Analysis of Themes in 'The Merchant of Venice'

3rd Play: The Merchant of Venice The following scenes will be read:
Act 1, Scene 1, lines 1-14, 29-36, 41-45,153-185.
Act 1, Scene 2, lines 40-55, 72-101.
Act 1, Scene 3, 1- 48, 99-124.
Act 2, Scene 3, 14-20.
Act2, Scene 5, 44-55.
2.6. 26-40.
2.7.4-22, 63-69.
2.9. 20-55.
3.1.30-61, 71-81.
3.2.1-24.40-215, 235-320.
3.3.1-36.
3.4.60-71.
4.1.15-86, 169-200, 299-308,341-359, 375-385.
5.1.135-143.

Please download the scenes from the net, and gradually bring them in the class. We might cover the play in three lectures, so copy phase-wise.

The Third Installment

On The Merchant of Venice, in addition to my lecture notes, you can read the following essays:
1. Marion Wynn-Davies, “Rubbing at Whitewash: Intolerance in The Merchant of Venice.” Can be photocopied from the copy in my possession.
2. Roy Booth, “ Shylock’s Sober House.” (Available on my pen drive)
3. Peter Berek, “The Jew as Renaissance Man.” (Available on my pen drive)

Date: The Merchant of Venice is a tragic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1596 and 1598. Though classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare's other romantic comedies, the play is perhaps most remembered for its dramatic scenes, like the one in which Shylock famously says, 'Hath not a Jew eyes?'

Theme:
Critic Katharine Eisaman Maus in her “Introduction” to the Norton edition raises the question whether it’s an anti-Semitic play, or criticizes anti-Semitism? That is, is it a racial play? Or, does the universal human qualities outweigh the racial and religious differences? We’ll have to find answer to those questions?
Venice: It was the most cosmopolitan and richest city in Renaissance Europe. Maus says, “As a town of traders, Venice was full of foreigners: Turks, Jews, Arabs, Africans, Christians of various nationalities and