By: Lim Jun Weng (06) Daniel Lye(10) Ng Yau Xuan(13) Keith Ong(14) Jeremy Yap(24)

 Love, as portrayed in this play, is ideally selfless  It involves self-sacrifice, sharing, humility and devotion  Platonic love is also expressed in this play through the strong bonds between Bassanio and Antonio (spiritual love)

 Parent-child  Romantic  Friendship

 Portia and her father  Jessica and Shylock

 Portia appears reluctant to obey her father’s legacy of the three caskets  However, she still does so (self-sacrifice) as she was only frustrated by the fact she cannot choose her own husband  This shows us the love and respect between Portia and her father

 “I may neither choose who I would nor refuse who I dislike, so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.” – Portia on her father’s legacy  “Is it not hard, Nerissa, that I cannot choose one nor refuse none?”- Portia, in a dilemma

 Jessica hates her Jewish father for restricting her freedom  The love between them has strained though they are father and daughter  Shylock loves his daughter and seems oblivious that she is drifting further and further away from her

 “Our house is hell” -Jessica  “Alack, what heinous sin is it in me To be ashamed to be my father’s child! But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners.” -Jessica on her extreme dislike of her father’s actions “My sober house.” – Shylock, suggesting he has no tolerance for merriment himself

 “Jessica my girl”, -Shylock  “Hear you me, Jessica: Lock up my doors; and when you hear the drum And the vile squealing of the wry-necked fife, …” – Various restrictions on Jessica

 The two different parent and child relationship are much in contrast  Portia chooses to respect her father’s wishes possibly at the expense of her lifelong happiness  Jessica chooses to go against her father for her love

 Bassanio and Portia  Lorenzo and Jessica  Gratiano and Nerissa

 Bassanio tried not to give away the ring until Antonio told him to do so –loyalty to Portia  Portia defended Bassanio’s best friend Antonio although it was dangerous to go as a woman –Self-sacrifice for Bassanio  Portia also showed her love towards Bassanio by promising him what she owns is now also what he owns (self-sacrifice)

 “Good sir, this ring was given me by my wife, And when she put it on she made me vow That I should neither sell, nor give, nor lose it.” –Bassanio on the ring  ‘Myself, and what is mine, to you and yours/Is now converted” – Portia towards Bassanio

 Jessica would rather steal from her father and leave with Lorenzo for love than stay on in her house

 “For I am much ashamed of my exchange. But love is blind, and lovers cannot see The pretty follies that themselves commit;” -Jessica

 Gratiano is sorry for giving away her ring  Promises to keep it forever  OR  Be the only one to make love with her

 “Well, while I live I’ll fear no other thing So sore, as keeping safe Nerissa’s ring.” – Gratiano promising to Nerissa

 Antonio and Bassanio

 Antonio, though knowing he has not enough money to help Bassanio, still promised him he would give money for him to woo Portia  Anotonio was willing to go to his enemy to get money for Bassanio to woo Portia  Bassanio was willing to sacrifice himself for the release of Antonio.

 “My purse, my person, my extremest means,/ Lie all unlocked to your occasions” – Anotonio promising Bassanio  “you spat on me on Wednesday last…and for th[is] courters[y]/ I’ll lend you thus much money?” Shylock saying sarcastically towards Antonio  “The Jew shall have my flesh, blood, bones, and all”-Bassanio