Merchant of Venice - Dramatic Effects

As you read the play, it is important to imagine yourself watching and listening to the action. It is a drama, not a novel! Shakespeare provides us with very few stage directions, so to help us imagine exactly what is going on, we need to picture each character's actions and reactions clearly. During the course of The Merchant of Venice we see comedy and near-tragedy. We see three sets of lovers get together and almost see a man murdered on stage. There is much deception and disguise. The ending is full of celebration for most but despair for Shylock. So, what happens to create so many dramatic contrasts? How is the drama maintained and the audience involved?

Tension

Various elements of the plot are woven together in such a way that we are often left on a mini cliff-hanger, wondering what will happen next. It's just like in a soap opera: we jump from place to place, picking up the story each time. Here are just some examples:

• We hear about the Prince of Morocco in Act 1, scene 2, are introduced to him in Act 2, scene 1, but do not see him choose a casket until Act 2, scene 7!

• We are primed about the vulnerability of Antonio's ships from Salarino's comment about the harm a wind too great might do at sea which is reinforced when Shylock talks of pirates - and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. From then on the bad news dribbles in at intervals: Salarino tells Solanio of the loss of a vessel of our country richly fraught in Act 2, scene 8 - but we do not yet know that this is one of Antonio's ships; by Act 3, scene 1 rumours of more wrecks are circulating - but it is not until Act 3, scene 2 that we know for certain that every one of Antonio's fleet has been lost.

• Antonio takes the bond lightly; but Bassanio is suspicious of it from the start: I like not fair terms and a villain's mind. This sets the audience wondering about what its consequences might be.

• In Act 2, scene 9, the Prince of Arragon follows the Prince of Morocco to choose a...