ICSE PROJECT
ENGLISH LITERATURE
1. Topic: How does the theme of love and friendship intersect with the
theme of money and materialism?
Name: Aakriti Bansal
Section: D
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INDEX
Serial Topic Page
No. No.
1. Introduction 3
2. The Theme of love and friendship 4
3. The Theme of money and materialism 5
4. Intersection of the themes 6
5. Conclusion 8
6. Bibliography 9
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INTRODUCTION
"The Merchant of Venice" is a renowned play by William Shakespeare, known for its complex
characters and exploration of various themes. It falls under the genre of both comedy and
drama, making it a compelling and multifaceted work. The story is primarily set in the vibrant
city of Venice and the picturesque Belmont in Italy. It is a timeless play that was written and
first performed during the late 16th century, around 1596-1599. The play explores themes of
love, friendship, money, justice, and the consequences of prejudice and vengeance. In this
paper we will be focusing on the themes of love and friendship and money and materialism
and analyzing the intersection between them.
ACT 4 SCENE 1, THE COURTROOM SCENE
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The theme of love and friendship
Antonio and Bassanio - A Deep Friendship:
Antonio and Bassanio's relationship in this play is a shining example of a deep and
unwavering friendship. One of their key qualities that shows us how prevalent the theme of
friendship and love is in this play is:
Selflessness: Antonio's selflessness is evident when he borrows money from Shylock, risking
his own financial well-being, solely to ensure Bassanio's happiness. Additionally, when
Antonio learns that he cannot repay Shylock and faces imminent death, he forgives
Bassanio's debt and desires only to see his friend one last time. This unwavering selflessness,
even in the face of mortality, highlights the profound bond of friendship and contributes
significantly to the play's theme of love and friendship.
Portia and Bassanio - Romantic Love
Bassanio's choice of the lead casket during the casket test is a powerful testament to his
sincerity and depth of feeling for Portia. In Act 3, Scene 2, Bassanio stands before the three
caskets: gold, silver, and lead. While the gold casket is flashy and the silver one is alluring,
Bassanio's choice is the modest, unassuming lead casket. Bassanio's choice of the lead casket
is significant because it reflects his understanding that true love should be based on inner
qualities and character. He is not swayed by the superficial allure of the other caskets but is
drawn to the one that represents genuine worth, which shows that he recognizes Portia’s
inner worth and cares about her emotionally and does not just lust for her appearance, unlike
her other suitors.
Portia's selflessness is a defining characteristic of her love for Bassanio. Her most significant
act of selflessness occurs when she disguises herself as the legal expert Balthazar during the
trial scene. She does this not only to save Antonio but primarily to ensure Bassanio's
happiness. Her willingness to use her intelligence and legal acumen to help him reflects her
deep devotion and love as we see her risking her personal reputation and surpassing societal
norms all driven by her unwavering love for Bassanio.
Thus these mutual qualities provide evidence of the deep romantic love between Portia and
Bassanio and their love story contributes significantly to the above theme as well.
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The theme of money and materialism
Shylock's bond with Antonio serves as a powerful representation of the theme of money and
materialism in the play. Shylock lends Antonio 3,000 ducats with the condition that if Antonio
defaults on the loan, Shylock is entitled to a pound of Antonio's flesh. This bond highlights
how money can be used as a tool of power and control. Shylock's insistence on such a severe
penalty reveals his materialistic desire for revenge against Antonio, who has previously
insulted him. His obsession with the bond showcases the dehumanizing effect of extreme
materialism. He places the monetary value of the bond above Antonio's life, illustrating how
the pursuit of wealth can lead to a complete disregard for human relationships and
compassion.
Financial Assistance from Antonio: Bassanio initially approaches his close friend, Antonio, for
financial support to court Portia. This act highlights the significance of money as a tool to
pursue personal desires, particularly romantic ones. Bassanio seeks to improve his financial
standing to win Portia's hand, illustrating how material wealth is seen as essential to
achieving his goals. This mindset also reflects the societal norm of valuing a potential
partner's financial status and the material advantages they can offer.
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Intersection of the Themes
Throughout this play, we see several instances where the themes of love and friendship and
money and materialism intersect. In some instances, we see the triumph of love and
friendship over materialistic gain whereas some have us reflecting on the extent to which
love and friendship should control our financial choices. Let us analyze some of these
instances in detail.
Antonio's willingness to take on Shylock's bond, risking a pound of his own flesh, to secure a
loan for Bassanio reflects the powerful intersection of love, friendship, and money. His deep
love and friendship for Bassanio drive him to this extreme act, placing the materialistic
consequences of the bond at the center of their relationship's challenge. Antonio's sacrifice is
a testament to the profound love and loyalty between friends. However, the bond also
highlights how money, as a materialistic element, becomes a pivotal factor in testing the
strength of their friendship. It raises questions about the extent to which personal
relationships should be influenced by financial transactions.
Additionally, the extent to which Portia goes is driven by her love for Bassanio can be
questionable. Portia's actions during the trial put her reputation at risk. As a noblewoman,
disguising herself as a lawyer and intervening in such a manner could have serious
consequences. Not only would she have to face severe legal penalties, but also would have
doomed Bassanio to face charges as well. In this play, Shakespeare presents the triumph of
compassion and mercy over revenge and materialistic gain, however, this scene also shows us
how careless love can make a person.
These instances show us that sometimes love and friendship can make a person careless and
put themselves at a huge amount of risk all for their loved ones.
One of the biggest instances where we see the intersection of these themes is during the
casket trial.
Bassanio's decision to select the lead casket over the gold and silver ones represents a
poignant intersection of love and friendship with money and materialism. His choice
exemplifies his genuine affection for Portia. By rejecting the opulent caskets, he
demonstrates that love should not be driven by materialistic desires or superficial
appearances, setting him apart from the other suitors and making him wiser than the other
suitors for having understood the value of inner worth over outward appearances. This
intersection challenges societal expectations that prioritize wealth and status in marriage. It
underscores the idea that authentic emotional connections and inner worth should take
precedence over materialistic pursuits. Bassanio's choice symbolizes the play's core message,
emphasizing the enduring value of love and friendship in the face of material temptations.
Another simultaneous aspect is Portia's involvement in the casket test, which reflects the
intersection of love and friendship with money and materialism. Her desire for a suitor who
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values her for her true self is driven by love, and her actions during the test reveal her
commitment to ensuring that love and genuine friendship prevail over materialistic
considerations. This intersection challenges the materialistic expectations set by her late
father's test. Portia's guidance of Bassanio toward the correct choice underscores the idea
that even within a materialistic challenge, the power of love and authentic connections can
overcome the allure of money and material possessions. It reinforces the message that true
love and friendship should be the guiding principles in matters of the heart.
ACT 3 SCENE 2, BASSANIO’S CASKET TRIAL
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Conclusion
In this paper, we have covered the two major themes of love and friendship and money and
materialism in the play “The Merchant of Venice” and analyzed the intersection between
them. We see the deep friendship between Bassanio and Antonio and the significance of it in
the play and the profound love between Portia and Bassanio and the triumph of their love in
various instances. The major symbol of money and materialism is Shylock, with his extreme
obsession of revenge and materialistic gain where we see him forsake his humanity to gain it.
Shakespeare has beautifully entwined the two themes and has shown us that whilst love and
friendship triumphs over money and materialism, it can also be important to evaluate the
extent to which it controls our decision as it can put one in a significant amount of risk.
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Bibliography
Oxford School Shakespeare : Merchant Of Venice
https://www.litcharts.com/shakescleare/shakespeare-translations/the-
merchant-of-venice
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Merchant_of_Venice
https://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/merchant/
