How Does William Shakespeare Create and Sustain Tension in the Trial Scene of "The Merchant of Venice"? What would be the Response of an Audience to the Portrayal of Shylock's Character in this Scene?

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Anthony Blakemore

How Does William Shakespeare Create and Sustain Tension in

the Trial Scene of “The Merchant of Venice”? What would be the

Response of an Audience to the Portrayal of Shylock’s

Character in this Scene?

Written sometime between 1596 and 1598, The Merchant of Venice is classified as both an early Shakespearean comedy (more specifically, as a "Christian comedy") and as a problem play; it is a work in which good triumphs over evil, but serious themes are examined and some issues remain unresolved. Before Shakespeare¹s time and during his boyhood, troupes of actors performed wherever they could  in halls, courts, courtyards, and any other open spaces available. However, in 1574, when Shakespeare was ten years old, the Common Council passed a law requiring plays and theatres in London to be licensed. In 1576, actor and future Lord Chamberlain's Man, James Burbage, built the first permanent theatre called "The Theatre", outside London city walls. After this many more theatres were established, including the Globe Theatre, which was where most of Shakespeare's plays premiered.

“The Merchant of Venice” is about 2 Friends who are merchants – Antonio and Bassanio, Bassanio has fell in love with a rich maiden – Portia, and she has also fell in love with him. However, when Portia’s Father died, he left a pact that Portia could only marry a person if they choose the right casket out of 3 – Gold, Silver & Lead. Whoever picked the correct casket could marry her. Bassanio therefore, needs to choose the correct casket with the help of Portia. They end up getting married but only because Antonio has lent the money to Bassanio to impress Portia, Antonio lends 3000 ducats from a Jewish Moneylender – Shylock, Antonio has the money to pay back but it is on ships that are out to sea and are on their voyage home. However, the ships sink so Antonio has no money to pay Shylock, so he owes him a pound of flesh. Antonio obliges to pay a pound of flesh so they go to court, Portia and her clerk disguise themselves as lawyers to win the case for Antonio.

A main issue in the play is that of race. The Christian community treat Shylock as an outcast – “a stranger cur”; he is not fit to be in the company of a Christian. This issue was debatable in the 16th century and still is a major issue today, although today this issue is not important for most people – whether it be about race, colour or anything else.

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In the play, Shakespeare creates and sustains tension in the trial scene by using different scenes of action and pace. The trial scene is the longest in the play and stands as one of the most dramatic scenes in all of Shakespeare. Questions have been debated about the accuracy and fairness of the courtroom proceedings: the presiding duke is far from impartial;  appears as an unbiased legal authority, when in fact she is married to the defendant’s best friend; and she appears in disguise, under a false name. These points would seem to stack the deck against Shylock, but if ...

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