The Court Scene and Pastiches : Their Implication
This study explores how Shakespeare deploys other hypotexts . It is observed that Shakespeare must have studied Alexander le Syvain ’ s The Orator ( 1596 ), 20 to write Portia ’ s argument in the court scene ( Act 4 , Scene 1 ). Shakespeare appropriated two arguments from The Orator and hybridised them : both texts state that only a pound of flesh shall be cut . Shakespeare , however , substitutes ‘ if he cut ei∣ther more or lesse ’ from the hypotext for ‘ But , in the cutting it , if thou dost / shed One drop of Christian blood ,’ and also that ‘‘ his owne head should be smitten off ’ for ‘… thy lands and goods / Are , by the law of Venice , confiscate / Unto the state of Venice . 21
The above reveals the motif of justice prevalent in Il Pecarone , The Orator , Merchant , Love ' s and others that are sparingly referenced . So far , the study has considered Shakespeare ’ s ability to utilise the available hypotexts in creating a literary work like The Merchant . At this point , this study considers Osofisan ’ s Love ’ s Unlike Lading , using The Merchant as a hypotext . The discourse at this juncture expounds on his use of plot , character type , and similar situations discussed above . Bassey and Fowosanu take their matter to the customary court . It is seen here that Bassey insists on getting the family house , though everybody , including the judge ( Apena ), pleads for mercy . His daughter runs to him to persuade him to drop the case and let peace reign , but he , like Shylock , is adamant and incorrigible because he seems to be after revenge for the trouble Fowosanu causes them .
Taking a clue from the same way Portia and Nerissa intervene in the court proceeding , Boma , Tosan , and her maid make a case for Alhaji Fowosanu . Boma whispers to the judge ( Apena ) to remind him what the contract states : Bassey is entitled to the building but not the land . Osofisan hybridises Portia ’ s monologue as Tosan cross-examines Bassey ( Shylock ); she emphasises that Bassey is entitled to only his collateral , a house , and not the land it is built on , a dilemma similar to Portia asking Shylock to cut his pound of flesh without spilling blood ( Act 4 , Scene 1 ).
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