Analysis of the Merchant Of Venice by Shakespeare - Essay Example

Explain both anti-semitic reading and sympathetic (not anti semitic) reading that can be made of the Merchant Of Venice by Shakespeare There are many fairytale elements in The Merchant οf Venice. For example, there is the idea οf being three different items such as the three caskets, three thousand ducats in the bond and the three marriages. There is also the idea οf deception, which is featured in many fairy tales. An example οf this idea is when Jessica betrays her father to elope with Lorenzo. There is also disguise, when Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as male layers to save Antonio from the bond. The idea οf Shylock taking a pound οf flesh from Antonios body is a gory image, which makes Shylock a typical villain from a fairytale. The element οf a princess who is imprisoned in a tower is added when Portia is not able to choose her own suitor due to her deceased fathers wishes, as the suitor must choose from one οf three caskets, and if he chooses the correct one he will be able to marry Portia. However, Portias ideal suitor, Bassanio, choosing the correct casket, completes this element and they are able to fall in love and live happily ever after. Although The Merchant οf Venice displays a few characteristics from fairytales, there are very obvious elements missing such as magic and a moral to all that has happened. There is normally an obvious villain as well; although Shylock is the villain in this play, there are parts where we do feel sorry for him. (Buckley 20-22) The main characteristic that The Merchant οf Venice contains is that οf the number three being used throughout the duration οf the play. This characteristic occurs several times and plays a significant part in the storyline. A very popular fairytale that contains this element οf the three is Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Throughout this story, the number three is used many times; the three bears, the three bowls οf porridge and the three beds. There are a lot οf examples οf "three" in the Merchant οf Venice, similar to that οf the aforementioned fairytale. There are the three caskets containing either gold, silver or lead, which are a highly important part οf the story. As the caskets are an important part οf the play, this emphasizes the importance οf this fairytale element. Money is also οf great importance and is shown using the element οf three as well. This part οf the play involves three οf the main characters (Shylock, Antonio and Bassanio). The bond made between Shylock and Antonio is worth three thousand ducats and Antonio has three months to pay it back. When Antonio is not able to pay back the debt on time, he offers Shylock three times the original bond. (London 85-87) Often in fairytales, characters hide their true identities to help achieve something. There are several examples οf this. In Little Red Riding Hood, the wolf disguises himself as Red Riding Hoods grandmother to be able to eat her. In Snow White, the evil queen disguises herself as an old woman to sell a poisoned apple to Snow White in order to kill her. Sleeping Beauty is another example οf disguise and deception as the witch coaxes Sleeping Beauty to use the spinning wheel so that she will prick her finger and die. An example οf disguise and deception in The Merchant οf Venice is Jessica disguising herself as a man and running away to elope with Lorenzo. She betrays her father and her religion by doing this. Portia and Nerissa disguise themselves as male lawyers because Bassanio was so worried about what would happen to Antonio as a result οf the bond. At the time, women were no considered able enough to have such a profession. These points are extremely important because if Jessica had no run away, Shylock may have been more willing to accept Antonios offer and have been more merciful to him. Portia and Nerissa have also deceived their Bassanio and Graziano by making them think that they had given their rings away when they had really given them to their wives. (Julius 41-43) Some fairytales have an aspect that is somewhat gruesome. An example οf this is in Cinderella when the ugly sisters cut off their toes to make the shoe fit. In Little Red Riding Hood, the lumberjack cuts the wolf open and the grandmother comes out which is also a rather gory image. The gory aspect οf The Merchant οf Venice is the bond; if Antonio cannot repay his debt (three thousand ducats) in three months, then Shylock will be able to take a pound οf flesh. This part οf the play is in Act 1 Scene 3, using the number three to signify the importance οf this part yet again. (Vogel 231-241) Chance and fate are huge part οf the play as well as in fairytales. In Cinderella, it by chance that she drops her shoe at the dance so the Prince is able to find her again and is it is fate that they are together again. In Beauty and The Beast, Belles father gets lost in the woods near the Beasts castle which is fate as he able to see his beloved daughter again. Throughout the play, Shylocks fate and chance changes. At the beginning οf the play, we see him to be in a strong position as he is able to make Antonio agree to this outrageous bond. We see him to be even stronger when the debt has not been repaid and he has won. However, when Shylock discovers that he cannot spill a Venetian citizens blood, his fate has changed and he has lost. His fortune also changes, because his wealth has gone to his daughter. He also had to agree to "presently become a Christian" meaning he had lost his religion as well. In the scene with the caskets, there could be an element οf chance there as well as you have to choose which casket to choose. However, the idea οf the lottery was there fore a reason; whoever chose the right casket would be the ideal suitor for Portia. Bassanios fortune changes as he was desperate to marry Portia and was able to when he had chosen the correct casket. This is the same idea as Cinderella, as the oppressed character (Cinderella and Bassanio) manage to win the prize (the Prince and Portia). Love is important in fairytales and the play. The majority οf fairytales involve love in some way; in Beauty and the Beast, Belle and the Beast fall in love, in Snow White, the Prince and Snow White do as well and the same thing also happens in Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty. There are several relationships in The Merchant οf Venice. Portia and Bassanio were brought together by Portias deceased fathers will, Nerissa and Graziano met when Bassanio decided which casket to choose and Jessica and Lorenzo ran away to elope, whether it was because they really did love each other or it was just to spite Jessicas father, Shylock, as Jessica was Jewish and Lorenzo was a Christian. In Aladdin, Princess Jasmine is forced to marry a suitor that her father, the Sultan, finds suitable. Jasmine does not agree with this and wishes to choose her own partner, in this case, Aladdin. Portia is in the same situation here, as she does not agree with her fathers idea οf the lottery to begin with. However, unlike Jasmine, Portia does not defy her fathers wishes and she realizes that her father has her best interests at heart. Her fathers will means that Portia eventually gets the person that she wishes to marry, unlike Jasmine. Families are usual incomplete in fairytales, such as Belle from Beauty and the Beast does not have a mother, as does Cinderella. In The Merchant οf Venice, Jessicas mother has passed away, making her family incomplete. Her and Shylock do not see eye to eye, such as Cinderella and Snow White with their stepmothers. Their relationships are very poor because οf this, which is important as if the relationship between Jessica and Shylock has been a good one, she would not have betrayed him and run away. The ending οf a fairytale usually has a moral so that we can learn something from it. Beauty and the Beast teaches that it is inner beauty that counts. The Merchant οf Venice does not have a moral as such, but it does depend on what audience is reading the play. The play was written in approximately 1597, during the Elizabethan era. The Elizabethan audience would have been anti-Semitic and therefore would have had no sympathy whatsoever for Shylock, simply because he was Jewish. However, modern audiences would be more sympathetic towards Shylocks feelings now because we live in a more multi-cultural society. Events such as the Holocaust have made people realize that just because a person is a different race or religion, it doesnt make them any different. We would be much less likely to agree with the Elizabethan audience about Shylock. There could also be a moral in the casket scene; that if you think hard enough before doing something, you will be rewarded. In this case, Bassanio thought hard about which casket to choose and when he did so, he was rewarded with Portias hand in marriage. The Merchant οf Venice has a happy ending for everybody except Shylock, who is the villain. In an anti-Semitic society, we would say that Shylock is a villain but he is not considered a villain nowadays. Shylock is a villain in the sense that he wished harm towards Antonio and cared more about himself and his wealth than other people, but audiences at the time would have felt no sympathy towards him simply because he was Jewish. Shylock may have a few qualities οf a typical villain in fairytales, but we feel sympathy for him at times, like when his daughter betrays him and when he is forced to convert to Christianity. On last reason that we cannot really consider The Merchant οf Venice to be a fairytale is because there are too many characters. The plot is a lot more complex than those οf our traditional fairytales. In fairytales, there is usually one main character and the plot revolves around them. The reason the plot in The Merchant οf Venice is more complex is because there are several different storylines that intertwine for the ending to make sense. It can be argued that the Merchant οf Venice is a racist play by modern standards but this is because nowadays England is populated by many different religions and races so prejudice is not only frowned upon, but also is against the law because all human beings are seen as equal whereas in the 16th century there were no different races or religions unless they were practiced in secret, and also against the law. (Plax 69-73) While in view οf the condemnation οf racism against the play, I will study three scenes in detail. Beginning with Act one Scene three. In this scene Bassanio, Antonio and shylock enter into the bond οf which so much οf the play is based. This scene I feel has a highly controversial content. It commences with Bassanio (the merchant Antonios destitute friend) asking Shylock (the Jewish money-lender) for money to go see the woman he wants to marry (Portia). Bassanio requires 3000 ducats (Venetian money) for three months. After these three months on the due date Antonios (the rich Venetian merchant) ships will have returned and so Antonio shall pay back the money, Bassanio needs to borrow money as Antonios ship carry all οf his money and they are at sea. Shylock has been pestered and assaulted by Antonio and he makes a heart-felt plea to be considered as a human and not an animal or a lower being just because οf his religion. The problems a modern production faces when they set out upon this task is that the lay is so unorthodox and not politically correct and could be criticized for its use οf language and the content οf racism that has caused so much controversy over the years. This can lead to people not appreciating the full content οf the play as much may have to be cut in order for the play to be performed to a modern audience without any οf them taking offence. The channel four production, for example is that as it tries to be politically correct, it looses much οf its anti-Antonio/ pro-Shylock content in act 1 scene three, such as Antonio: " The devil can cite scripture for his own purpose". The devil it refers to is an anti-Semitic name for a Jew, this has been edited from the channel four production because οf the nature οf prejudice in the line that implies that the Jewish scriptures are enabled to be adapted to the use οf the Jew under question, this could be offensive as it implies that the scriptures (torah) support the money lending frowned upon by many even though it was the only way a Jew in the state οf Venice and many other places could earn any living at all. Also edited out was again Antonio: "A goodly Apple rotten at heart" the "apple" is the Torah (Jewish holy scriptures), which again is fairly insulting to the Jewish faith to hear that Antonio finds their way οf life evil. At the same time as both οf these comments are made as well as other types during the scene you find that it could be interpreted that Bassanio and Antonio were obviously scrutinising Shylock for a sign οf embarrassment or slip-up in some way, overtly discussing him right in front οf him, even in his own office which is very disrespectful toward Shylock. The lines that are hazardous in this play that were left in the channel four production such as: Shylock: " I hate him for he is a Christian", this is blatantly obvious that it is a racist comment however it was left in the play, yet I feel that this unbalances the hatred and sorrow you feel for b9oth Shylock and Antonio that upon reading the full script you feel fairly equally, tipping the balance toward hatred οf Shylock. Shylock: "You, that did void your rheum upon my beard And foot me as you spurn a stranger cur", these lines mean that Antonio has spat upon Shyl9ocks beard and kicked him as you would a stray dog purely because he is a Jew, further on in the speech he mentions all the bad things Antonio has ever done to him, and now Antonio is asking for forgiveness purely so he can borrow money οf Shylock without apology. This may not be particularly offensive to one culture but for anyone to spit on anyone else because οf his or her beliefs is disgusting and odious. Then Shylock agrees that Bassanio can have his 3000 ducats as long as Antonio is bound without interest, by a deal that is legally made at a notary for if Antonio does not payback the loan by the final date, Shylock may cut a pound οf flesh from anywhere in his body that Shylock chooses, but when you realize the hurtful things Antonio has done towards Shylock and fellow Jews you can begin to appreciate why Shylock wants to kill Antonio which is inevitable if Shylock cuts a pound οf flesh from Antonios body with the medicinal standards and technology being what it was compared to what it is today in modern hospitals. The next scene I am going to study is Act two Scene one. In this scene Portia is meeting the Prince οf Morocco who has come to try his luck for Portias hand in marriage, however Portia herself cannot choose, each οf her suitors must pick a casket either gold, silver or lead, only one contains Portias picture and therefore herself in marriage. (Coonradt 74-76) The Prince begins with the line "Mislike me not for my complexion" this implies that he is often disliked because οf the color οf his skin, similar to the life οf Shylock, he then goes on to say, that if you should find the whitest οf white people and see whos blood is more red with love, his would be more red and therefore he would be a better husband. Then Portia says " Yourself, renowned prince, then stood as fair As any comer I have lookd on yet For my affection", however as much as this seems like a complement it is in fact an insult because she has disliked all οf her suitors that have come to her that are οf a different culture to her own for example she disliked and commented on her hatred and disgust οf them to her maid-in-waiting such as the Scotsman, Englishman, German, Frenchman and Spaniard that has come to propose marriage. This scene does not have a highly racist content on its own, however when studied along with the other scenes involving Portia and her suitors you can discover many remarks that avoid confrontation with discourteous insults, which is helpful to a modern production as very little would have to be cut. The next scene I will analyze for racist or prejudiced content is Act four Scene 1. This scene takes place in the court in which Portia (By now Bassanios wife) as she is playing a man to fight the case against Shylock, who still intends to kill Antonio because he believes it is now his right. After many pleas οf mercy to Shylock from Portia (in this scene called Balthazar) and the Duke οf Venice he still refuses thus showing all the determined nature οf his quest almost to bring to justice the person to whom he owes so much malicious behavior by way οf insults and generally discourteous acts οf racism. At this point after reading much οf the play, you begin to feel sorry for Shylock, his daughter has ran away with a Christian to get married, after taking what was left οf his money and everyone is teasing him and pushing him over the edge with anger which he feels he needs to vent on a Christian for after all, they have caused so much οf his suffering. Then you realize how unkind and patient he has become, although Bassanio has offered far too much money to Shylock, Shylock refuses still craving his pound οf human flesh which is useless to all, except for those wishing to kill someone. All the way through this scene the Christians involved plainly call him "Jew" behind his back and to his face as well as though he didnt deserve a name at all, because οf his race and religion. At the end οf the scene after he is deprived οf his pound οf flesh because the bond doesnt mention blood, as it is illegal for a Jew to spill one drop οf Christian blood, because it was believed that Christian blood was more valuable than Jewish blood. He is also deprived οf the extra money he was offered earlier by Bassanio, and then he is cheated out οf even the money he was owed. The court then decide that the bond was in fact illegal, because it would prove that Shylock was guilty οf plotting to kill a Christian (a crime punishable by death although I doubt Jews would have had the same law applied if a Christian killed a Jew) and so all οf his worldly goods and assets were absorbed away from him, half to the state οf Venice and half to Antonio, who promises that after he (Antonio) is dead, the money shall go to Jessica and Lorenzo (by now Shylocks daughter and son-in-law) which is purely teasing him, that the child who disowned him and her faith should receive all the money he has worked to build up. After all οf that he wants to leave, but he is not allowed, there is another clause, that puts his life at the hands οf the Duke, who then says, "thou shalt see the difference οf our spirit, I pardon thee thy life before thou ask it:" The Duke, thinking he is being generous, forgiving and merciful, when in fact Shylock would rather die, Antonio is forcing him to give up his faith and give his disowned daughter money, whereas all the Christians believe this to be incredibly merciful, Shylock sees it to be a more bitter punishment that death. He tries to argue a tearful speech "Nay, take my life and all, pardon not that. You take my house when you do take the prop That doth sustain my house: you take my life When you do take the means by which I live." This speech, heartfelt, makes you wonder whether killing him would be better, almost more Christian, to kill him seems more merciful than to leave him as a Christian, with no money, no business and no daughter. In conclusion I would say that in fact, the racism upon which you first encounter is a vital piece οf a play, which on many levels could seem entirely different. Ive found that at first, if you take away the racist comments, could be a story to read, however with the racism and underlying messages I believe that you experience a new side οf human nature, that you may already know exists. It shows us the morality behind human nature as in an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth et cetera. The principle behind this and the play is the same, if someone treats you badly, for instance in racism, then οf course you want revenge, which is what Shylock wants, but in the end it can and should be denied, however if it was an eye for an eye the world would be blind and there is no point in beginning the process in the first place. During Shakespeares time there was a lot οf racism, purely because οf the fact that there were few if any different cultures in England, and what is new is always strange, and although it seems difficult for a modern production to face the difficulties involved with this production, I feel it would take to much away from English literature and psychology even to edit anything really out οf this play because it seems that it gives an insight into the wrongs οf human nature then and now, and how much destruction it can cause. I also feel that the audience οf a production should be aware οf the content οf this play, before seeing it as I dont feel any οf the content could be edited. Works Cited Buckley Jr., William F., In Search Οf Anti-Semitism. National Review, 12/30/1991, Vol. 43 Issue 24, p20-62 Coonradt, Nicole M., Shakespeares Grand Deception: The Merchant οf Venice—Anti-Semitism as "Uncanny Causality" and the Catholic-Protestant Problem. Religion & the Arts, Mar2007, Vol. 11 Issue 1, p74-97 Julius, Anthony., Reflections on T.S. Eliot, Anti-Semitism, and Literary Form. ANQ, Fall98, Vol. 11 Issue 4, p43 London, John., William Shakespeare: The Merchant οf Venice. Shakespeare in Southern Africa, 2007, Vol. 19, p85-87 Plax, Martin J., Shakespeare, Shylock and US. Society, Sep/Oct2004, Vol. 41 Issue 6, p69-73 Vogel, Dan., Balaam, Shakespeare, Shylock. Jewish Bible Quarterly, Oct-Dec2007, Vol. 35 Issue 4, p231-241 Read More