10. William Shakespeare
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Antonio-Bassanio: romantic feelings – one-sided
Antonio’s willingness to offer up a pound of his own flesh seems particularly important, signifying a union of marriage, where two partners become “one flesh.”
The end: Antonio vs Shylock: added salt to the injury, Shylock is humiliated, and Antonio is alive
Themes:
Love versus Money:
triangle of P, A, B – B (irresponsible and poor) loves P and needs her money – dilemma – it is pure love? A lens B money – investment – repaying in future after the marriage – A wants him to be happy and loves him (B doesn’t love him) → A knows he can know B real love, so he is ok only with the fact he will be happy
Shylock confusion with money – what he misses more – Jessica or money?
Jews vs Christians: hypocrisy of Christians, how Christians treat Jews – “we are human as well” – equality. Christians look down on Jews.
Mercy:
Paradox (a sudden plot twist): During the trial, everybody expects him to show mercy and some compassion. When Portia turns the law against him, she actually has the chance to be merciful, to show it’s truly a Christian thing to do, but she doesn’t. On the contrary, she humiliates him, takes away his dignity by forcing him to beg for mercy.
Portia is saying S to be merciful, but she is not merciful at all at the end. But S only wanted the bond – he could have been merciful. The Jews at the trial are mad that S insists on the pound of flesh – because he is not throwing a good light at the Jewish community.
Hatred (Revenge):
“The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction” (III.i.60–61)
Shylock simply said that he is only applied the same behaviour which the Christians did to him. But we can say one thing: it isn’t fair to blame everything on that. In the end of the trial, Antonio only wanted him to convert.
Motifs:
The Law and Rules: In Venice are laws and rules very important. They are strict in the way about justice and fair trial – no matter the religion. Of course, it doesn’t apply to all cases in practise.
Cross-dressing: it happens twice. Once when Portia and Nerissa dress up like officers of the Venetian court. Portia, being able to embrace the power she would not get as a woman.
The second example is when Jessica runs away in a dress of a Christian boy
It shows us that women are discriminated, and they would have to dress like a man to be taken seriously (played by men – double cross-dressing)
Respect, obedience: it shows us how children don’t always respect their parents. But at the other hand we see Portia being obedient to her father’s will, even though she hates it.
Symbols:
The Three caskets: the contest for Portia’s hand, in which suitors from various countries choose among a gold, a silver, and a lead casket, resembles the cultural and legal system of Venice in some respects. the correct casket is lead and warns that the person who chooses it must give and risk everything he has. The contest combines several Christian teachings, such as the idea that desire is an unreliable guide and should be resisted, and the idea that human beings do not deserve God’s grace but receive it in spite of themselves. Christianity teaches that appearances are often deceiving, and that people should not trust the evidence provided by the senses—hence the humble appearance of the lead casket. Faith and charity are the central values of Christianity, and these values are evoked by the lead casket’s injunction to give all and risk all, as one does in making a leap of faith.
The Pound of Flesh: it emerges most as a metaphor for two of the play’s closest relationships, but also calls attention to Shylock’s inflexible adherence to the law. The fact that Bassanio’s debt is to be paid with Antonio’s flesh is significant, showing how their friendship is so binding it has made them almost one. Shylock’s determination is strengthened by Jessica’s departure, as if he were seeking recompense for the loss of his own flesh and blood by collecting it from his enemy.
Leah’s Ring: The ring given to Shylock in his bachelor days by a woman named Leah, who is most likely Shylock’s wife and Jessica’s mother. Jessica has stolen it and traded it for a monkey – it’s symbol of Shylock’s humanity, his ability to love, and his ability to grieve.