The Merchant of Venice Group

Question:

sectumsempra-24
sectumsempra-24
Student
High School - 10th Grade

What are two tones shown in the Merchant of Venice? Examples please?

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Posted by sectumsempra-24 on Monday January 12, 2009 at 5:54 PM and tagged with merchant of venice tone, the merchant of venice.

Answers:

  1. anzio45
    anzio45

    eNotes Editor

    I would answer this question by referring to the two settings in which the action of the play occurs. The first is Venice, which is full of racism, distrust and vengefulness with a really quite unpleasant tone for the most part. The other setting is Portia's home Belmont, which is like a fairytale world by contrast. It is light and airy - and very wealthy of course - with pleasant teasing conversation and a sense of a strong woman just waiting for a challenge in the 'real' world to match her talents. The play ends in Belmont, with the venal world of Venice left far behind, but this is not say it is a happy ending story: it is on the surface but the Christians leave many questions about themselves unanswered as they cheerfully forget the terrible things they have done to Shylock and engage in a frivolous game of disguise and recognition and sexual innuendo to conclude what I consider to be one of Shakespeare's most troubling plays.

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    Posted by anzio45 on Tuesday January 13, 2009 at 1:41 AM