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The Merchant of Venice

Appearance and Reality

"I hold the world but as the world, Gratiano
A stage where every man must play a part
And mine a sad one" (1,1, 79-80).

Tick or cross the following statements.  Defend your reasoning with supporting evidence from the play.

Level 1

·	All that glitters is not gold
·	Portia dresses as a man in order to escape the confines of the female gender
·	Bassanio come to Belmont as a beggar
·	Antonio appears depressed but denies it is his business ventures
·	Shylock appears mean and greedy
·	Portia is not beautiful
·	Shylock's defensive attitude is a result of years of abuse

Level 2

·	A "noble friendship" exists between Antonio and Bassanio
·	The inner person is often hidden by a mask
·	Make up and appearance are important features of our lives
·	Bassanio's loss of the ring shows that he does not value deep love symbolized by the ring
·	Telling lies can be justified in certain situations
·	Shylock treats Antonio honestly

Level 3

·	Racism is derived from appearance
·	Mercy is an inner value rather than an outward value
·	Justice is the outward symbol of our civilisation
·	Portia's ring deception is to test Bassanio's inner nature
·	Faces act as a motif for appearance and reality in the play
·	Portia is the spokesperson for inner reality as against outward appearance

"like a villain with a smiling cheek
a goodly apple rotten at the heart" (1,3, 97-98)

© Ministry of Education, Wellington, New Zealand (First published 1998)