Analysing relationships
Beryl Clarke, Contributor

Sometimes, young people are tempted to do things against their good judgment just to be 'in'. May I urge you to be strong in maintaining sound values.

Now to the lesson for today. The friendship that exists between Antonio and Bassanio is without a doubt one that is worthy of our notice. It has provided much 'food' for discourse.

Their relationship is based clearly on a deep love, at least on Antonio's part for Bassanio. He declares his love in both words and deeds.

Risk for friend

Antonio is very caring and loyal, and these traits are exhibited in the risk he takes on his friend's behalf. His decision to stand surety in spite of his hatred of Shylock, while discounting the danger to which he is being exposed, is remarkable.

He is not worried about the money that Bassanio already owes him. Although he cries, he seems less concerned at the separation that will occur if his friend is successful in his quest to gain a wife - for Antonio will live at Belmont from then on - and more concerned about his friend's success.

He is only anxious that his friend gets all the help that is necessary to go courting. It is the affection he has that also causes him to face possible death with such calmness and resolve, and without apportioning any blame to Bassanio.

Reacts to distress

Bassanio does care about Antonio although he does not speak of love as Antonio does. His fondness is brought out in the way he reacts to the news of Antonio's distressing situation.

Can you recall how his countenance changed, so much so that Portia remarked that it could only have been caused by the death of someone 'dear' to him?

He explains to her that Antonio was "The dearest friend to me, the kindest man", and that he was good-natured and very honourable. Watch how he behaves in court as he tries to get Shylock to change his mind. Listen to his declaration to give up his life to save Antonio and we have the picture of a man who cares.

Let us now turn our attention to the relationships between parent and child that are presented here. One of our major characters, Shylock, has a daughter, Jessica, with whom he obviously does not have a good rapport.

Why do I say this? Jessica calls her home hell and regrets the fact that the clown, Launcelot Gobbo, who had made her home a little more bearable, is leaving.

She confesses that she is ashamed to be her father's daughter. Of course, her attitude could have been based on her poor conduct or disobedience, so we need to examine her father's treatment of her before coming to a conclusion.

No father's warmth

Unfortunately, what evidence we have does not demonstrate any warmth directed from him towards her. When we see them together, his concern is for the safeguarding of his possessions and not for her protection.

Later, when she elopes, his concern is equally divided between the loss of his money and his daughter and he makes a spectacle of himself in the street.

He goes so far as to say he would prefer to have her lying dead, perhaps because she had run away with a Christian and this he would have been seen as a betrayal of their faith for it must have appeared to him that she had rejected him and joined his enemies.

We must not lose sight of the fact also that she is neither caring nor dutiful, for not only does she secretly enter into a liaison with a Christian, but she also robs him when she runs off with Lorenzo. She places little value on the ring that Leah, probably her mother, had given her father, as she sells it for a single ducat.

Disrespectful to parent

The Gobbos, father and son, is the other family in the play. The son is disrespectful in his treatment of his father. It amuses him to confuse his father and what is even worse, frightens him with the falsehood that he is dead.

Fortunately, he quickly assures senior Gobbo that he is alive. We realise that the father cares about his son and harmony is restored as he helps him to speak to Bassanio concerning employment. Their connection is better than that between Shylock and Jessica.

Take care now and God bless!

Ornella Smith, a student at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus, was on hand to give information about the university's tourism and hospitality managment programmes at the Youth Tourism Expo in Rose Hall, St James, on April 8.