The Merchant of Venice, written by William Shakepseare, is a wonderful play that expresses deeply the themes of mercy, law, and hatred/revenge. Bassanio, a young man in Venice, wishes to pursue and woo his lover, Portia. However, he needs money to buy a suit to woo her in style. Antonio, Bassanio’s friend who is a merchant, lends 3 thousand ducats from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and states that he will return it all to him at the end of the month. Things go smoothly, and Bassanio and Portia live happily. However, bad news strikes when Antonio is unable to return the 3 thousand ducats that he borrowed. In court, Shylock wants to cut a pound of flesh from Antonio’s body like the bond stated, but Portia, determined to save Antonio, goes to court disguised as a lawyer and tells Shylock that if he wants to cut off flesh, he must not spill a drop of blood, because the bond does not allow it. Portia also gives Shylock a chance to show mercy, but he denies it. Afterwards, Antonio shows mercy to Shylock by still giving him half of his property that got taken away. This play is notable for the moral dilemmas of the complex characters in the plot, as well as the themes that leave readers with a new sight about the world around them.
The law is there for justice for all the people, not for an individual and their needs or wants. It wouldn't be fair if the law stated that this particular person got special treatment. And so, this law isn’t there. Instead, there are laws that protect everybody’s rights. Don’t twist the rules to fit your needs. “In such a place, such sum or sums as are/Express’d in the condition, let the forfeit/Be nominated for an equal pound/Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken/In what part of your body pleaseth me.” The bond that Shylock and Antonio agree on is quite peculiar. Instead of going into debt if Antonio does not repay the money in time, the terms state that Shylock is allowed to cut off a pound of flesh from wherever he wishes if Antonio doesn’t return the 3 thousand ducats. But Shylock doesn’t want the meat; he wants revenge. The hatred that Shylock feels towards Antonio is evident. Antonio despises Shylock (and all other Jews) for his religion, Judaism. The anti-semitism in this play is on the surface. Shylock, a Jew, has no other job, so he becomes a money lender with high interest rates. Antonio, a Christian, who does have a job, decides to also become a merchant, but with low interest rates. This gives Jews (and Shylock) no business. The social reality of Jews living during that time is harsh, and the business temper between the moneylender and the merchant is high and on the edge. The common sense would be for Antonio to pay back the debt, but Shylock only sees a despicable man for him to take revenge on. There is no reason to simply use the law for your own wants because you have no other way to fulfill what you need.
Mercy is the ability to forgive others for their sins. What good will it do to you if you keep holding grudges against someone? Like Portia, mercy blesses both who gives it and who receives it. The theme of mercy is a big contributor to all the themes in this book as it has depth and many layers, and is portrayed by many characters. For example, Antonio is a man with a lot of mercy for everybody, while Shylock has no mercy and is unwilling to give any out to even his loved ones, like his daughter. Antonio is very generous, he has a good reputation in his job (charging no interest for loans), has lots of friends, and shows mercy to his friends. Shylock, on the other hand, is greedy, trying to make high profits by charging high interest, and treats his own daughter badly. Fake mercy can also be found in some parts of this book. Both Gratiano and Bassanio will gladly exchange their lovers’ lives for Antonio’s, depicting irony. Bassanio also gives away Portia’s engagement ring: “Go, Gratiano, run and overtake him; /Give him the ring, and bring him if thou canst/Unto Antonio’s house. Away, make haste.” Real mercy is different. Shylock was supposed to die (since he didn’t execute the procedure), but he didn't, because of the mercy shown. The different types of mercy shown by different characters varies greatly. Antonio is always willing to be generous and relieve a person’s plight, while Shylock is each man for themselves and is only willing to ensure that he himself lives in wealth and prosperity. Mercy, whether it is religious, or simply a gift from a person to another, is always a valuable power that can even be more important than law.
Do not allow your hatred of somebody to drive you into a reckless revenge that will end up resulting in your loss. The hatred and revenge is quite the opposite of obscure in The Merchant of Venice. Shylock and Antonio despise each other, each wishing to best the other. Antonio is really an honest man, with good business and wonderful friends surrounding him. He doesn’t deserve to die, though Shylock still insists because of his hatred towards him. Shylock knew clearly that he could just let the punishment rest at making Antonio go into deep debt. However, Shylock, the heartless man, decides to make Anotonio pay for insulting him and not returning the money by dying. Shylock figures out a way to manipulate the law to his will that ends up backfiring on him. Shylock knew that if the bond stated the terms clearly and Antonio signed the bond, the life of Antonio would be in his hands. However, Shylock doesn’t calculate that he didn’t even make the terms clear enough for it to be enacted in court the way he envisioned. Because of Shylock’s hatred, the drive for revenge grows inside him until it explodes. There is always another way to solve the problem. Just because you have a problem with someone doesn’t mean you have to kill them.
The Merchant of Venice, written by William Shakespeare is truly a novel to behold. The characters in this novel are complex and rich with personalities, the plot is captivating and draws the reader’s attention, and the themes are some that can serve well as a life lesson. The theme of justice and law shows readers how it is important to be able to justify what is right. The theme of mercy shows readers why people should always be merciful, especially to those who have less and need more. The theme of hatred and revenge also tells readers the importance of needing to remember your morals, even when you really want to get back at someone. The intriguing literary devices that Shakespeare puts into this play makes it a great read for students and adults of all ages. With its relevance to some modern problems, this play, The Merchant of Venice, is a compelling and delightful read that everybody enjoys.
Comments