Merchant of Venice Essay

Merchant of Venice Essay
Positive human experiences can enhance one’s self esteem, identity and sense of purpose,
conversely, negative human experiences leave a profound effect on an individual’s psyche.
Shakespeare’s play, “The Merchant of Venice”, through the key ideas of alterity and
prejudice, demonstrates the perplexing nature of paradoxes in life, inviting the reader to re-
evaluate the assumptions about the human condition. Shakespeare uses the characters,
Antonio, Shylock and Portia as a vehicle to explore the multifaceted nature of the human
experience, highlighting how due to flawed values of society, each of the, suffer from
alienation.

The exploration of the human experience impacted by anomalies, inconsistencies and
paradoxes of human behaviour and motivations, challenge the assumptions about human
nature. This idea is epitomised through the binary characters of Antonio and Shylock. In Act
1 scene 1, Antonio is represented as the ideal merchant, who is an epitome of Christian
ideals. The double entendre of “a stage where every man must play apart, and mine a sad
one”, highlights his melancholy, which prompts the reader to introspect and show the
qualities of what define humanity. Additionally, his hyperbolical statement towards
Bassanio, that “my purse… lie unlocked to all your occasions”, epitomises his magnanimity
and sense of Christian fellowship. However, in Act 1 scene 3, Antonio’s inconsistent
behaviour, is highlighted through his mistreatment of Shylock, when he employs the litany
of derogatory terms, “you call me misbeliever, cutthroat dog and spit upon my Jewish
gabardine”. Through Antonio’s retaliation of “to spit on thee again, to spurn thee too” to
Shylock’s comment, Shakespeare epitomises the inconsistency of Antonio’s behaviour and
the Christian hypocrisy, as he is no longer the amicable Christian. This suggests that the
Christian collective feel threatened by Shylock’s Jewish heritage that makes him
‘other’. Comparatively, Shylock is introduced as a villainous character with a threatening
tone proclaiming that he would have his “daughter… dead at [his] foot and the jewels in her
ear!”, conveying how Shylock embodies the common stereotype of the villainous, avaricious
Jew, who puts material possession over genuine human relationships. However, Shylock’s
melancholic response when he learns that Jessica has sold his wife’s ring that “[he] would
not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys” humanises him, as it is revealed that he
values his relationships, much like Antonio cherishes his relationship with Bassanio and his
fellow Christians. Thus, both Antonio and Shylock fail to live up to the Judo-Christian
framework of being loving towards others, highlighting anomalies of human behaviour.
Mercy is one of the key aspects of the positive human experience, as it reveals the extent of
one’s humanity. It is acknowledged by the characters that despite the law being on
Shylock’s side, they expect him to show mercy towards Antonio. When Portia warns Shylock
against pursuing the law without regard for mercy, she is prompting what Elizabethan
Christians would have seen as a pro-Christian, anti-Jewish agenda. Antonio contends that a
merciful and just society can only be achieved once Shylock’s Jewish heart softens, which is
near impossible to achieve. The framework of the drama presents Shylock as a villain who
does not show even the slightest amount of mercy for his enemies. An Elizabethan audience
does not expect Shylock to exercise mercy, leaving the Christians to do so. Portia turned
Shylock’s biggest weapon, the law, against him, allowing her to take the opportunity of
advocating for mercy for Antonio. Portia’s monologue “mercy is above sceptered sway”,
juxtaposing earthly power with godly power, implies mercy as a beautiful quality, an
attribute of God. Although she expresses mercy as a choice, as it is “not strained”, ironically
this beautiful, unconditional nature of mercy is not upheld, demonstrating the paradoxical
nature of humans. Shylock is bestowed mercy, as he is granted his life but denied his
religion, wealth and profession. He also loses his daughter and thus his future family line.
Collectively, these losses are like death. Portia and Antonia may initially be viewed as
merciful when they allow him to live and not seize all his goods, however, their compassion
then seems to stem from self-interest rather than concern for Shylock. Thus, through the
delineation of the idea of mercy, Shakespeare highlights the paradoxical nature of humans
and the anomalies and inconsistencies of human behaviour, which challenge our
assumptions about the human condition.
Profundity of human behaviour makes it hard for individuals to embrace the absolute

nature of the law collectively as they are unable to display authentic mercy and values
which define humanity. Shakespeare’s expression of inconsistences within the play can be
perceived through the power that Portia holds over Bassanio and the rest of the
characters. Bassanio’s status as a white Christian male should embellish him as the most
powerful person in the play, but ultimately Portia is much more powerful both within the
plot and their relationship. Bassanio’s perfection is seen in how he compares himself to a
classical hero, a perfect heroic figure in western society, through allusion to an ancient myth
and the golden fleece, “And many Jason’s come quest of her”. The structure and form of the
play itself casts him as this hero of yore, with the riddle and choice of three caskets
reflecting the structure of a folktale, and the winning of a maiden’s hand reinforces his path
of a hero’s journey. However, the presence of the ring plot juxtaposes this, as instead of a
happy ending to his story after he wins Portia, it continues, with Portia asserting herself as
the powerful one in the relationship through trickery. She even threatens cuckoldry, “For by
this ring, the doctor lay with me”, a fate worse than death for men, especially one of the
status of a perfect hero that Bassanio fits into. This is further depicted when she ultimately
wields power of wealth over him as well as putting him into debt. However, Portia expresses
resentment towards the patriarchal values, which metaphorically imprison them. This
comparison drawn between the two perspectives of Portia which are portrayed through the
play above the collective allow her to express what is needed to restore stability and
consistency within her world. This comparison drawn between the two perspectives of
Portia which are portrayed through the play above the collective allow her to express what
is needed to restore stability and consistency within her world.

Thus, Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice enriches responders’ understanding on
the complexities of human experiences and how our paradoxical relations with others reveal
the anomalies, inconsistencies and paradoxes of human behaviour. Through the
characterisation for Antonio, Shakespeare encapsulates that Antonio’s otherness condemns
him to a desolate fate, providing insight into the fate of people that deviates from societal
norms. Through the constant criticism of Shylock throughout the play by the other
characters, Shakespeare expresses the need to eliminate any anomalies which could disrupt
the structural balance of the society. Shakespeare uses the character of Portia to portray the
societal expectations which women are forced to follow. Through different characters,
Shakespeare conveys the complex nature of human experiences.

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How does Shakespeare use the characters of Antonio, Shylock and Portia to explore the human experience?

What does the play suggest about the nature of mercy?

Merchant of Venice Essay

Profundity of human behaviour makes it hard for individuals to embrace the absolute

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