Question

Why does Shakespeare use music in this scene ( ACT V,SCENE I) ?What purpose does it serve?

Answer 1

In the play "Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare , in act 5 acene 1 music is used while Portia the heiress of Belmont enters. At the begining it alludes the notion said to have originated with Pythagoras and described by Plato as 'The music of the spheres'. The Elizabethans also believed in the theory that the motion of each planet produced a sound,the combination created harmony in universe.

Thus here shakespare highlights the Renaissance believe of music of spheres. Moreover he highlights a nature of a man who doesnot like music.

Nothing is good unless it is seen in its own surroundings. As the greater beauty of music can be attributed to the silence at night.