Pre-Lecture:
After completing The Merchant of Venice, I am most drawn
to the character Shylock. My initial impression was that Shakespeare’s
characterization of Shylock was extremely anti-Semitic. Certainly, there are
moments throughout the text that Shylock reflects many of the stereotypes about
Jews common to a medieval Christian culture. Jews were often stereotyped as
being greedy and obsessed with money, which probably resulted from the interest
they collected from loans. Because the Jews were outcasts in Christian society
in this time and Christian doctrine did not allow usury, it became extremely
common for Jews to be moneylenders. Shylock often speaks of his money, but his
role as the stereotypical Jew (which was intended as humor, I expect) is most
clear when he worries about leaving his house because he dreamt of moneybags
the previous night (18). At other times, Shylock fulfills a different role as a
sympathetic character because of his vulnerabilities and the abuse he endures
from the Christians. When Shylock makes the deal with Antonio for a pound of
his flesh rather than a penalty for late repayment of his loan, he intends this
deal as a gesture of friendship. He assures Antonio that his intention is not
to hurt him, but to buy his favor (164). At some point during the course of the
play, Shylock grows bitter and malicious and will have nothing less than
Antonio’s death. Likely, this change results from the loss of his daughter,
Jessica. The variations in Shylock’s characterization throughout the play
reveal his humanity and human vulnerabilities and flaws.
Portia was
the other character that interested me the most. She seems to be one of the
boldest and strongest characters in a Shakespearean play. She is clearly
well-educated, beautiful, and wealthy. She manipulates Shylock, Graziano, her
new husband, Bassanio, Lorenzo, and Jessica. She lies to Lorenzo and Jessica,
telling them that she is going away to pray, so that they will watch over her
estate and she is free to start scheming. She then undertakes the task of
saving her husband’s friend by boldly cross-dressing and convincingly imitating
a judge. She singlehandedly (well, Nerissa helps a little, I suppose) saves
Antonio’s life and destroys the last vestiges of Shylock’s livelihood. And her
gall does not end here. By convincing their husbands to give the judges the
rings they gave them as gifts, Portia and Nerissa test their husband’s loyalty
and devotion. The play closes with the women triumphant and the men feeling
sheepish. This outcome is quite different from any other Shakespeare play I’ve
read. While Portia is manipulative and cunning, she is still a remarkable
female figure for her cleverness and boldness.
Post-Lecture:
My comments about Shylock were
parroted by much of the class. Many saw him as malicious, but most realized
that he was always the victim of abuse. He is an unlikely sympathetic character
because though he is made comical, he also is the only character who loses everything
by the end of the play. Dr. McNamara pointed out that the play is strongly
skewed to Antonio’s perspective. When we reevaluate Shylock from his own
perspective, we can understand him better as a complex and emotional character.
The Christians have abused him all his life. His social position means that he
must loan money to the same Christians that abuse him. Despite his favor, they
disrespect him by essentially robbing him and helping his daughter run away
with one of the aforementioned Christians. The men distract Shylock from their
foul play by cruelly inviting him to a nonexistent dinner. These are the
circumstances that surround Shylock when he begins demanding Antonio’s flesh. With
this context we outlined in class, Shylock seems to be much more the victim
made cruel by his environment than to be an outright menace.
Portia is a
complex character. In class, we discussed her qualities that align with those I
outlined before class. However, we also addressed facets of her identity that
are difficult to meld into a cohesive characterization. Wealthy, intelligent,
and manipulative, she is certainly a strong female character. Several of my peers argued in class, however,
that she is also vulnerable and sheltered, while others pointed out that she viciously
dehumanizes Shylock. I agree that she is sheltered because of her limited
experience growing up on the privileged area of the island under the careful
watch of her father. She shows her naïveté when she gives an impassioned speech
to Shylock about mercy. She cannot understand the painful existence he has led
or the limited impact a discussion of Christian virtues must have on a Jew
continuously persecuted by Christians. I think that even her worst qualities
stem from the fact that she is sheltered and naïve. While it is true that her
verdict dehumanizes Shylock by taking away his money and his faith, she does so
in the name of spreading Christianity and helping the cause of her new husband.
I did not
think to pay much attention to the minor character Jessica until lecture.
Jessica actions in the play are selfishly motivated, as appropriate for a female
teenager. As a young Jewish girl, she has to endure consequences of the same
prejudices toward Jews as her father. Like any other teenager, Jessica wants to
be liked by the popular kids. By marrying Lorenzo and robbing her father, she
renounces her unaccepted Jewish background and marries into the Christian cool
kids. In the future, she is likely to regret her rash decision and feel remorse
for the injustice she has done to her poor father. Shylock just can’t catch a
break!
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