Examine the dramatic qualities of act IV scene 1 of ' The Merchant of Venice' considering to what extent the reactions of Elizabethan and modern audiences would differ.

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Rickil Patel

President Kennedy School

Candidate number: 3180

English literature/language

Examine the dramatic qualities of act IV scene 1 of ' The Merchant of Venice' considering to what extent the reactions of Elizabethan and modern audiences would differ.

In Shakespeare's day, Jews were banned from England, in fact Jews had been banned since 1290 ad. The only Jews allowed to stay were the ones who would convert to Christianity. When the Jews moved away from Israel in the third century BC, they refused to mix with non-Jews who they referred to as gentiles. They also refused to change their beliefs and way of life. Non-Jews soon became resentful of the Jews as they became successful in business and this hatred only grew. (In 1584 when the Queen's doctor was executed for treason, many suspected him of being Jewish. So much anti-Semitism was widely accepted in that period of history.)

On the stage the Elizabethan audience were quite used to seeing Jews prosecuted like Shylock was after seeing other theatre productions such as 'The Jew of Malta.' by Christopher Marlowe. However the modern audience, being a post holocaust audience, is not so enthralled by such persecution of the Jews and feels pity for Shylock at times.

The main character is a Jewish loan shark of a Usurer named Shylock. He is hated by the Christians in the play because he is a successful Jewish business man who takes the Christians money. This also reflects upon the attitudes towards Jewish business men at the time.

The turning point in the play, act IV, scene 1, is where all of the previous action in the play comes to a head. This is the part in the play where the main plot and the sub-plot come together for the first time in the play. The modern audiences see the relationship between Antonio and Shylock as the main plot whereas the Elizabethan audience sees the story between Portia and Bassanio as the main plot. But it all comes together in this scene as all of the characters are on the stage at the same time for the first time. Our expectations for this scene are high due to what we have learnt in previous scenes. In act I scene 3 we learn of the hatred between Antonio and Shylock. We also learn that Antonio spits on and calls shylock names. 'You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog and spit upon my Jewish gabardine.' This is also the scene where the bond is made and Antonio agrees to give Shylock a pound of his flesh if he is unable to repay Shylock. In act 3 scene 1 we get first taste of what Shylock is really like and how he will not show any mercy, even to his own daughter after he finds out she has run away with her Christian boyfriend after robbing him of some of his most precious and valuable jewels. He says 'I wish her dead at my feet with the jewels in her ear.' Shakespeare combines this news of his daughter running away with news of Antonio's ships reportedly being wrecked at sea, this shows both audiences that the anger he is getting from his daughter, he will release on Antonio when he won't be able to repay the bond.
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Act 3 scene 3 is one of the shortest scenes in the play and is when Antonio is arrested. Shylock is very angry after news of his daughter running away and he does not let Antonio get a word in to try and get Shylock to change his mind and get him to show some mercy. Shylock repeatedly says 'I will have my bond...' This is another time when Shylock refuses to show mercy.

Act 4, scene 1 begins with stage directions informing us that there are a lot of Christians entering the court room. This foreshadows ...

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