A theme explored in this play is ANTI-SEMITISM. And the interaction between the Christian community and the Jewish community. It is interesting that Jews, the object of hatred by the rest of Europe are themselves depicted as people who hate others in this play. World war 2 was waged on the basis of anti-semitism.
So we tend to see the Jews as the people who suffer injustice.
But this play depicts Jews as unjust or at least one jew as unjust. Not just unjust but extremely unjust. And not just extremely unjust but also cruel. Because Bassanio wanted to give Shylock twice the amount owed by Antonio to Shylock. But Shylock did not want the money. If Shylock's flaw is love for money and a wish to put money above all else then Shylock should have just taken the money. But he refused the money and chose the option of cruelly hurting Antonio. It is only after he realizes he will not be able to be cruel that he opts for the money which Portia refuses. Presumably, there were a lot of Jews in Europe at the time of Shakespeare writing this play and I think unlike now their Jewish identities were very pronounced. I think Jewish identities of people are not as obvious in the 21st century as it used to be in the 16th century when Shakespeare wrote the play. The interaction between different communities can be considered a major theme in the play. Shakespeare wrote this play in the 16th century. The Holocaust took place in the 20th century.
Yesterday I read several essays about the play The Merchant of Venice that analyses various aspects of the play. One idea addressed by some of the essays is Shakespeare's intention with regard to anti semitism. What did Shakespeare intend by having a cruel person be the victim of anti semitism and be filled with revenge?
It is easy to take the side of Shylock if he were a nice person or a reasonable person. Yet he is very cruel but his angst about being badly treated for being a Jew is understandable but his extreme hatred towards Antonio and desire for harsh revenge is not understandable
Not only is the interaction between Shylock and Antonio an example of this interaction between the Jewish community and the Christian community but also the relationship between Jessica the Jewish girl and Lorenzo the Christian. During the meeting between Shylock, Antonio and Bassanio, Shylock refers to Christ in a derogatory way because to Shylock to eat with Christians is beneath his dignity. The behaviour of Antonio the businessman and Shylock the money lender and the extent to which each adhere to the laws of their religion in business and money transactions also reflects the Jewish Christian interface in the commercial world of the time. While Jewish law prohibits Jewish money lenders from charging interest it is Antonio the Christian businessman who does not charge interest and Shylock accuses Antonio of calling his thrift a kind of interest.
The money lending practices during various English kings is described in some of the essays. The essays also explored the question why Bassanio does not do more to help Antonio.
Why did he allow Antonio to submit to such a bond in the first place.
The other theme explored is the difference between Jessica and Portia. In one essay Portia is described as a pedant. Personally, I did not see much pedantry in her. I like Jessica's character a lot too after reading the play. She is not torn between loyalty to her father and love for Lorenzo.
Because in her mind she is clear that her father is evil and Lorenzo is good and through Lorenzo her soul can be saved. So when she gets the opportunity she just steals her father's wealth and runs away with Lorenzo. After she runs away she is not thinking of saving her father and is not curious about the outcome of the trial perhaps due to the fact that she realized her father who wished to kill a man for insulting him is very evil. Perhaps she is sure that he will only suffer financial losses and social disgrace and nothing more.
She likes Portia a lot. She considers her a very estimable creature. Shylock's attitude towards Jessica is fatherly affection but she comes after money. Money is more important than Jessica. He is as anguished about the 3000 ducats he lost due to Jessica's elopement as he is upset about the elopement.
A normal father would be concerned about the daughter more and less about the money. These are the themes I read so far. I may have to read these essays again to clarify about the usury practices prevalent at that time. It is noteworthy that the title of the play refers to Shylock.
Other themes or ideas
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Then yesterday I noticed that Antonio influenced Bassanio and made him return the ring Portia gave to Bassanio back to the lawyer who is Portia herself in disguise. The trial was over. Antonio was free. Portia and Nerissa were going back to Belmont. Portia and Nerissa were offered monetary compensation by Bassanio for saving Antonio's life. Portia did not want the money. Instead she asked for the ring. Bassanio said it was given to him by his wife and refused. So Portia and Nerissa left. Then Antonio tells Bassanio to call the lawyer and give the ring that Portia gave Bassanio to the lawyer who is Portia in disguise. I don't understand Antonio's motive here. Portia dressed as the lawyer had accepted the fact that Bassanio would not part with the ring and she was returning to Belmont with Nerissa.
Why was the lawyer or Portia dressed as the lawyer called back and bestowed with the ring upon Antonio's insistence. This is something I did not understand about Antonio's character.
Another thought that occured to me:
In the book of Proverbs it clearly says don't pledge to pay for someone else's debt without knowing for sure that you can pay. Antonio agreed to borrow money for Bassanio from Shylock on the belief that when his ships come he can easily pay it back.
He did not expect the ships to be lost and thereby not have the money to pay back Shylock.
Perhaps his confidence was based on the fact that in the past his ships had always succeeded in bringing the revenue needed. Yet that one time the ships were lost. This is a warning. The play warns us to not enter into deals with anyone. Bassanio agreed to this because he wanted to marry Portia.
This crisis could have been avoided. Bassanio wanted to participate in the contest for the casket I think.
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