End of play reflection:

Within the entire story, many conflicts are brought about yet in the last two scenes, they are all overcome. Shakespeare's love and romance as well as villain vs. hero clarifies that the play is a comedy. The end of the story included much drama as far as "cheating" and freeing Antonio from losing his pound of flesh. The ending of the story could've resulted in Antonio's death which would've left a shocking effect on the audience. The story itself was very interesting and had an interesting plot ending. In the end, Portia is married to Bassanio, Antonio is left alone wishing he has Bassanio, Graziano is married to Nerissa, Lorenzo is married to Jessica and Shylock is left alone with nothing for his heinous acts. Shakespeare's point of the play was to illustrate the difficult love romance, the division between Christians and Jews at the time and the consequence of murder and usury.




Questions for Reflection and Review



1. In this play, what defined villain vs. hero, was religion. Jews and Christians had a constant battle with each other during this time which led Shakespeare to illustrate the conflict through his play. The main conflict was Shylock, a Jew and Antonio, a Christian as they had an ongoing battle.

During the time of Shakespeare, Jews had been exiled from "England" and were seen as rich snobs. In the play, the practice of usury stirred many issues among the characters. Christian's would borrow money from the Jews whom were wealthy and in this case could not repay them. The villains were the Jews because they were better off than the Christians and Christians would constantly ridicule them causing the Jews to become infuriated.

Shylock was the main bad character and was portrayed as a villain for wanting to kill Antonio. If Antonio killed Shylock he would be considered a hero, only because he was a Christian. This prejudice was the only factor that decided whether one was "good" or "bad".



4. Jessica, the daughter of Shylock, exercises revenge against her father by running away and eloping with a Christian, taking all of his money, and converting from Judaism to Christianity. Through these actions, it is clear that she does not love her father and has no mercy for him.

She stole his jewels and money and spends it carelessly because he was greedy. Shylock cared more about his money and wealth than he did about his daughter. After her disappearance, Shylock wasn't so much worried about his daughter as he was about the things she stole from him, thus showing his true character.

Jessica was so miserable with her father, which leads me to believe she will live "happily ever after" in Belmont with Lorenzo and Portia and Nerissa. Jessica and Lorenzo seem to be not only lovers but best friends because of their joking manner which will create an even better bond between the two.




8. In today's society, the people with power are always the wealthy and it has always been that way from the beginning of time. Money and material things aren't the source of happiness in people, yet we believe that achieving this power and success will bring up eternal joy. Throughout the book, the ideas of money and power and money and happiness are demonstrated through various characters actions.

Shylock, the main villain in the story, is a wealthy Jew. Although he has no power, he believes that his materialistic things are the true source of his happiness. This theory of his, is then proved wrong by the end of the story because he is left alone, with nothing.


Portia, represents the theme of money and power. As heiress to the throne in Belmont, Portia's beauty and wealth has led to her power over men across the globe. High ranked princes and others travel to Belmont in hopes to woo Portia and receive the honor of becoming her husband. The play seems to validify the fact that money doesn't always bring happiness and although it does give one power, the real power lies within ones inner self.

Act 1:

Scene 1: The scene opens with Antonio, expressing his feelings of depression to his fellow mates salonio and salario. They suggest that he is worried about his ships out at sea and that he is in love yet he denies both of these theories. Bassanio then begs Antonio to lend him money to woo the fair maiden Portia.

Scene 2:
In Belmont, Portia is complaining to her servant Nerissa about her fathers will for her marriage. This includes a casket test in which suitors must choose the correct one to marry her or they shall remain unmarried for the rest of their lives. Portia ridicules all of the suitors whom have come already and she remembers bassanio.

Scene 3:
Shylock lends 3000 ducats to bassanio to woo Portia. Shylock reveals his hatred for Antonio because he is Christian and because he lends money without charging interest.

Act 2:

Scene 1: The prince of morrocco arrives to take the casket test. Portia ridicules him for his skin color but it does not stop him.

Scene 2:  Lancelot, Shylock's servant, debates whether or not he should run away from his master because he is Jewish. Old Gobbo, his blind father, appears as he attempts to run away and is tricked by Lancelot. Lancelot wishes to work for Bassanio and he accepts the offer. Bassanio then meets Gratiano to come with him to Belmont.

Scene 3: Jessica gives Lancelot a letter to deliver to Lorenzo on her behalf. She wishes to leave her father and marry Lorenzo thus converting to Christianity.

Scene 4: Salarino, Gratiano, Solanio, and Lorenzo come up with a plan to sneak Jessica out of her father's house by disguising her as Lorenzo's torchbearer. Lorenzo shares the letter with Gratiano and he is excited to carry out the plan.

Scene 5: Saylock tells Lancelot he will not have freedom to sleep and overeat with Bassanio. SHylock asked Jessica to lock the doors and not look out the window although she must disobey her father and look out the window for Lorenzo .

Scene 6: Gratiano and Salarino meet at Shylock's house and fear something has happened because Lorenzo is late, which is bizarre cause he is normally early. Jessica escapes and brings her jewels and gold. Antonio announces that Bassanio is headed for Belmont and Gratiano must join him.

Scene 7: Portia shows the prince of Morocco the test, 3 boxes, one gold, one lead, and one silver. The prince chooses the gold and there is a skeleton with a scroll with a poem ridiculing his failure.

Scene 8: There is a rumor that the ships have been capsized and Shylock is infuriated wanting revenge for his daughters disappearance.

Scene 9: The prince of Arrgon attempts the test and chooses the silver box where he finds a blinking idiot and once again a poem for his failure. A messenger arrives to tell Portia a young suitor from Venice has arrived.







Analysis of major characters:


Antonio: A merchant who is in love with his best friend Bassanio. He is very kind and wealthy causing him to get into trouble with Shylock.

Bassanio: Antonio's bestfriend who is foolish and wastes his money. He is a suitor to the fair maiden Portia and borrows money to woo her.

Shylock: Jewish moneylender who is hated upon by the Christians and seeks revenge.

Portia: Wealthy heir to the throne in Belmont. Suitors from all over the world attempt to marry her through the curse of her father's casket test.

Gratiano: Fellow Venetian whom is Bassanio's friend who joins him on his quest to woo Portia.

Jessica: Shylock's daughter who is embarassed by him and wishes to betray him and marry Lorenzo and convert to Christianity.

Lorenzo: Friends with all of the Venetians and aspires to marry Jessica

Nerissa: Portia's right hand woman.

Launcelot: Former servant of Shylock and current servant of Bassanio. He is the jokester of the play.

Salarino: Venetian whom is friends with the "squad". He helps Lorenzo marry Jessica.

Solanio: Venetian who accompanies Salarino.