"Imagery is any piece of language which makes the reader IMAGINE - that is, it makes us form a mental picture or image."
"For example, when Bassanio describes Portia's hair in Act I, scene i by saying"
"*...her sunny locks"
"*Hang on her temples like a golden fleece."
"we get a mental picture of her golden hair."
"We also see Portia as a rich prize, because of the allusion to the well-known story of Jason and the Golden Fleece."
" "
"Shakespeare's plays are always interesting for the richness of their imagery, and 'The Merchant of Venice' is no exception. Imagery is also a frequent topic for examination essays."
7
"The two most important types of imagery are similes and metaphors. These are common even in everyday speech, but Shakespeare puts them to special use."
"He uses repetition and interweaving of related images to stress the important themes of the play."
" "
"SIMILES use the words 'like' or 'as' to help us form a picture in our minds. e.g."
"*Like one of two contending in a prize... (III,ii)"
"*It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven (IV,i)"
"Bassanio describes his pride and happiness, while Portia tries to convey the free flow of mercy."
7
"METAPHORS are examples of figurative language - they are not literally true. For example when Salerio tells Antonio"
"*Your mind is tossing on the ocean..."
"He is referring of course, to the troubled state of mind that Romeo is in, and relating it to Antonio's trading ventures. This is just one example from the play of the imagery of ships and sailing."
" "
"Another related metaphor is in Act II, scene vi, when Gratiano refers to"
"*over-weathered ribs and ragged sails...."
"to describe someone who has had his pleasure and now returns not as keenly as when he set out."
8
"A noticeable feature of this play is that the scenes set in Venice tend to use imagery more suitable to the world of business ventures and trade."
"On the other hand, the Belmont scenes are more likely to refer to natural images or stories of the Gods and other myths."
" "
"For example, the metaphors on the previous screen reflect the concern of the characters about commerce, which was tied closely to the sea."
"Compare them to Lorenzo's words in Act V, scene 1"
"*How sweet the moonlight sleeps upon this bank!"
"and Portia's line in the same scene"
"*The crow doth sing as sweetly as the lark..."
9
"Shakespeare also makes use of repeated images to create a kind of pattern in his play, or to stress a certain idea or give a certain feeling to a character."
"For example, Shylock is linked to animal imagery, especially imagery involving dogs. This emphasises his fierce nature and lack of human kindness."
" "
"The following notes take a brief look at these sets of repeated images:"
"*1. Music"
" "
"*2. Animals"
" "
"*3. Chance/Fortune"
10
"*Imagery of Music"
"This is the imagery that is most apparent in this play. This is appropriate as it is a romantic comedy."
" "
"When Bassanio is about to make his choice of the caskets, Portia refers to the two kinds of music that may result. He may be unsuccessful"
"*...fading in music..."
"or choose correctly, earning"
"*...the flourish when true subjects bow"
"*to a new-crowned monarch."
" "
"The two Princes make their choices to a flourish of trumpets, but Bassanio is accompanied by a song."
10
"The final scene of the play is even more rich in music imagery as Shakespeare winds down the tension of the Trial scene and replaces it with joy and harmony appropriate to the ending of a comedy."
" "
"Lorenzo invites Jessica to sit and"
"* ...let the sounds of music"
"*Creep in our ears."
"He also refers to the idea that the heavenly bodies gave off music, and talks about wild beasts tamed"
"*By the sweet power of music."
"and declares"
"*The man that has no music in himself..."
"*Is fit for treasons, stratagems and spoils."
8
"*ANIMAL IMAGERY"
"In this play, Shylock especially is associated with animal imagery, showing his inhuman side."
"Several times he refers to himself as a dog, the name he says Antonio applied to him first."
"Gratiano also calls him a 'damned inexorable dog', and says"
"* Thy currish spirit"
"*Governed a wolf....."
" "
"Re-read Shylock's speeches in the Trial scene, when he is shown at his most cruel and you will find references to rats, cats, pigs,asses and serpents."
10
"*IMAGERY OF CHANCE/FORTUNE"
"The words venture and adventure occur often in the play, always referring to a risk undertaken to win some reward. For instance, Bassanio says"
"* ...by adventuring both (arrows)"
"*I oft found both."
" "
"Later, Morocco laments that he may not win Portia, because he regards the terms of her father's will as a pure lottery"
