Chapters
Have you ever wondered what makes a story timeless and relatable?
It's none other than impactful and engaging themes conveyed by the author to the readers as the story progresses, where every part of the story is connected smoothly.
In this article, we will discuss four themes from The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare.
Theme 1: Religious Prejudice and Discrimination
This theme reflects the main source of conflict between Antonio and Shylock — the two main characters of the Merchant of Venice.
The religious tension shown in the setting is due to a perceived superiority among the Christian community (represented by Antonio) as opposed to the marginalised Jewish community (represented by Shylock).
Both characters hate each other because of their differing religions, a tension evident right from the beginning of the play.
| Evidence of religious prejudice and hatred among the two characters | Setting | Key Quotations |
|---|---|---|
| Shylock refuses to dine with Bassanio and Antonio out of his Jewish heritage as he cannot eat pork unlike Christians. | Act 1, Scene 3 | Shylock: "Yes--to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following, but I will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you." |
| Shylock hates Antonio because he is a Christian and his moneylending habits without interest. | Act 1, Scene 3 | Shylock: I hate him for he is a Christian, But more for that in low simplicity He lends out money gratis and brings down The rate of usance here with us in Venice. |
| Shylock has suffered many humiliations at the hands of Antonio in the name of religion. | Act 1, Scene 3 | Shylock: You call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog, And spet upon my Jewish gaberdine-- And all for use of that which is mine own. Well then, it now appears you need my help. |
This strained relationship led Shylock to devise a plan for revenge against Antonio when Antonio's close friend, Bassanio sought his financial assistance for three thousand ducats, with Antonio acting as his guarantor.
The back-and-forth conversations between Antonio and Shylock during the establishment of the financial contract showcased accumulated disgust, grudge and bitterness.
It is openly implied that Shylock was not after Antonio's wealth, but his life when he demanded a pound of Antonio's flesh to be cut off if he could not repay the contract.
Theme 2: Complexity of Wealth
Money matters is another major theme of this play.
Both Antonio and Shylock have high-risk, high-return businesses. Despite knowing that being a guarantor puts him in a financially vulnerable position while his merchant ships are away, Antonio is willing to take a risk to help his friend, Bassanio financially.
Additionally, he was also confident that if his ships returned to shore on time, he could repay Shylock three times the amount that Bassanio had borrowed.
Antonio:
Act 1, Scene 3
Within these two months--that’s a month before
This bond expires--I do expect return
Of thrice three times the value of this bond.
Similarly, Shylock is a moneylender who gains profit by charging his customers an amount of loan interest. However, he chose not to charge Antonio or Bassanio any interest, as he viewed his personal agenda as more important than wealth.
On the other hand, Bassanio, the link who tied both of them together, was a reckless squanderer of wealth. Despite his lack of wealth (or sense to manage his wealth), he sets his eyes to win the hand of a wealthy and beautiful heiress in Belmont, Portia.
Ironically, Portia is subject to her late father's wishes over her future husband even though she is ultra-wealthy. This theme shows that while a lack of stable financial holding can lead one to be in a vulnerable position, being wealthy is not everything. For instance, these characters prioritize other things over wealth.
- Antonio: Friendship
- Shylock: Revenge
- Portia: Independence and freedom
Theme 3: Revenge vs Mercy
This is another prominent theme of this play, which is especially highlighted during the climax.
The audience wonders if Shylock will be successful in seeking revenge in his attempt to cut off a pound of Antonio's flesh. Shylock refuses to accept any money from Bassiano as compensation and dismissed the Duke's request for him to show mercy to Antonio.
Duke
Act 4, Scene 1
How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none?
This suspense is further fuelled when Portia disguises herself as a male lawyer, Balthazar to help Antonio during the trial.
Portia initially pleaded with Shylock to show mercy by emphasising that he can seek justice and mercy together. She elaborated extensively on the noble qualities of mercy, even describing it as a virtue that's equivalent to divine power. Continuing on a religious note, she argued that just as God showed mercy to us, we are also obligated to show mercy to others.
She advised Shylock to show mercy by taking three times the money as compensation and nullifying the agreement made but Shylock was adamant to proceed.
Will revenge win or mercy prevail?
In a brilliant legal twist — orchestrated by Portia's legal insights and arguments, Antonio's life was spared. The tables have turned and now it's Shylock's turn to be at the mercy of the court and Antonio.
Portia:
Act 4, Scene 1
What mercy can you render him, Antonio?
This time around, it was Antonio who showed "mercy". Instead of asking the Duke to sentence Shylock to death, Antonio requested half of Shylock's assets to be used as an investment for Lorenzo (Jessica's husband and his friend) after Shylock's death.
He also wanted Shylock to convert to Christianity and make a will to leave all of his remained possessions to his daughter and Lorenzo after his death. However, a dejected Shylock leaves the audience questioning whether he truly received mercy at all.
Theme 4: Appearance vs Reality
There are many layers to this theme. In terms of characters, you can see it through the different sides of the main leads — Antonio and Shylock.
Antonio appears to be a loyal and generous protagonist, especially among his friends like Bassinio. He has a decent job as a merchant and is considered a good Christian in his social circle. Shylock, on the other hand, gives the impression that he is a greedy and cruel moneylender with revenge in mind.
As the plot unfolds, we see that Antonio has a dark side when he mistreated Shylock for being a Jew. Similarly, the audience also gradually understood why Shylock resorted to revenge for the humiliation that he endured over the years among the Christian-dominant community in Venice.
Additionally, there's the example of Portia's clever disguise as a male lawyer who succeeds at saving Antonio. She appeared to be a knowledgeable lawyer, but she was just a wealthy heiress.
This is a reflection of Portia's wit and bravery, unlike the impression that women are to wait and do nothing when something serious happens.
Shakespeare also uses the illustrations of the three caskets to discuss the relationship between external appearance and true value.
| Casket Material | Inscription | Symbolic Meaning | Significance in The Play |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gold | "Who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire.” | Represents greed and the superficiality of wealth. | Chosen by the Prince of Morocco who is deceived by physical apperance. |
| Silver | “Who chooseth me shall get as much as he deserves.” | Represents pride and self importance. | Chosen by the Prince of Aragon who thinks too highly of himself, believing that he deserves more. |
| Lead | “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.” | Represents humility and true sacrifice. | Chosen by Bassanio who has a deeper understanding of physical apperance and the true value of love. |
As you review these key themes, be sure to include them with relevant examples and elaborations during your actual A Level English Literature paper. All the best!
Did you like this article? Rate it!
Loading...
