Discrimination in The Merchant of Venice

1394 Words3 Pages

Discrimination is a resounding theme in The Merchant of Venice (Meyers). All of the characters are affected by inequality. This inequity is evidenced clearly in Shylock, the Jewish usurer. He is treated with scorn and derision by all the characters. Shylock’s misfortunes stem not from poor attributes or even a poor background; it stems from the fact he is Jewish, and what is more, he is impenitent of that distinction. If he had been more daunted by Christian influence, he might have been forgiven, as Jessica is subjectively exonerated. He is not contrite and it is believed that his appalling birth cannot be absolved (Bonnell).
All of the characters are defined through Shylock. Launcelot Gobbo, Shylock’s servant, treats his father disrespectfully, but this disdain is not ill-received by the audience; like the other examples of inequity, Launcelot’s apathetic attitude toward his near-blind father is inexplicably tolerated by past and contemporary society (Picker). Launcelot’s contempt is generally assumed to be a result of his underprivileged upbringing, if it is noted at all. His lack of education has deprived him from good manners as well as good sense. The scene itself initially seems inconsistent with the rest of the play.
The prejudice the women tolerate is evidenced by their tendency to dress in men’s clothing in order to be heard or considered (Olson). As women, their voices are inhibited or disregarded; they are overshadowed and overlooked by society. Portia, for example, has little choice but to consent to being the prize in her “loving” late father’s lottery. All decisions are made in regard to her future and life is influenced by men. The fact that the father is deceased does not diminish his power. In fact, his status a...

... middle of paper ...

...99-330.
Ornstein, Robert. Shakespeare's Comedies: From Roman Farce to Romantic Mystery. Newark
Del.: University of Delaware, 1986. Print.
Picker, John. "Shylock And The Struggle For Closure." Judaism 43.2 (1994): 173.
Quint, Alyssa Pia. "The Currency Of Yiddish Ettinger's Serkele And The Reinvention Of
Shylock." Prooftexts 24.1 (2004): 99-115.
Ransome, William F. "Above The Sceptred Sway": Retrieving The Quality Of Mercy."
Crítica 40.119 (2008): 3-27.
Scott, William O. "Conditional Bonds, Forfeitures, And Vows In "The Merchant Of Venice.."
English Literary Renaissance 34.3 (2004): 286-305.
Shakespeare, William, Barbara A. Mowat, and Paul Werstine. The Merchant of Venice. New
York: Washington Square, 1992. Print.
Weisberg, Richard H. "Antonio's Legalistic Cruelty: Interdisciplinarity And `The Merchant Of
Venice'." College Literature 25.1 (1998): 12.

Open Document