Verse and Prose

  Verse and prose are the two main techniques of written and spoken language, and Shakespeare often uses the two in the same work, such as the Merchant of Venice, where verse and prose have different usage to express different things.
  In Merchant of Venice, verse, with a more formal metrical structure, is usually used by characters with high social status. reflecting the character's class, refinement, education, et cetera. For example, Portia's mercy speech is written entirely in verse, probably to reflect the refinement and insight of the topic. 
  Verse is also sometimes used by all characters to express their strong emotions, such as in Act One, Scene Three, when Shylock criticizes Antonio ("How like a fawning publican he looks!"), when he is feeling bitter and spiteful. Verse, the traditional form of poetry, is also used often to perform a poem or song in Merchant of Venice, such as the song that is sang in Act Three, Scene Two, as Bassanio contemplates which casket to choose ("Tell me where is fancy bred,").
  In contrast, prose, with an ordinary grammatical structure and normal flow of speech, is generally used in Merchant of Venice by commoners and "aliens" such as Shylock, as it contains coarse language and rude topics. Shylock, considered an "alien" for his religion in Venice, often speaks in prose, such as when he gives his famous "Have not a Jew eyes?" speech.
  Also, prose is also used to express coarse observations as well as one-line replies, and to show drunkenness.
  However, the usage of verse and prose can also be reversed sometimes to let the commoner characters use verse and the nobility characters use prose, to reflect their emotions as well as the true personality of the character, such as in Act One, Scene Two, when Portia comments on all of her suitors in a very arrogant manner, using prose.