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    Merchant of Venice Historical Events

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    Shibin Varghese Pullolickal
    This document provides context and definitions for several terms and references from Greek mythology mentioned in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. It defines Bassanio as a reckless young man who lives beyond his means by borrowing from his friend Antonio. It explains that argosies refer to large merchant ships, deriving from the story of Jason and the Argonauts. It also defines Nestor as a wise Greek king from mythology and notes that the Oracle was believed to predict the future. Finally, it recounts the myth of the Golden Fleece, which was guarded in Colchis until seized by Jason.

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    Merchant of Venice Historical Events

    Uploaded by

    Shibin Varghese Pullolickal
    836 views2 pages
    This document provides context and definitions for several terms and references from Greek mythology mentioned in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. It defines Bassanio as a reckless young man who lives beyond his means by borrowing from his friend Antonio. It explains that argosies refer to large merchant ships, deriving from the story of Jason and the Argonauts. It also defines Nestor as a wise Greek king from mythology and notes that the Oracle was believed to predict the future. Finally, it recounts the myth of the Golden Fleece, which was guarded in Colchis until seized by Jason.

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    This document provides context and definitions for several terms and references from Greek mythology mentioned in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. It defines Bassanio as a reckless young man who lives beyond his means by borrowing from his friend Antonio. It explains that argosies refer to large merchant ships, deriving from the story of Jason and the Argonauts. It also defines Nestor as a wise Greek king from mythology and notes that the Oracle was believed to predict the future. Finally, it recounts the myth of the Golden Fleece, which was guarded in Colchis until seized by Jason.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    836 views2 pages

    Merchant of Venice Historical Events

    Uploaded by

    Shibin Varghese Pullolickal
    This document provides context and definitions for several terms and references from Greek mythology mentioned in William Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. It defines Bassanio as a reckless young man who lives beyond his means by borrowing from his friend Antonio. It explains that argosies refer to large merchant ships, deriving from the story of Jason and the Argonauts. It also defines Nestor as a wise Greek king from mythology and notes that the Oracle was believed to predict the future. Finally, it recounts the myth of the Golden Fleece, which was guarded in Colchis until seized by Jason.

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    Bassanio- In Act 1Scene 1 Bassanio is shown as a spendthrift young gallant

    who lives a life of luxury beyond his means. He seems to be a reckless


    adventurer taking advantage of Antonio’s love and generosity. However his
    behavior is quite natural according to the tradition of the Elizabethan age when
    young people led an extravagant life of borrowed money.

    Argosies: According to a Greek legend, Argo was a ship built by Argus for
    Jason. Jason reached Colchos after a long adventurous voyage. At Colchos,
    Medea who had fallen in love with Jason, used her powers to get him the golden
    fleece. She managed to get it after putting to sleep the dragon who had been
    guarding the fleece. In the scene, Argosies refer to big merchant ships.

    Wealthy Andrew: In 1596 the English captured a Spanish ship in Cardiz.


    The Ship was named Andrea. It ran aground when it was being brought to
    England. Since then Andrew refers to a big cargo ship.

    Janus: A Roman god usually depicted directions-one frowning, the other


    smiling. According to a legend, Janus had received from the god Saturn the gift
    to see both the future and the past. He was worshipped at the beginning of
    harvest and planting times, marriages, births and other such beginnings. The
    month of January is named after him. Janus is mentioned in the text to show that
    there are two types of people—one happy; and the other, sad.

    Nestor: In Greek mythology, Nestor was the king of Pylos. He was one of the
    greatest generals in the Trojan war. He was famous for his wisdom. He was so
    grave that if he laughed at a joke, it meant that the joke was actually funny.

    Sir Oracle: The Greek Oracle was believed to be the voice of gods, uttered
    through the mouth of priests and priestesses. It made predictions about the
    future. Here, the expression is used contemptuously for the self-proclaimed
    wise.

    Golden Fleece: In Greek mythology, Golden Fleece is referred to as the


    fleece of the winged ram, Chrysomallos. Phryxus and his twin sister Helle,
    escaped on the ram over the sea to save themselves from being sacrificed to
    Zeus. But Helle fell off and drowned in the strait, Hellesport. Phryxus reached
    safely to Colchos and sacrificed the ram to god Poseidon. The precious Golden
    Fleece of was given to King Aectes who hung it on an Oak tree in the grove
    sacred to God Ares, where it was guarded by a dragon. There it remained until it
    by Jason with the help of Medea.
    Colchos: (Colchis) According to the Greek mythology, Colchos was a
    fabulously wealthy land. It was situated in a country in Asia bordering the Black
    Sea Black Sea. In Colchos, in the sacred grove of the god Ares, King Aectes
    kept safely the Golden fleece until it was seized by Jason with the help of
    Medea.

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