Exploring 'The Merchant of Venice'
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Sal: Why I am sure if he forfeit, thou wilt not take his flesh - what's that good for?

Shy: To bait fish withal - if it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge; he hath disgrac'd me and hind'red me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated my enemies - what's his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions, fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? If we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrongs a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge! If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge! The villainy you teach me, I will execute, and it shall go hard, but I will better the instruction.

Por: Then must the Jew be merciful.

Shy: On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

Por: The quality of mercy is not strained,

It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest,

It blesseth him that gives and him that takes,

'Tis mightiest in the mightiest, it becomes

The throned monarch better than his crown.

His scepter shows the force of temporal power,

The attribute to awe and majesty,

Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings:

But mercy is above this sceptred sway,

It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,

It is an attribute to God himself;

And earthly power doth then show likest God's

When mercy seasons justice: therefore Jew,

Though justice be thy plea, consider this,

That in the course of justice, none of us

Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy,

And that same prayer, doth teach us all to render

The deeds of mercy.

We are beginning the exploration of The Merchant of Venice with a consideration of TWO major characters; in fact, the two major characters in the work. The speeches above reveal the opposing positions held by them. First though, here is a brief summary of the story Shakespeare 'penned'.

The play is set in Italy. A young man, Bassanio, having wasted his money, asks a very close friend, Antonio, to lend him some money in order that he can improve his financial position by courting and winning a lady, Portia, in marriage. Antonio had no ready funds as his ships were all at sea. He sends Bassanio to borrow, using his name as surety. Bassanio goes to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, who is despised by Antonio. Shylock agrees to lend the 3,000 ducats required with the stipulation that if Antonio does not repay him in three months he, Shylock, will have the right to cut off a pound of flesh nearest to Antonio's heart.

In spite of being warned by Bassanio against agreeing to this, Antonio signs the bond. Bassanio wins Portia's love. Unfortunately, Antonio is unable to repay Shylock who then insists on having his pound of flesh. Disguised as a lawyer, Portia goes to court and argues so effectively on Antonio's behalf that Shylock loses the case and nearly loses his life as well.

The 'comedy' ends happily for Portia, Bassanio, Antonio, Jessica and Lorenzo. But you didn't mention the last two before, you must be wondering. No ... but you know the whole story, don't you?

Shylock's attitude

Shylock's words above explain his attitude towards Antonio. In the England in which Shakespeare lived, Jews were merely tolerated. They were categorised and stigmatised as thieves and wrongdoers. Theatre audiences expected a Jewish character to be a villain, but while Shylock does show a great love for material things, we cannot but notice that the Christians treat him very badly. Antonio objects to Shylock lending out money at interest, and for this we can see reason, but where is the Christian justice and mercy when he kicks him, spits on him and calls him a dog? Shylock points out that Antonio hates him because he is a Jew, thereby telling us that his enemy is racist. He tells us too, that his - Shylock's - conduct is based on the behaviour of the Christians and that he is simply applying the lessons he has learnt. Can we accept this as a valid reason for his determination to get the pound of flesh? In our subsequent discussions, we'll see!

Please analyze Portia's speech (above) in preparation for next 'class'. God bless!

Students of Marcus Garvey Technical High School in performance during the opening of the Shipping Association of Jamaica's 70th anniversary exhibition of photographs and artefacts, held at St Ann Parish Library, last Thursday.

Beryl Clarke teaches at Glenmuir High School.