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1、Shakespeare：The Merchant of VeniceLecture Outline1. Lead-in: Summary of the plot2. Characterization: Antonio(good) vs. Shylock(evil)?3. Dramatic type: comedy vs. tragedy4. Humanistic puzzle: material affluence = happiness? 5. Conclusion: the greatness of Shakespeares drama6. AssignmentHumanism2008-0
2、9-15I. Summary of the plotAntonioPortiaBassanioShylockbond2008-09-15Bassanios plan to pursue Portiathe strange bond between Antonio and Shylock (3000 ducats= a pound of flesh)Antonios shipwreck and arrestPortia disguised as a doctor of law, Nerrissa a clerkone exact pond of flesh and no blood to be
3、shedthe crime of conspiring to kill a Venetian citizenloss of property and convert from Judaism to Christianity2008-09-15Lecture Outline1. Lead-in: Summary of the plot2. Characterization: Antonio(good) vs. Shylock(evil)?2.1 First impression 2.2 A second view2.3 Background: Anti-semitism3. Dramatic t
4、ype: comedy vs. tragedy4. Humanistic puzzle: material affluence = happiness? 5. Conclusion: the greatness of Shakespeares drama6. Assignment2008-09-152.1 First impression on Antonio and ShylockAntonio： Christian，generosity, Kindness,Shylock： heretic, greed, Mercilessness,Goodevil?2008-09-15Is Antoni
5、o straightforward and virtuous, as he claims? Does he treat Shylock fairly and justly? 2.2 A second view of Antonio and Shylock2008-09-15Shylock: Fair sir, you spit on me on Wednesday last, You spurnd me such a day; another time You calld me dog; and for these courtesies Ill lend you thus much money
6、s? Antonio: I am as like to call thee so again, To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too. If thou wilt lend this money, lend it not As to thy friends But lend it rather to thine enemy, Who if he break thou mayst with better face exact the penalty. -Act 1, Scene 32008-09-15Is Shylock totally a bad gu
7、y, a bloodthirsty villain?Why is Shylock so revengeful? What has he suffered?Questions:2008-09-15Shylocks anger and sadness1). the servantthe servant Launcelot Bobbos leaving from Launcelot Bobbos leaving from shylock to Bassanioshylock to Bassanio2). daughter Jessicas elopement with Lorenzodaughter
8、 Jessicas elopement with Lorenzo3). 3). deprivation by the Christian world represented deprivation by the Christian world represented by Antonio,by Antonio, both financially and psychologicallyboth financially and psychologically2008-09-15Penalty upon ShylockBalthasar-Portia: If it be proved against
9、 an alien That by direct or indirect attempts He seeks the life of any citizen, The partys gainst the which he doth contrive Shall seize one half his goods; the other half Comes to the privy coffer(treasure) of the state; And the offenders life lies in the mercyOf the Duke -Act4, Scene1 2008-09-15Sh
10、ylock is Shylock is abandoned abandoned materially and materially and spiritually.spiritually.Is Shakespeare anti-semitic?2008-09-15 Shylocks burst-out :2008-09-15Did Shakespeare show sympathy towards the sufferings of Jews in this play?Is Shylock a man more sinned against than sinning, more wronged
11、 than wronging others?Whats the cultural background for Antonios contemptuous treatment towards Shylock and Shylocks tragic life? Questions:2008-09-152.3 Background: Anti-semitism (排犹主义）排犹主义）The death of Jesus UsuryGhettoRed hat2008-09-15Anti-semitism was in fashion in London at the time Shakespeare
12、 wrote The Merchant of Venice in 1596-98. about 1590: Marlowes play The Jew of Malta1594: the trial of Roderigo LopezProofs:2008-09-15Lecture Outline1. Lead-in: Summary of the plot2. Characterization: Antonio(good) vs. Shylock(evil)?3. Dramatic type: comedy vs. tragedy4. Humanistic puzzle: material
13、affluence = happiness? 5. Conclusion: the greatness of Shakespeares drama6. Assignment2008-09-153. Drama type: Comedy vs. tragedywhy did the author write this story into a comedy instead of a tragedy in which Antonio would have a tragic and sublime ending?2008-09-15Then, is it possible to rewrite th
14、is comedy into a tragedy with Shylock as the hero at that time? Why?What is a tragedy?Whats the purpose/function of tragedy?2008-09-15On the one hand, influenced and limited by the anti-semitic tradition, the author has to make Shylock a comic villain, a stereotypical figure to some extent.On the ot
15、her hand, in such a period when Anti-semitism was in fashion, the humanist Shakespeare is brave enough to show sympathy towards Shylock and depicts him as a human being with dignity.We may say that the wronged Shylock is a mirror to reflect the social injustice at that time.Shakespeares humanistic i
16、dea rose far above the prejudices of his time!2008-09-15Lecture Outline1. Lead-in: Summary of the plot2. Characterization: Antonio(good) vs. Shylock(evil)?3. Dramatic type: comedy vs. tragedy4. Humanistic puzzle: material affluence = happiness? 5. Conclusion: the greatness of Shakespeares drama6. As
17、signment2008-09-154. Humanistic puzzle: material affluence = happiness? Which direction may the material affluence lead people to? Can it alone guarantee our happiness? If not, how to get salvation? Antonios melancholyShylocks tragic endingSpiritual transcendency Christian love2008-09-15Conclusion:
18、greatness of Shakespeares dramaLanguageblank verse; poetic, powerful, colorfulcharacterizationround,multi-faceted realistic, alive, eternally trueplotadroit, bitter conflictthemecomplex, sublime2008-09-15Assignment:Explain the possible symbolic meanings of The three casketsThe pound of fleshRole-play: The three casket the Court Scene2008-09-15
