This essay, of about 6-8 pages, calls for a careful, detailed reading of the play The Merchant of Venice. Your essay should demonstrate careful reading of a complex play with a focus on the play’s language rather than plot. In other words, you will engage your close-reading and analytical skills that you have developed thus far.

You should prepare for this essay by re-reading the play in light of your chosen topic. You must also read the secondary sources outlined below. Remember that in answering your question you will want to develop arguments through a close reading of certain passages in the text (see the “Close reading” hand-out). When you introduce textual evidence, be sure to cite it correctly (eg: Act, Scene, line #) and explicate the text you bring in to discuss.

Your secondary sources will come from:

1)    the “Introduction” essay in our Arden edition (pp. 3-17)

2)    NYTimes article “Debate over Shylock Simmers Once Again”

3)    at least 1 article independently researched via databases like GoogleScholar and JSTOR

Your citations or quotations will include:

1)    about 3-4 quotes from the play – they should be paraphrased and analyzed for their significance

2)    1 reference to the “Introduction” article from our Arden edition of the play

3)    1-2 references to the above article “Debate over Shylock” (NYTimes article)

4)    1 reference to the article independently researched (via Google Scholar or JSTOR)

 Do not copy the topic as your thesis but formulate your thesis in more precise terms based on what you are going to argue (remember to have your introduction lead to your thesis in the first paragraph). Mark your thesis in bold.

THE TOPIC ON WHAT TO WRITE ABOUT: 

3. Bonds, Ties and Debts: 

In this play everyone is bound or tied to something or someone: Bassanio is bound to Antonio; Antonio is bound to Shylock; Portia is bound by her father; Shylock is bound to his faith and his suffering. Discuss the use of the word “bond” in the play and the circularity of indebtedness that governs all the characters and relationships in the play. Give and discuss quotes to support your ideas.