Justice and Prosperity in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice

One of the strengths of good theater is its ability to mirror the problems and conditions shaping its time. In The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare reflects two important aspects of Elizabethan society: the corrupting influence of prosperity and the increasingly vengeful nature of Venetian justice. To address the former issue, Shakespeare downplays the importance of wealth by associating its involvement in romance with superficial and insubstantial advantages. He characterizes prosperity as a deceiving agent, citing its ability to introduce shallowness into a relationship. Shakespeare reasons that genuine romance depends on sacrifice and emotion, not wealth. The problem with justice is equally striking. In the play, justice is easily exploited as an instrument for revenge due to its exacting nature. The use of compassion and humanity, however, allows the law to be administered both fairly and justly. A reflection of the social tensions of his time, William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice explores how romance becomes more genuine without the influence of money, and how justice proceeds more effectively through the ideals of mercy and reconciliation, not vengeance.

Shakespeare diminishes the importance of wealth by underemphasizing its role in the love interests of the protagonists, who use wealth simply to achieve superficial gains in their relationships. After squandering his savings on his extravagant lifestyle, Bassanio plans a secret trip to win the heart of Portia and "…questionless be fortunate…" (I.i.183). To finance his voyage, he borrows money from Shylock under Antonio’s good name. Here, the role of wealth in Bassanio’s relationship is limited and insubstantial. It simply creates artificial emotions in ...

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...cs of romance with artificialness and conceit. True love, on the other hand, exists without the trappings of wealth and depends on affection, sincerity, and friendship. Just as he criticizes wealth, Shakespeare also attacks the justice system for its overemphasis on strict construction. Justice cannot proceed effectively if strict adherence to the law overshadows fundamental principles of equity. Justice becomes fair only when it is reconciled with mercy. The Merchant of Venice, then, is a rejection of the values of Shakespeare’s time and an appeal for social reform.

Works Cited

Benston, Alice N. "Portia, the Law, and the Tripartite Structure of The Merhant of Venice." Shakespearean Criticism. Ed. Mark W. Scott. New York: Gale Research Company, 1987. 339.

Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. New York: Washington Square Press Publication, 1992.