“The Merchant of Venice”

Swansboro High School – English Department

“The Merchant of Venice”

Written some time around 1597.

Written as a romantic comedy since it is about love & ends happily.

At the core of the play is Shylock, the Jewish moneylender. He only appears in five of the 20 scenes, but his presences dominates the play.

Theatrical Traditions of Jews

Roots of Shakespearean drama begin with mystery and miracles plays of the Middle Ages, which were largely performed by the church for a largely illiterate audience about Old & New Testament stories.

Jews were often viewed as responsible for Christ’s crucifixion.

Theatrical Traditions of Jews

Jews became the evil villains of Elizabethan drama. They were one-dimensional, stereotypical characters.

The Jew of Malta, written in 1589 by Christopher Marlowe, is one such work.

Marlowe was Shakespeare’s greatest rival.

Jews in England 1075 in Oxford: Jews

were not confined to ghettos as many of their European counterparts, but they were not allowed to be citizens.

Because Christians could not lend money with interest, many Jews earned lucrative livings as userers. In trying to regain debt owed to them, Jews became the target of resentment.

Jews in England Late 12th Century: Anti-

Semitic sentiment culminated in two massacres (30 & 150 Jews).

In fact, the Magna Carta is a testament to growing Anti-Semitic feelings – two clauses state that if a debtor is dies, the debt is paid, neither heir or widow is responsible for paying it.

Jews in England 1275: Jews are

forbidden to be money-lenders as well as other edicts implemented: taxation of Jews over 12 years old and wearing badges that identified them as Jews.

1290 (until 1655): Expelled from England

Jews in Elizabethan Society

Threat of Civil War Climate of religious

intolerance against Christians

Jews who converted lived quietly in England during Elizabeth’s reign.

Jews in Elizabethan Society

In 1593, Rodrigo Lopez, the Queen’s physician, was accused of trying to poison her, allegedly in league with the King of Spain. He was convicted of treason and hanged in 1594, & because he was one of the Jews, yet another outbreak of anti-Jewish sentiment occurred.

Therefore, it isn’t known whether Shakespeare ever came into contact with anyone who was Jewish.

Shakespeare’s Intent

Given the anti-Jewish climate of Elizabethan England and Shakespeare’s portrayal of Shylock as a negative stereotype, it would be reasonable to assume Shakespeare was an Anti-Semite.

However, the rest of the details of the play do not support this.

Shakespeare’s Intent

It has been suggested that the real evil is the corrupt value system of the principal Christian characters. Antonio, the

merchant of the title, is the worst bigot.

Portia is also racist, but Jews were not her only victims.

“The Merchant of Venice”

Fuses many dramatic elements: Romantic

courtships Riddling love tests Eloping lovers Comic confusions A gripping

courtroom trial A seemingly

harmonious final act

Contrasts Presented in the Play

Jew against Christian

Love against hate

Usury against venture trading

Mercy against justice

Contrasts Presented in the Play

Appearances are rarely what they seem: Gold & silver

prove worthless

Identities are mistaken

Women disguised as men trick their husbands

Reading Shakespeare: Review

Unusual Word Arrangement: I ate the sandwich. I the sandwich ate. Ate the sandwich I. Ate I the sandwich. The sandwich I ate. The sandwich ate I.

These four words can create six unique sentences which carry the same meaning.

Omissions For the sake of his poetry, Shakespeare left out

letters, syllables, and whole words. These omissions aren’t that much different from the way we speak today. We say: “Been to class yet?” “No. Heard Albrecht’s givin’ a test.” “Wha’sup wi’ that?”

We leave out words and parts of words to speed up our speech. If we were speaking in complete sentences, we would say: “Have you been to class yet?” “No, I have not been to class. I heard that Mrs.

Albrecht is giving a test today.” “What is up with that?”