MV and THE ODYSSEY

[stanley2]

Did Shakespeare have the conclusion of the ODYSSEY in mind when he wrote MV? The last line of the first conversation in MV reads: "Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable." Though Nestor only appears briefly in the ODYSSEY, he is a major character in the ILIAD and the last line of Fitzgerald's translation of the ODYSSEY reads: "though still she kept the form and voice of Mentor." Portia disguises herself as a male authority figure. Portia, like Penelope, is beset with many suitors. Shylock's "there be land-rats and water-rats, land-thieves and water-thieves"(1.3.21 or so) corresponds to "master of land ways and sea ways." In the scene that immediately precedes the court scene in MV, we find mention of Scylla and Charybdis, which Professor Bevington noted is found in the ODYSSEY, 12.255.

[Jackson Richardson]

Shakespeare would certainly have known the Odyssey as a standard part of his education and he could assume the educated part of his audience would also get the references.

I don't think there's any structural relationship: only passing references that you mention.

Nestor, incidentally, figures a lot in Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, (which was almost certainly written later.)

[stanley2]

Truly, the beginning of the play, with its' lengthy discussion of Antonio's sadness, might suggest that cheering up Antonio is our main concern. In Act 3, scene 2, Gratiano's "Nerissa, cheer yond stranger," might suggest that we do the same for Shylock. In Act 3, scene 1, it seems that Tubal is no less generous towards Shylock than Antonio is towards Bassanio. Perhaps then, Tubal and Antonio might become friends and Shylock and Gratiano sport fishing buddies. In the first scene, though, we also find "Your mind is tossing on the ocean," and talk of the dangers of seafaring. In Act 2, scene 5, Shylock is much concerned with the safety of his daughter and house. These also might recall the passage from Fitzgerald's translation, "Odysseus, master of land ways and sea ways." Therefore, I would suggest, Shakespeare did have the conclusion of the ODYSSEY in mind.