The Merchant of Venice
by William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice: Style 1 key example

New! Understand every line of The Merchant of Venice.
Read our modern English translation.
Style
Explanation and Analysis:

A number of linguistic choices characterize the style of The Merchant of Venice. Firstly, much of the play's dialogue deals with the language of economics. In addition to the more overt examples—such as the frequent mentions of Antonio's business and Shylock's bond—discussions about money overlap heavily with matters of love. A fundamental aspect of Jessica's elopement, for example, is the money that she steals from Shylock, and later, Salerio implies that Shylock cannot distinguish between his daughter and his ducats when he discovers that Jessica has run away. Even Portia describes the casket game as “the lott’ry of my destiny,” and the gilded caskets showcase opulence themselves. This stylistic choice demonstrates how Venetian society is deeply entangled in matters of wealth, risk, and greed.