Module Week 11

Drama
Merchant of Venice
Drama

• The word “drama” omes from the Greek

Word, “Dran” which means “To do” or “To
Act”
Brief History
Aristotle (384-322 BC) was a Greek
philosopher whose writings still influence us
today. He was the first to write about the
essential elements of drama more than 2,000
years ago. While ideas have changed slightly
over the years, we still discuss Aristotle's list
when talking about what makes the best drama.
Aristotle’s Six Elements of Drama
• Plot
• Theme
• Characters
• Dialogue
• Music/Rhythm
• Spectacle
Plot: This is what happens in the play. Plot refers to the action; the
basic storyline of the play.
Theme: While plot refers to the action of the play, theme refers to
the meaning of the play.
Characters: Characters are the people portrayed by the actors in
the play. It is the characters who move the action, or plot, of the
play forward.
Dialogue: This refers to the words written by the playwright and
spoken by the characters in the play.
Music/Rhythm: Music featured in drama or the actors' voices as
they speak.
Spectacle: This refers to the visual elements of a play: sets,
costumes, special effects, etc.
Some Other Elements of Drama

•Literary Elements
•Technical Elements
•Performance Elements
Literary Elements
• Exposition: The “who, when, where and what” part of the play Story
organization: beginning, middle, end.
• Conflict: The internal or external struggle between opposing forces,
• Suspense: A feeling of uncertainty used to build interest
• Language: diction or style of writing, or the speech or phrasing
• Style: the shaping of dramatic material, setting.
• Soliloquy: A speech by a single actor who is ALONE on stage
• Monologue: A long speech made by one actor (a monologue may be
delivered alone or in the presence of others.) of the audience
Technical Elements
• Scenery set: The theatrical equipment, such as curtains, flats, backdrops,
or platforms.
• Costumes: Clothing and accessories worn by actors to portray character
and period.
• Props: any moveable object that appears on stage during a performance,
from a telephone to a train
• Lights: The placement, intensity, and color of lights
• Sound: effects an audience hears during performance to communicate
character, context, or environment
• Makeup: Costumes, wigs, and body paint etc
Performance Elements
• Acting: Use of face, body, and voice to portray character
• Character motivation: The reasons for a character’s behavior
• Character analysis: the process of examining how the elements of drama
– literary, technical, and performance – are used
• Empathy: The capacity to relate to the feelings of another
• Speaking: The mode of expression or delivery of lines.
• Breath control: Proper use of the lungs and diaphragm muscle for
maximum capacity and efficiency of breath for speaking
• Vocal expression: How an actor uses his or her voice to convey character
Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is, by structural definition, a
romantic comedy. This was a very popular and often-performed
genre in Shakespeare’s day. Other plays that fall into this
category include The Two Gentlemen of Verona, As You Like It,
and Twelfth Night. In all these plays, the chief element and
motivation for the action is love. In addition to the hero and
heroine, usually two or three other couples are united by the
end of the play. In this play, Portia and Bassanio (the hero and
heroine) are married along with Gratiano and Nerissa, and
Lorenzo and Jessica.
 In these plays the heroine also spends a portion of the play successfully
disguised as a man; in this case, Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as
barristers or lawyers. The basis of the plot in most romantic comedies like this
is the conflict between the lovers and someone or something keeping them
apart. The principle obstacle in The Merchant of Venice is Shylock’s hold on
Antonio, best friend to Bassanio. Common to all of these works is the fact that,
despite the label of “romantic comedy,” there is often a bittersweet or cruel
undertone to the joy that concludes each play. Antonio, though freed from
Shylock’s murderous bond and his ships miraculously saved, is more alone at
the end of the play than he was in the beginning. Shylock is forced to reject
Judaism as punishment for his murderous plot to destroy Antonio and is forced
to become a Christian. Jessica, though willing to convert for the man she loves,
is still an outsider in a world of Christians. These are all examples of what
makes Shakespeare’s romantic comedies a rich tapestry of emotions, a complex
portrait of society, and why they continue to be popular and meaningful today.
The Life of William Shakespeare
• William Shakespeare, widely recognized as the greatest English dramatist,
was born on April 23, 1564.
• He was the third of eight children born to John Shakespeare and Mary
Arden of Stratford upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England.
• Shakespeare’s father was a prominent local merchant, and Shakespeare’s
childhood, though little is known about it for certain, appears to have
been quite normal. In fact, it seems that the young Shakespeare was
allowed considerable leisure time because his writing contains extensive
knowledge of hunting and hawking.
• In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, the daughter of a farmer. She was
eight years his senior, and the match was considered unconventional.
 It is believed that Shakespeare left Stratford-upon-Avon and
went to London around 1588. By 1592, he was a successful
actor and playwright. He wrote approximately 38 plays, two
epic poems, and over 150 sonnets. His work was immensely
popular, appealing to members of all social spheres including
Queen Elizabeth I and King James I. While the plays were well-
liked, Shakespeare’s work was not considered by his educated
contemporaries to be exceptional. By 1608, Shakespeare’s
involvement with theatre began to dwindle, and he spent
more time at his country home in Stratford. He died in 1616.
The Plot
Bassanio is in love with Portia but he is not rich enough to marry
her. He asks his good friend Antonio for a lend of money. Antonio says
he has no money at the moment but is waiting for some ships to come
in and then he will have plenty of money.
Antonio says they will borrow the money from Shylock the Jew.
Shylock agrees to lend Bassanio the money (3000 ducats) for three
months, at the end of which Antonio will pay the money owed. If the
money is not paid, Shylock decides that he will claim a pound of flesh
from Antonio.
 He chooses this bond because he does not like Antonio,
who spat at him in the street and called him names. Part of
Shylock wants Antonio to be unable to pay so he can extract
his revenge. At the same time, Shylock’s daughter Jessica has
decided to run away and marry a Christian, Lorenzo. She hates
her father and plans to steal from him.
When the debt is due, Antonio is unable to pay as all his
ships have been lost at sea. Shylock is happy to claim the bond
of flesh instead and takes them to court. The Duke acts as
judge and asks for the opinion of a famous lawyer (doctor of
law) as the case is unusual.
 Shylock demands a pound of flesh as the bond if Antonio cannot
pay the three thousand ducats.
In the meantime, Bassanio has married Portia and Antonio writes
to him to tell him of his troubles. Portia instructs Bassanio to go to
Antonio’s side. When he leaves, she gives instruction to a messenger
to write to her uncle (the famous lawyer) and goes to Venice.
Portia and her lady-in-waiting Nerissa head to Venice and dress
up as men so that they can act as lawyers in the case. Portia tricks
Shylock into giving up the money owed to him and dares him to take
the flesh he says he is owed. However, if he spills one drop of
Christian blood as he does it, he will be arrested and his riches taken
from him.
In the end:
• Shylock is stripped of his wealth and must become a
Christian
• Jessica gets half her father’s wealth
• Bassanio and Portia live happily ever after
• Antonio gets out of the debt and keeps his pound of
flesh
• Antonio’s ships arrive back safely