My theme as whole are hate and isolation, mostly focusing on hatred and on Shylock’s isolation in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant Of Venice”
Focused on: Act 4 (scene 1)
1. “Tilting the Hourglass” by Alesana. This song is about never knowing your love again. The line “Heroes always pay in their blood…I can be only this” represents Antonio in the fact that he will have to pay in his own death. Also, the line “I see the fear growing in there” can show that Antonio and Shylock, mostly Antonio, are worried about this bond and the death it will bring. I chose this song because of how it relates to Antonio.
2. “To Be Scared By An Owl” by Alesana. This song is from Shylock’s point of view. This is proven by the lyric “Look in my eyes! Are you shaking now? I am everything you fear, have I made myself clear?” He knew that Antonio feared him as he was facing his death. Also, “Shut your mouth and finished what you started” could mean that Antonio should just sit there and take his death. I chose this song because it is shows some of Shylock’s ideas.
3. “Hate” by The Plain White T’s. I chose this song because of the lyric “Hate is a strong word, but I really, really, really don’t like you”. This scene is full of hatred, specifically between Shylock and Antonio. When reading the scene, you could feel the animosity just sitting there as if you were in it. Also, after Antonio was saved and Shylock was isolated, the lyric “Now that it’s over, you can’t hurt me” explains how Antonio was feeling.
4. “Teeth the Size of Piano Keys” by Chiodos. This song is from Shylock’s point of view. This is proven by the simple three-word phrase of a lyric “I’m so alone”. He was isolated after his bond was not complete and he was sent away and stripped of everything that was his.
5. “Maniac” by Four Year Strong. This song has lyrics that are about someone being isolated or away from every one else. “You’re left alone and scared with nothing to hold”. Shylock was alone because he did wrongfully by almost taking a pound of flesh from Antonio. That one lyric pretty much explains all of Antonio. He is isolated and hated by everything he once knew.
6. “I Was Once Lost, but Now I am Profound” by From First To Last. Shylock must regret everything he did because of his current lifestyle—being hated and alone. “I regret all my mistakes”. If I was Shylock, I’d regret what I did because my life was better before the entire bond.
7. “Sleep” by My Chemical Romance. Shylock was pure evil in act 4, and the line “The monsters I’ve been” proves it. He was about to cut a pound of flesh from a man, and if that’s not monstrous, I don’t know what is. But does Shylock feel bad about it? At the time he did not, he thought he was going to get his bond. “’Cause I didn’t feel bad about it” was him at the time.
8. The song I choose to be the theme song for this entire scene is “Dirt Room” by Blue October. The lyrics are about such a strong hatred and almost killing someone. “I really think that this is fun for the money. I’ll make it comfy for the time wasted making you rich. I want to cover you in ants, bees, and honey!” This shows hatred and wishing for someone to die. Also, “I’m busy digging you a hole. Now you’ll be living in a dirt room.” This is as if he’s digging someone’s grave and preparing to kill them.
I chose mostly songs about almost killing and hating someone because that is what stood out most in this scene to me. And even if some of the lyrics in the songs don’t correspond with the true story line, whether they include love or anything else, the lyrics I saw I picked out and mentioned them. Act 4, scene 1 is my favourite scene in the whole play, because of the hatred and tension in the room.