Themes of relationships and society in Merchant of Venice

Male friendhsips
1. Antonio and Bassanio
  1. Homoerotic?
    1. Antonio's sadness could possibly be caused by Bassanio's impending courtship
      1. Well, tell me now what lady is the same To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, That you today promised to tell me of?
      2. Are Antonio's feelings towards Bassanio completely platonic?
        My purse, my person, my extremest means Lie all unlocked to your occasions.
        'My person' has implications of sexual relationship
        solanio says 'i think he only loves the world for him'
  2. Financial gain
    1. Aristotle argues that there are three types of friendship; one based on financial gain, one based on pleasure and lastly the only perfect frienship, one based on admiration of the other's virtue
    2. Is Bassanio's love for Antonio heavily based on his wealth?
2. The dynamics of male friendships feature heavily in the merchant of venice, in elizabethan times often more value was placed on these relationships than on marriage or familial bonds.
  1. This is displayed when Bassanio runs off to Antonio's trial immediately after his wedding and gives away Portia's ring.
Women and society
1. the relationships shown are microcosmic of the attitudes in society
2. Shakespeare representation of female relationships displays the oppression and male control of women in society at the time
  1. All of Portia's relationships are controlled by men
    1. Although they seem to be true friends Nerissa refers to her as 'sweet madam' this is a reference to her employment
      1. Presumably it was set up by Portia's father displaying how even her closest friendship was set up by him
    2. Her arranged marriage
      1. 'so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father'
        pun because will is a homophone displaying how Portia's whole orld is controlled by her dead ftaher
        The unfamiliar pronoun 'a' implies a lack of affection for her father, perhaps showing how relationships beteen a father and daughter were more about business than affection.
  2. The ownership of Jessica
    1. Throughout Jessica seems to be owned by a man; originally she is being oppressed by her father, he orders her around and has little consideration for her emotion
      1. When she leaves he seems to value her less than his stones; 'My daughter! O my ducats!'
        This displays she is his property
    2. She is only ever referred to in terms of her relationships with men
      1. Lorenzo- 'his amorous Jessica'
      2. Shylock- 'Jessica my girl'
        'Issue to a faithless jew'
The issue of class
1. This is mainly demonstrated through Portia's relationship with Nerissa
  1. Although they are close friends Nerissa still refers to her as 'madam' this hows how status divides them

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Themes of relationships and society in Merchant of Venice

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	Created by emily bennett about 9 years ago