The themes and patterns within the play are often very similar to the themes and patterns that are commonly found in fairytales, for example, moral dilemmas, marriages and ultimately happy endings. Also many of the characters in 'The Merchant of Venice' are mirrored in classic fairytales.
             The most obvious similarity between fairytales and 'The Merchant of Venice' is the setting. Belmont was manufactured to enhance the ideas of magic and fairytales. It is a made up place and consequently can be described in any way and used for any purpose. It is also first mentioned in a way that immediately associates it with beauty and good things. 'In Belmont is a lady richly left, And she is fair, and fairer than that word, of wondrous virtues'. Shakespeare has also used juxtaposition to emphasise the beauty and goodness of Belmont, by having every other scene set in Venice. Throughout the play, Venice is used as a place of deceit, greed and business transactions. These do not illustrate it as a good place. For example the very first line spoken while in Venice is 'In sooth I know not why I am so sad'. This immediately sets up a negative image, which is now associated with Venice. There is a bad atmosphere closely linked with Venice as it's the setting for things like Antonio's prejudice against Shylock 'You spat on me on Wednesday last, you spurned me such a day'. Having the two scenes so close together only magnifies how Belmont is a magical, fairytale like place. Furthermore, all the people who Shakespeare had intended to be liked by the audience end up in Belmont, living happily ever after. Meanwhile the 'villain', Shylock, is left in Venice. This all links into a classic fairytale and their use of morals, i.e. good people eventually live happily ever after while bad people get their comeuppance.
             Shakespeare has also used some typical fairytale techniques. For e
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