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The Merchant of Venice explores many forms of love.
The Merchant of Venice - Themes
This GCSE English Literature quiz looks at themes in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice. Any work of literature will deal with multiple themes. These can range from the obvious to the very subtle. Themes engage with and impact upon one another so that it can often be tricky to talk about a single theme in isolation. Setting, character, plot and dialogue all feed into the themes of a text. When you spot concepts and ideas arising in different parts of the texts, you are becoming aware of its themes. Different characters each make visible various aspects of a theme and comparing these is a useful method of analysis.
Pay attention to related ideas in order to follow the development of a theme over the course of a text.
1 .
"To you, Antonio, / I owe the most in money and in love." Which of the following is true of this statement?
This is an example of how the play denigrates the wealthy
This is an example of how the play presents wealth as destroying love
This is an example of how the play presents love and wealth as at odds with one another
This is an example of how the play presents love and wealth as inextricably intertwined
Bassanio's debts to Antonio are both financial and personal. His relationship with Portia, similarly, is personal and financial. Is the balance between the two equal, or does Bassanio's love of money to fuel his extravagance outweigh his love of Portia?
2 .
The winner of the challenge of the three caskets receives Portia as his reward, along with all of her father's wealth. What does this imply about Portia?
No one would wish to marry her without her great wealth
Portia is too young to make her own decisions
Her father trusted her to make her own decisions because of her wisdom and courage
Her father treats her as another of his possessions
The challenge is designed to rule out those most obviously seeking great wealth rather than love. By bestowing his daughter in marriage from beyond the grave through a provision in his will, Portia's father behaves as if she were like any other part of his estate
3 .
Which of the following themes is NOT developed through the episode of the three caskets?
The relationship between money and love
Mercy and justice
Prejudice and exclusion
The difference between appearance and reality
The leaden casket hides the real treasure. Several suitors are unable to see beyond outward appearances. Portia welcomes their mistakes, not wishing to marry any of the foreign men who attempt the task. Her attitude, including some racist remarks, reinforces the way in which those who are not native, Christian, Venetians are excluded
4 .
In the court scene, what is contrasted with mercy?
The law
Forgiveness
Deception
Honour
Shylock wishes to see the law upheld to the letter. Portia turns the law against him after he refuses to seek mercy, rather than his strict version of justice
5 .
Which of the following is true?
Portia's wealth is attractive to Bassanio, but Lorenzo is not concerned with Jessica's wealth
Jessica's wealth is attractive to Lorenzo, but Bassanio is not concerned with Porita's wealth
Both Lorenzo and Bassanio are affected by the wealth of the women they marry
Neither Lorenzo nor Bassanio are interested in the wealth of the women they marry
Bassanio makes his interest in Portia's wealth clear during his conversation with Antonio. Jessica's insistence on bringing gold and jewels with her when she flees her father's house implies that her wealth plays some part in Lorenzo's love for her
6 .
The Merchant of Venice explores many forms of love. Which one of the following is NOT one of these?
Love of country
Familial love
Romantic love
Love of material goods
Many of the different forms of love are problematic and verge on idolatry, such as the love of wealth. Even love for other people is not pure, but mingled with less noble motivations
7 .
Portia describes mercy as gentle. Which of the following episodes depicts mercy otherwise?
Bassanio opening the correct casket
Nerissa forgiving Graziano for giving away his ring
Antonio agreeing to borrow money on Bassanio's behalf
Shylock being compelled to become Christian
Antonio, believing himself to be merciful, insists that Shylock must convert
8 .
When Bassanio gives away Portia's ring, his conflicting loyalties are exposed. This episode reflects which of the following themes?
Money and true wealth
Friendship and debt
Mercy and justice
None of the above
Antonio faces death for his friend and this places a great burden on Bassanio, who becomes very personally indebted to the other man. By saving his life, Portia places Antonio in her debt and it is through the loss of the ring that he becomes aware of what he owes to his friend's new wife
9 .
The Venetian Christians frequently direct abusive terms at Shylock. Their treatment of Shylock is related to which of the following themes?
Justice
Mercy
Exclusion
Deceptive appearances
Although Venice welcomed the money and business of those who were not Christians, the play portrays a society riven by Anti-Semitism and unwilling to adopt those considered to be outsiders. Although within the law (and therefore, technically just), their behaviour is a form of injustice according to their professed beliefs
10 .
"The quality of mercy is not strained. / It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven." These famous lines are Portia's response to which question of Shylock's?
"Wouldst thou have a serpent sting thee twice?"
"Hates any man the thing he would not kill?"
"On what compulsion must I?"
"If you prick us do we not bleed?"
Portia insists that Shylock "must" show mercy and he responds by asking what could force him to do so. Portia's response that mercy does not result from compulsion, or force, is paradoxical
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