Of Venice Essay, Research Paper
The Role of Prejudice In The Merchant of Venice
This paper discusses the subject of prejudice in the William Shakespeare
play, The Merchant of Venice.
I. Introduction
William Shakespeare’s satirical comedy, The Merchant of Venice, believed
to have been written in 1596 was an examination of hatred and greed.The premise
deals with the antagonistic relationship between Shylock, a Jewish money-lender
and Antonio, the Christian merchant, who is as generous as Shylock is greedy,
particularly with his friend, Bassanio.The two have cemented a history of
personal insults, and Shylock’s loathing of Antonio intensifies when Antonio
refuses to collect interest on loans.Bassanio wishes to borrow 3,000 ducats from
Antonio so that he may journey to Belmont and ask the beautiful and wealthy
Portia to marry him.Antonio borrows the money from Shylock, and knowing he will
soon have several ships in port, agrees to part with a pound of flesh if the
loan is not repaid within three months. Shylock’s abhorrence of Antonio is
further fueled by his daughter Jessica’s elopement with Lorenzo, another friend
of Antonio’s.
Meanwhile, at Belmont, Portia is being courted by Bassanio, and wedding
plans continue when, in accordance with her father’s will, Bassanio is asked to
choose from three caskets — one gold, one silver and one lead.Bassanio
correctly selects the lead casket that contains Portia’s picture.The couple’s
joy is short-lived, however, when Bassanio receives a letter from Antonio,
informing him of the loss of his ships and of Shylock’s determination to carry
out the terms of the loan.Bassanio and Portia marry, as do his friend, Gratiano
and Portia’s maid, Nerissa.
The men return to Venice, but are unable to assist Antonio in court.In
desperation, Portia disguises herself as a lawyer and arrives in Venice with her
clerk (Nerissa) to argue the case.She reminds Shylock that he can only collect
the flesh that the agreement calls for, and that if any blood is shed, his
property will be confiscated.At this point, Shylock agrees to accept the money
instead of the flesh, but the court punishes him for his greed by forcing him to
become a Christian and turn over half of his property to his estranged daughter,
Jessica.
II.Body
Prejudice is a dominant theme in The Merchant of Venice, most notably
taking the form of anti-semitism.Shylock is stereotypically described as
“costumed in a recognizably Jewish way in a long gown of gabardine, probably
black, with a red beard and/or wing like that of Judas, and a hooked putty nose
or bottle nose” (Charney, p. 41). Shylock is a defensive character because
society is constantly reminding him he is different in religion, looks, and
motivation.He finds solace in the law because he, himself, is an outcast of
society.Shylock is an outsider who is not privy to the rights accorded to the
citizens of Venice.The Venetians regard Shylock as a capitalist motivated solely
by greed, while they saw themselves as Christian paragons of piety. When
Shylock considers taking Antonio’s bond using his ships as collateral, his
bitterness is evident when he quips, “But ships are but board, sailors but
men.There be land rats and water rats, water thieves and land thieves — I mean
pirates — and then there is the peril of waters, winds, and rocks”
(I.iii.25).Shylock believes the Venetians are hypocrites because of their slave
ownership.The Venetians justify their practice of slavery by saying simply, “The
slaves are ours” (IV.i.98-100).During the trial sequence, Shylock persuasively
argues, “You have among you many a purchased slave, which (like your asses and
your dogs and mules).You us in abject and in slavish parts, because you bought
them, shall I say to you, let them be free, marry them to your heirs…you will
answer, `The slaves are ours,’ — so do I answer you:The pound of flesh (which I
demand of him) is dearly bought, ’tis mine and I will have it” (IV.i.90-100).
Shakespeare’s depiction of the Venetians is paradoxical.They are, too, a
capitalist people and readily accept his money, however, shun him
personally.Like American society, 16th century Venice sought to solidify their
commercial reputation through integration, but at the same time, practiced
social exclusion.Though they extended their hands to his Shylock’s money, they
turned their backs on him socially.When Venetian merchants needed usurer capital
to finance their business ventures, Jews flocked to Venice in large numbers.By
the early 1500s, the influx of Jews posed a serious threat to the native
population, such that the Venetian government needed to confine the Jews to a
specific district.This district was called geto nuovo (New Foundry) and was the
ancestor of the modern-day ghetto.In this way, Venetians could still accept
Jewish money, but control their influence upon their way of life.
Antonio, though a main character in The Merchant of Venice remains a
rather ambiguous figure.Although he has many friends, he still remains a
solitary and somewhat melancholy figure.He is generous to a fault with his
friends, especially Bassanio, which lends itself to speculation as to his
sexuality.His perceived homosexuality makes him somewhat of a pariah among his
countrymen, much like Shylock.Shylock’s loathing of Antonio, he explains simply,
“How like a fawning publican he looks!I hate him for he is a Christian”
(I.iii.38-39).Antonio holds Shylock in the same contempt, trading barbs with him
and spitting at him.His contempt for shylock is further demonstrated when he
addresses Shylock in the third person, despite his presence.Antonio’s prejudice
is clearly evident when he asks, “Is he yet possessed? (I.iii.61).The word
“possessed” is synonymous with the Devil in the Christian world. In his mind,
his greed and his Judaism are one, and because Shylock lacks his (Antonio’s)
Christian sensibilities, he is therefore the reincarnation of the Devil and the
embodiment of all that is evil. Images of a dog, which is coincidentally God
spelled backwards, are abound.Society must restrain the Jew because he is an
untamed animal. Shylock sees himself in society’s eyes and muses, “Thou
call’dst me a dog before thou hadst a cause.But since I am a dog, beware my
fangs (III.iii.6-7).”When Antonio spits on Shylock in public, this is perfectly
acceptable behavior in a society where Jews are considered on the same level as
dogs.Antonio is presented as a “good” Christian who ultimately shows mercy on
his adversary, the “evil” Jew, Shylock.By calling for Shylock’s conversion to
Christianity, Antonio is saving a sinner’s soul, and by embracing Christianity,
he will be forced to repent and mend his avarice ways.
Most of the women in The Merchant of Venice, true to the Elizabethan
time period, are little more than an attractive presence. Despite their
immortalization in art, Shakespeare, like his contemporaries, appears to
perceive women as little more than indulged play things with little
society than physical beauty.Shylock is devastated when his daughter leaves him
to marry a Christian, he regards her as little more than one of his possession,
just has he regards jewels and ducats.Portia, though possessing both strength
and intelligence, she, too, is inclined to prejudicial judgments.She takes a
distainful view of the lowly class, and dismisses the 3,000 ducats as “a petty
debt.”Although she truly loves Bassanio in spite of his low social rank,
Bassanio is initially portrayed as a crass materialist who regards Portia as
little more than a prize to be won.Only by marrying her can he achieve any kind
of social nobility.Although Portia plays a powerful role in the play’s climax,
she must disguise herself as a man for her words to be taken seriously.
Racial prejudice is also hinted at in The Merchant of Venice.The Prince
of Morocco, though elegant in both manner and dress, has a pomposity which
perhaps stems from being a dark-skinned man not altogether accepted in the
predominantly white Christian surroundings. The bias of the city-state ruler is
evident when during the trial, the Duke of Venice tells Shylock, “We all expect
a gentle answer, Jew” (IV.i.34).The implication is that Christians are the
models of gentility and social grace, whereas Jews are coarse in both manner and
words.
Is Shylock really the epitome of evil?Over the years, the “pound of
flesh” phrase has been interpreted by both scholars and students alike.Author
W.H. Auden draws a similarity between Shylock’s demand for payment in a pound of
flesh with the crucifixion of Christ.Auden wrote, “Christ may substitute himself
for man, but the debt has to be paid by death on the cross.The devil is defeated,
not because he has no right to demand a penalty, but because he does not know
the penalty has been already suffered” (Auden, p. 227).Shylock regards Antonio
as his number one nemesis because of the countless public humiliations he has
subjected him to and because Antonio has purposely hindered his business by
refusing to collect interest on loans.Would Shylock have demanded a pound of
flesh from anyone else in the world but Antonio? Does this make him a bad
person or just a human one?By herding the Jews like cattle into the confines of
the New Foundry district, aren’t the Venetians symbolically extracting their own
pound of flesh from the Jewish people?Why is Shylock singled out for his
behavior?Because he is Jewish and therefore incapable of humanity in the eyes of
the Christian world?
III. Conclusion
Was William Shakespeare a bigot?His perceived anti-semitism in The
Merchant of Venice depicts the Elizabethan perception of Jews, a people who were
truly foreign to them in both appearance and demeanor. Edward I banished Jews
from his kingdom in the 11th century, however Jewish stereotypes abound in
England throughout the Renaissance. Although the average Elizabethan had
probably encountered only a few Jews in his lifetime, his church sermons
condemned them with words like “blasphemous,” “vain,” and “deceitful.”The
Christians considered the lending of money to be sacrilegious, but the using of
this money to finance their businesses was not.The Merchant in Venice is no more
anti-semitic than Christopher Marlowe’s earlier play, The Jew of Malta. The
parallels between Marlowe’s protagonist, Barabas, and Shylock are
startling.Marlowe’s play begins with a description of Barabas “in his counting-
house, with heaps of gold before him,” discussing with his comrades his world of
“infinite riches” (I.i.37).Barabas’ self-serving deception and superficiality
are identical to Shylock’s.Marlowe’s character, Ferneze acts as a self-appointed
spokesman for the Christian community when he dismisses Barabas and all Jews
with the words, “No, Jew, like infidels.For through our sufferance of your
hateful lives, who stand accursed in the sight of heaven” (I.ii.73-75).Couldn’t
Antonio have uttered the same words to Shylock?Both authors were products of the
Elizabethan world in which they lived, and their writings were bound to be a
reflection of their times.Was Shakespeare an anti-semitic personally, or was The
Merchant of Venice a piece of timely social commentary?This will be the fodder
for much discussion and argument for years to come.There must be a distinction
between Shakespeare the writer and Shakespeare the man, and while there may be
similarities, they should be regarded as two separate entities. However, when
one reads The Merchant of Venice and speeches illustrating the hypocrisy that
was so prevalent in Christian society, one can almost sense Shakespeare is
satirically winking at us.Though the world has moved away from the rigid
Elizabethan social convention, have times or people really changed?The continued
bloodshed in the Middle East, the ongoing struggle for racial equality in Africa,
religious strife in Northern Ireland and the continued practice of genocide in
the world suggest otherwise.What about American society?The recent criminal
trial and subsequent not guilty verdict in the O.J. Simpson case show that
racial lines are still carefully drawn.Isn’t O.J. Simpson reminiscent of Shylock,
an outcast in white, Beverly Hills social strata in much the same way as Shylock
was in Venice?Hisupbringing in the slums of San Francisco made him as foreign to
southern California socialites as Shylock was to the Venetian
bourgeoisie.Despite being found not guilty by a jury of his peers, he has been
ostracized by this society nevertheless, and in establishments where his money
was once accepted, he, now is not.Pending the outcome of his civil trial, he may
lose his money and property as did Shylock.In The Merchant of Venice,
Shakespeare articulates the frustrations of the oppressed masses for all time
with the words of Shylock.”Hath not a Jew eyes?Hath not a Jew hands, organs,
dimensions, senses, affections, passions — fed with the same food, hurt with
the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed
and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is?If you pfick at us,
do we not bleed?If you tickle us, do we not laugh?If you poison us, do we not
die?And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?If we are like you in the rest, we
will resemble you in that.If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his
humility?Revenge!If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by
Christian example?Why, revenge!The villainy you teach me I will execute”
(II.i.55-69).Quite simply, society teaches by example.
REFERENCES
Auden, W.H. 1965. “Brothers and Others,” The Dyer’s Hands and Other Essays. New
York: Random House.
Charney, Maurice. 1993. All of Shakespeare. New York: Columbia University Press.
Marlowe, Christopher. Ed. Russell A. Fraser and Norman Rabkin. 1976. Drama of
the English Renaissance I: The Tutor Period. New York: Macmillan Publishing Co.,
Inc.
Shakespeare, William. Ed. Kenneth Myrick. 1965. The Merchant of Venice. New
York: Signet Books.