Analysis of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
The Merchant of Venice was written in London by William Shakespeare in
1598. The first edition of the Merchant of Venice was published in
1600 by Thomas Heys. The play caused quite a stir when it was
published as the play is anti-Semitic, which means hostile or
prejudiced against Jews. No other books or plays in England had
covered a plot about a Jew. In England, when Shakespeare was writing,
Jews had been banished for the past 300 years. Shakespeare’s audience
would not have known any Jews; their knowledge would have been based
on rumours and prejudice. The audience of this play probably wouldn’t
have questioned the treatment Shylock received as we do today.
We are first introduced to Shylock when Bassanio wants to borrow three
thousand ducats from Antonio, but Antonio doesn’t have the ducats to
give Bassanio as his ships are out at sea and therefore Antonio won’t
have money until his ships come back. Therefore Antonio and Bassanio
ask Shylock for the ducats. Here, Shylock appears as a cautious
businessman but, we soon realise of Shylock’s hatred for Antonio, “I
hate him for he is a Christian; but more for that in low simplicity,
he lends out money gratis.” Shylock hates Antonio because he lends
money to people without interest unlike Shylock who charges high
interest and because Antonio is a Christian. Therefore I think that
Shylock is a villain. However, we do sympathize with Shylock when we
find out that Shylock is treated badly by Antonio, “Fair sir, you spat
on me on Wednesday last; you spurn’d me such a day; another time you
call’d me dog-and for these courtesies I’ll lend thus much moneys?”
Even though we do feel sympathy for him there, I think there is more
that meets the eye with Shylock as when Antonio, Bassanio and Shylock
are discussing the loan, Shylock suggests a pound of Antonio’s flesh
should be the price to pay if they could not pay Shylock back in time.
Shylock suggests a pound of flesh and not interest on the loan which