man his life hath sold worms. If you had been as wise as you were bold, with the 75 But my outside to behold. Had you been as wise as bold, Fare well. Your attempt to get Portia is unsuccessful and all Young in limbs, in judgment old, wasted effort.

Portia, goodbye. My heart is too sad to take long in 80 Fare you well. Your suit is cold-- leaving. This is how losers depart. Portia, adieu. I have too grieved a heart To take a tedious leave. Thus losers part. Close the curtains back up. I hope everyone Let all of his complexion choose me so.

The ship was under sail. He came too late. The ship had already set sail. But it was But there the Duke was given to understand explained to the Duke that Lorenzo and his loving Jessica That in a gondola were seen together were seen together in a gondola.

Besides, Antonio told the Lorenzo and his amorous Jessica. Duke that those two were not with Bassanio in his ship. Jew uttered in the streets. He was yelling, "My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter, Oh, my ducats!

O my daughter, she ran away with a Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats! Oh, my ducats that now belong to a Christian!

Justice, the law, my ducats, and my daughter! Justice, and the law! My ducats and my daughter! And jewels--two valuable, 20 And jewels--two stones, two rich and precious stones-- precious stones--stolen by my own daughter! Justice, I Stol'n by my daughter! Justice, find the girl! She has the jewels with her, and the She hath the stones upon her, and the ducats. Yes, indeed. I talked yesterday with a French person who I reasoned with a Frenchman yesterday, told me that there was a shipwreck in the narrow waters Who told me, in the narrow seas that part that separate England and France involving a ship from our 30 The French and English, there miscarried country carrying lots of riches.

I thought of Antonio when A vessel of our country richly fraught. I thought upon Antonio when he told me, And wished in silence that it were not his. But tell him 35 Yet do not suddenly, for it may grieve him.

No gentleman is as kind as Antonio is. I saw Bassanio and I saw Bassanio and Antonio part. Bassanio told him he would come Bassanio told him he would make some speed back quickly and Antonio replied, "Don't rush. Don't Of his return. And don't worry about the But stay the very riping of the time. And that was how they parted. As shall conveniently become you there. And so they parted. I think Bassanio means the world to Antonio.

With some delight or other. Yes, let's do that. Draw the curtain straight. Hurry, hurry, please. Close up the curtain right now. The The Prince of Arragon hath ta'en his oath Prince of Aragon has sworn his oath and now comes to And comes to his election presently. Behold, there are the caskets, noble Prince. If you choose 5 If you choose that wherein I am contained, the one that contains a picture of me, we will get married Straight shall our nuptial rites be solemnized.

But if you make the wrong choice, you must But if you fail, without more speech, my lord, leave here immediately, my lord, without saying another You must be gone from hence immediately.

And third, if I fail to make the To woo a maid in way of marriage; lastly, right choice, I must immediately be gone and leave you. If I do fail in fortune of my choice, 15 Immediately to leave you and be gone. Fortune now I am prepared to take the risk. Gold, silver, and base lead. Gold, silver, and lowly lead. Ha, let me see. What does the golden chest say?

Hm, let me see. But you can't see through to what's on the Which pries not to th' interior, but like the martlet inside. Those people are like martlet birds, who build their Builds in the weather on the outward wall, nests on the outer walls, obsessed with the outside. I will Even in the force and road of casualty. Well, then, Because I will not jump with common spirits on to the silver casket. Let's see again what your inscription And rank me with the barbarous multitudes.

I agree with this saying, because who should attain good Tell me once more what title thou dost bear. I And well said too--for who shall go about wish estates, degrees, and jobs were not gotten corruptly, To cozen fortune and be honorable and that honor was given out based on merit!

If that were Without the stamp of merit? How many nobleman would be Were not derived corruptly, and that clear honor transformed into common peasants!

And how many Were purchased by the merit of the wearer! But anyways, it's How many then should cover that stand bare! Give 45 How much low peasantry would then be gleaned me the key for this one, and I will unlock my fortune here From the true seed of honor! And how much honor right away. Picked from the chaff and ruin of the times To be new varnished! Well, but to my choice. You've taken too much time for what you've found inside. The portrait of a blinking idiot What's here?

The portrait of an idiot holding something for Presenting me a schedule! I will read it. How different this picture is from 55 How much unlike art thou to Portia! This is so unlike what I hoped for and what I How much unlike my hopes and my deservings!

Do I deserve no better? Is that my prize? Are my deserts no better? What does it say here? The kind of judgment that never chooses wrongly That did never choose amiss. Some people kiss shadows, Some there be that shadows kiss.

Take whatever wife you want to bed, but 70 Silvered o'er--and so was this. So go away. You must Take what wife you will to bed, leave. I came to woo Portia with the head of a fool, and now So be gone. You are sped. I leave with two fool's heads. Goodbye, sweet lady. And he's gone, like a moth that's flown too close to the O these deliberate fools!

When they do choose, flame. These fools think it over so much! And when they They have the wisdom by their wit to lose. The ancient saying is true: death and marriage are matters Hanging and wiving goes by destiny. Come on, close the curtain, Nerissa. Messenger Messenger Where is my lady?

Where is my lady? What would my lord? I am here. He has A young Venetian, one that comes before gone ahead of his lord to tell you that his master is 90 To signify th' approaching of his lord, approaching. He brings kind greetings and, in addition to From whom he bringeth sensible regreets, niceties and courteous manners, valuable gifts.

I haven't yet To wit--besides commends and courteous breath-- seen any ambassador of love as likely to succeed as this Gifts of rich value. Yet I have not seen one.

This man coming ahead of his lord is sweeter than a So likely an ambassador of love. I am half afeard Enough, please. I'm worried next you'll tell me he's your Thou wilt say anon he is some kin to thee, cousin, since you praise him so much. God of Love, please let it be Bassanio! What news is there from the Rialto now? The has lost a ship carrying many riches on the English Channel. Goodwins I think they call the place--a very dangerous It supposedly happened on a very dangerous, deadly 5 flat, and fatal, where the carcasses of many a tall ship sandbar I think they call The Goodwins 1 , where the 1 The Goodwin Sands are off the lie buried, as they say, if my gossip report be an remains of many tall ships lie buried.

That is, if this gossip mouth of the Thames. But it is true, husband. But it is true, at the risk of talking your ear off, without any slips of prolixity or crossing the plain that the good Antonio, the honest Antonio--oh, I wish I had highway of talk, that the good Antonio, the honest something to call him that was good enough to be next to Antonio--oh, that I had a title good enough to keep his his name! Come on, get to the point. Why, the end is he hath lost a Hm, what are you saying?

Oh, the point is that he has lost a ship. I hope this is the last of his losses. How now, Shylock? What news among the merchants? How are you, Shylock? What's the news among the merchants? I, for my part, knew the tailor that That's for sure.

For my part, I knew the tailor who made the 25 made the wings she flew withal. She is damned for running away. That's certain, if you, the devil, are her judge.