The Merchant of Venice: Act 5 ,Scene 1 CLASSICAL REFERENCES AND HISTORICAL EVENTS

The Merchant of Venice: Act 5 ,Scene 1 

CLASSICAL REFERENCES AND HISTORICAL EVENTS

1. Troilus and Cressida: Troilus was the son of Priam, the king of Troy. Cressida was the daughter of the Greek priest Colchas. Troilus fell in love with Cressida. During the siege of Troy, Cressida was handed over to the Greeks in an exchange of prisoners. She had vowed to remain faithful to Troilus, but she switched her affections to the Greek hero, Diomedes, whereas every night Troilus stood on the walls of Troy looking at the Greek camp. Thus, Troilus is known as the faithful lover and Cressida is considered an example of female inconsistency.

2. Thisbe: Thisbe was a Babylonian maiden who loved Pyramus. Their parents were against their wedding. Once she went to meet Pyramus. She comes first, Pyramus had not reached there. She saw a lion, was frightened and ran away. When Pyramus came, he saw her cloak lying there and the lion. He assumed that the beast had killed her. He killed himself. When Thisbe returned, she saw his dead body and she too killed herself.

3. Dido: Dido was the queen of Carthage who fell in love with a Trojan warrior and a

refugee Aeneas who was visiting Carthage. When he left for Italy leaving her behind, she felt betrayed and unable to live without him, took away her life.

4. Aeneas: Aeneas was a Trojan hero and founder of Roman culture. He was the son of Prince Anchises and Goddess Venus. He was one of the few Trojans who were not killed when Troy fell. After years of wandering, he came to Carthage and fell in love with Dido.

5. Medea – Aeneas: Medea was a Sorceress who helped Jason get the Golden Fleece and later eloped with him.

6. Harmony: It refers to the Elizabethan concept of music. It was believed that music brought harmony and order in life.

7. Music of the sphere: According to ancient philosophical concept, there was music in the movement of celestial bodies, the Sun, the Moon and the Planets.

8. Orpheus: Orpheus was called the father of song by the Greeks of classical age. His

wife was Euridice. Once, Euridice was bit by a snake. On the advice of nymphs and

Gods he went to the underworld and by his music softened the heart of Hades and

Persephone, who agreed to allow Euridice to return with him on condition that he

should walk in front of her and never look back till he reached the upper world. In his

anxiety, he forgot the condition looked back and lost Euridice forever.

8. Orpheus: Orpheus was called the father of song by the Greeks of classical age. His

wife was Euridice. Once, Euridice was bit by a snake. On the advice of nymphs and

Gods he went to the underworld and by his music softened the heart of Hades and

Persephone, who agreed to allow Euridice to return with him on condition that he

should walk in front of her and never look back till he reached the upper world. In his

anxiety, he forgot the condition looked back and lost Euridice forever.

9. Erebus: It is a Greek word which means darkness or shadow. According to Greek

mythology, Erebus was the son of a primordial God and personified darkness and shadow. According to some legends, he was part of Hades, the underworld, the place where the dead had to pass immediately after dying.

10. Manna: Manna was the heavenly food that was dropped on the desert according to the Bibl and it saved the Israelites from starving. It also refers to the good things which have been provided for sustenance.