Shakespeare The Merchant of Venice - I have chosen to direct Act IV Scene I because it is very much a climatic scene.

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Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice

I have chosen to direct Act IV Scene I because it is very much a climatic scene. It has lots of potential to produce an excellent piece of theatre due to the emotional pace of the scene, and the extremely passionate language used. May different characters display different views, which can be portrayed to good effect on stage.

Shylock should be made to appear like the villain throughout the scene, and I would want my audience to be glad that Shylock loses his bond at the end of the scene. He should come across as an evil, greedy man, who has no emotions, and is not sensitive to the pain of others. Sadistic is a word the audience should think of.

Antonio should remain a heroic figure through the scene, with the audience feeling love towards him. He should gain more respect and admiration by accepting death gracefully and should make it clear that he is quite prepared to die.

Gratiano should also be another favourite of the audience. His character should come across as a courageous man who is vehement in his defence of Antonia and his detrimental attacks on Shylock towards Shylock.

Antonio, Bassanio Gratiano  and Solerio (including any other friends of Antonio) should enter in a line from stage right on a diagonal. They should then remove their hats and bow low to the Duke who should be seated in a throne like chair accompanied by an advisor/servant. This reflects the Duke’s position in society. The Duke should then walk towards Antonio and place a hand on his shoulder on the line: “I am sorry for thee.” This shows the audience how admired Antonia is in Venice, even the person with the most authority in Venice, who should be impartial, shows pity and sympathy for Antonio. To further emphasise the fact that the Duke is on Antonio’s side, and that Shylock is despised by all in Venice, the Duke can say the word “Jew” in line 14 with contempt, as if spitting the name out of his mouth.

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When responding to the Duke’s speech asking for mercy (lines 16-34) Shylock should be aiming to tease and anger the Christians. He can do this by smiling and shrugging his shoulders on the line “But say it is my humour.” Effectively he is saying,  “I am going to kill Antonio, just because I want to. Because I feel like it.” This would be sure to enrage characters like Gratiano, and would make the audience’s loathing for Shylock even greater. Gratiano could stand with his fists clenched and in a threatening position, i.e. chest out and leaning slightly forward. This ...

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