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The document provides an introduction to William Shakespeare and his play The Merchant of Venice. It notes that Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in his lifetime, including famous comedies like The Merchant of Venice. The play is about the cruel moneylender Shylock who lends money to Antonio and plans to take a pound of flesh if it's not repaid. It also introduces the characters of Bassanio, Portia, and Antonio, describing some of the key plot points around Bassanio trying to win Portia's hand and Antonio not being able to repay Shylock.

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369 views

Presentation

The document provides an introduction to William Shakespeare and his play The Merchant of Venice. It notes that Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in his lifetime, including famous comedies like The Merchant of Venice. The play is about the cruel moneylender Shylock who lends money to Antonio and plans to take a pound of flesh if it's not repaid. It also introduces the characters of Bassanio, Portia, and Antonio, describing some of the key plot points around Bassanio trying to win Portia's hand and Antonio not being able to repay Shylock.

Uploaded by

parveenbilang
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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The merchant of venice

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
Introduction to the
playwright
• Willam Shakespeare was born in 1564
at Stratford-upon-Avon in England. He
obtained his formal education only
upto the age of thirteen.
• Shakespeare wrote 37 plays in his life
time. His plays are varied in nature
and can be roughly divided into three
categories: the comedies; the
tragedies and the historical plays.
Some of his famous comedies are: The
Merchant of Venice ‘,’As You Like It’ ,
‘Twelfth night ‘, ‘winter ‘s Tale’, ‘The
Comedy of Error’ etc.
Itroduction to the Play

• ‘The Merchant of venice ‘is one of the famous comedies of William


Shakespeare. The play is about a cruel Jewish money-lender Shylock, who
plans to kill Antonio by taking a pound of flesh from his body. But in the court
room,he falls into his own trap. Not only does he lose the legal case but half of
his property is also confiscated.
• Bassanio is a young gentleman of venice. He loves Portia a beautiful lady .
According to the will of her father Portia will marry the man who, out of three
castes choose the one which contains Portia.
• Bassanio wants to try his luck at winning Portia ‘s hand . But he was no money
going to Belmont. Antonio approaches Shylock for a loan three thousand
ducats. He lends the money after getting a bond sign by Antonio according to
the bond of Antonio to pay some back on the due date Shylock will be cut a
pound of flesh form any part of body.
• Antonio cannot repay Shylock’s loan. In the court room Portia turns the table
upon Shylock Antonio win the case .Thus the play ends on a happy note.
Character of
•
Antonio
Antonio is one of the leading characters of the play. Some scholars consider him the hero
of the play. He was certain qualities which a hero has. He is certainly the central figure of
the play. Shylock has been painted like a villian. So he has a claim to be considered the
hero. The interest of the main plot is on his escape form the clutches of Shylock .
• His melancholy nature: Antonio is a melancholy character. The play opens with the
sadness of Antonio. He admits that this sadness is wearing him. His friends suggest that
he is sad because of the worrof his ships which are on the sea. But Antonio says that the
worries about his ships are not the someone. It appears that his melancholy is a part of
his character. Because of his sadness he has lack of interest in life. In the trial scene he
hardly intervenes in the proceedings. When the judgment is given in his has nothing to
say.

• A passive and static character: Antonio is a passive character. He is a central


character. The event of the play revolve him. But he himself does nothing. Nor
is there any development in his Character. He is the same at the end as he
was in the beginning Thus he is a static character. As a dramatic character, he
does not add to the development. The only important thing which he has
done is to sign the bond. He is only a shadow as compared with Shylock and
• A respected
merchant: Antonio is
a highly respected
merchant of venice. All
the characters except
Shylock, speak highly to
him. Graziano refers to
him as “the royal
merchant,good Antonio.”
Solanio says that he
cannot find a suitable
adjective to use with
Antonio ‘s name to
Express Antonio ‘s
goodness. Salerio thinks
that there is not a kinder
gentleman upon the
earth than Antonio.
Lorenzo tells Portia that if
she knew the man
intimately whom she was
helping , she would feel
• A noble and helpful person : Antonio is a kind and noble hearted person. He has
always been willing to help his friends with money. He has spent large sums of money in
releasing people from the clutches of Shylock. This is one of the reasons why Shylock is his
enemy and wants to take his life.

• Love for Bassanio: Antonio has a deep affection for Bassanio. He is always ready
to help Bassanio. Even though Bassanio has not paid back his precious debts to
Antonio, yet Antonio offers him every kind of help . Bassanio asks him three thousand
ducats . Antonio has no cash with him . All his money has been Locked in the goods in
ships. But for sake of Bassanio, he requests shylock to lend him money . Again ,for
Bassanio ‘s sake, he sings the bond and agrees although it poses danger to his life.
Later,his ships are reported wrecked and Shylock demands his pound of flesh. This
means a certain death. But Antonio does not feel depressed as he is dying for his
• This we find that Antonio is the central figure in the play. The event of the play move
friend.
round him.
The End

Thank you

Presentation by : Kamaljeet
Class : B.A 3rd year
Roll no: 1526620131

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