Prejudice in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

Prejudice in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

The main theme of the Merchant of Venice is of Shylock, a Jew, and

Antonio, a Christian taking part in a deal involving the Jew lending

the Christian a sum of money. The bond they make is that if Antonio

cannot pay Shylock back, Shylock can take legally a pound of Antonio's

flesh as payment. The other plots in the play consist of Jessica,

Shylock's daughter eloping with Lorenzo, another Christian and

Antonio's friend Bassanio, who is courting a rich lady, Portia of

Beaumont who are both of course Christian. Shylock and Tubal, his

Jewish associate, both receive verbal abuse from the Christian groups

e.g.

Solanio: 'The villain Jew with outcries raised the duke, who sent him

to search Bassanio's ship'

and:

Solanio: 'I never heard a passion so confused, so strange, outrageous,

and so variable, as a dog Jew did utter in the streets'

The Christians such as Solanio and Salerio never refer to Shylock by

his name. They call him Jew as if his name did not matter i.e. as if

he is not worthy of a name, and when referring to him, it is always

with contempt. I think this puts the writer across as prejudice

against non-Christian people and their beliefs. On the other hand,

this story could also put across the point that Shakespeare ridicules

prejudice and discrimination because some phrases in the play where

Christians are prejudice seem to be emphasised ridiculously.

Another point of racial prejudice is conveyed in the sub plot of

Portia's courtship. Left riches by her late father, she is obliged to

obey his will that suitors may come to her mansion and court her, but

...

... middle of paper ...

...ylock will be

prosecuted.

Shylock breaks down at the news. He is forced by the Christians to

bless Jessica in her marriage to Lorenzo and, as if he had not

suffered enough punishment, he is ultimately disgraced, by being

forced to give up his religion and become a Christian.

In my opinion, the play is prejudice and immoral. However, I also

think there is a hidden meaning, the Christians are even more

contemptible than Shylock. They are displayed throughout the play as

being selfish and disrespectful towards Shylock. The play seems to

mean different things to different people. Shakespeare could well be

ridiculing the Jewish religion, but he could be mocking Christians

also. Alternatively, it could be Shakespeare's intention not to mock

either religion. I think the answer remains ultimately with the

audience.