Analysis of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

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Analysis of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice was written in London by William Shakespeare in

1598. The first edition of the Merchant of Venice was published in

1600 by Thomas Heys. The play caused quite a stir when it was

published as the play is anti-Semitic, which means hostile or

prejudiced against Jews. No other books or plays in England had

covered a plot about a Jew. In England, when Shakespeare was writing,

Jews had been banished for the past 300 years. Shakespeare’s audience

would not have known any Jews; their knowledge would have been based

on rumours and prejudice. The audience of this play probably wouldn’t

have questioned the treatment Shylock received as we do today.

We are first introduced to Shylock when Bassanio wants to borrow three

thousand ducats from Antonio, but Antonio doesn’t have the ducats to

give Bassanio as his ships are out at sea and therefore Antonio won’t

have money until his ships come back. Therefore Antonio and Bassanio

ask Shylock for the ducats. Here, Shylock appears as a cautious

businessman but, we soon realise of Shylock’s hatred for Antonio, “I

hate him for he is a Christian; but more for that in low simplicity,

he lends out money gratis.” Shylock hates Antonio because he lends

money to people without interest unlike Shylock who charges high

interest and because Antonio is a Christian. Therefore I think that

Shylock is a villain. However, we do sympathize with Shylock when we

find out that Shylock is treated badly by Antonio, “Fair sir, you spat

on me on Wednesday last; you spurn’d me such a day; another time you

call’d me dog-and for these courtesies I’ll lend thus much moneys?”

Even though we do feel sympathy for him there, I think there is more

that meets the eye with Shylock as when Antonio, Bassanio and Shylock

are discussing the loan, Shylock suggests a pound of Antonio’s flesh

should be the price to pay if they could not pay Shylock back in time.

Shylock suggests a pound of flesh and not interest on the loan which

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