ENG150Y1 Lecture Notes - John Cabot
Document Summary
Eng150 merchant of venice lecture 1 jan 28, 2012. This play is presented as a comedy yet it has some shakespearian tragedy factors. It is also a problem play since in some way, it is quite realistic but it is based around mythic fairytale factors. It is primarily problematic due to the representation of the main jewish character. Venice is a place where people of different backgrounds and cultures meet. Africans, turks, spanish, turks, etc are found in venice. Merchant of venice moves back and forth from the city of venice (people are known for trade and are elite) and the villa at belmont (aristocratic) Several of suitors come for porshia since her father wants her to get married. Frenchmen, englishmen, scottish, and german men came but left since they wre not able to succeed. They didn"t want to take upon the trial of the casket.