playwrights deploy chameleonic elements in their ‘ plot structure ’, ‘ themes ’, ‘ language ’, and ‘ characters ’ portrayed . Acknowledging the ‘ fundamental fact of mutability ’ present in Shakespeare ’ s work is imperative , 9 which Osofisan demonstrates with his adoption of pastiches – the deliberate imitation of existing works ' themes , styles and motifs . 10
Pastiche and Hybridity in The Merchant and Love ’ s
In The Merchant , Shakespeare conscientiously imitates two plots from these hypotexts : Ser Giovanni ’ s II Pecarone and Richard Robinson ’ s version of the Gesta Romanorum . 11 The former was written in 1378 by Giovanni Fiorentino , and it provides Shakespeare with the plot structure of usury and pound of flesh in The Merchant , while the latter provides him with the casket scene . 12 In the short story - II Pecarone , a man who has three sons and is about to die , shares his property with two sons , leaving his lastborn , Giannetto , with nothing . Giannetto approaches his father , Bundi , to ask why he is excluded , and his father replies that he does it intentionally because he has a different plan for him . He advises Giannetto to travel to Venice to live with his friend , Ansaldo , who is already preparing to meet him . 13
However , in Shakespeare ’ s appropriation of this short story , the characters have different names : Giannetto in the hypotext becomes Bassanio , and Ansaldo becomes Antonio , Venice ’ s most successful Christian Merchant in The Merchant . Shakespeare opens his play with Antonio and other merchants in dialogue before Bassanio enters . Bassanio emerges to seek his godfather ’ s consent to journey to Belmont to seek Portia as a wife . Antonio responds : ‘ Thou know ’ st that all my fortunes are at sea ; Neither have I money nor commodity ,’ 14 and he considers ways to source for it . However , in the hypotext , Giannetto ’ s godfather , Ansaldo , has money , ships , and goods , which he gives him for his mission to Belmonte , where Portia resides . Shakespeare portrays Bassanio as a prodigal son . He tells Antonio
9