Term Papers on The Merchant Of Venice: Hath Not A Jew Mercy?

Term Paper Title	The Merchant Of Venice: Hath Not A Jew Mercy?
# of Words	1331
# of Pages (250 words per page double spaced)	5.32

The Merchant of Venice: Hath not a Jew Mercy?

Kevin Jacoby

     Many of William Shakespeare's plays have sparked controversy.  Probably
the one that has sparked the most controversy is The Merchant of Venice, which
many intellectuals have dubbed an anti-Semitic play.  The character that this
discussion centers around is Shylock, the rich moneylender Jew.  The problem
with most of these anti-Semitic arguments is that they lack the perspective of
the sixteenth century audience.   Throughout Shakespeare's The Merchant of
Venice (M of V), the audience's perception of Shylock moves between utter hatred
and varying amounts of pity.  In contrast to today's audience, the original
sixteenth century audience saw Shylock's religion as his biggest shortcoming.
     Our first glimpse of Shylock's character comes in Act I, scene 3, where
Shylock reveals to the audience why he hates Antonio.  The first reason he gives
of why he hates Antonio is because he is a Christian.  (I. iii. 43)  This to the
sixteenth century audience would be unreasonable, and this would evoke a sort of
villainy towards Shylock.  But a few moments later, the audience witnesses
Shylock's speech about Antonio's abuses towards Shylock.  (I. iii. 107-130)
This speech does well in invoking the audience's pity, however little it might
be in the sixteenth century.  But again at the end, Shylock offers that Antonio
give up a pound of flesh as penalty of forfeiture of the bond, which Antonio
sees as a joke, but which Shylock fully intends to collect.  (I. iii. 144-78)
This action negates any pity which Shylock would have one from the audience just
a few moments before.  Shakespeare, in this scene, uses Shylock's dialogue and
soliloquies to push loyalties of the audience back and forth in a result of a
negative view of Shylock.
     In Act II, scene 8, Salarino and Salanio describe to the audience
Shylock's reaction when he finds out that his daughter, Jessica, has run away to
marry a Christian.  Says Salanio:

          “I never heard a passion so confused,
           So strange, outrageous, and so variable,
           As the dog Jew did utter in the streets:
           ‘My daughter!  O my ducats!  O my daughter!
           Fled with a Christian!  O my Christian ducats!
           Justice! the law! my      ducats, and my daughter!
           Of double ducats, stolen from me by my daughter!
           And jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones,
           Stolen by my daughter!  Justice! find the girl;
           She hat the stones upon her, and the ducats.'”  (II. viii. 12-22)

One can't help wondering if the message is only as trustworthy as the messenger,
for as we know, Salarino and Salanio have expressed their hatred towards Shylock.
However, the sixteenth century audience wouldn't have any reason not to believe
these two men, because they have given no reason not to be to their perspective.
In this re-count of events we notice that Shylock cries “O my ducats!  O my
daughter!” many times, which suggests that Shylock sees Jessica as just another
one of her material goods, as the ducats.  The audience would not respect this
at all, after all, one's daughter should be much more important than any
material wealth.  This is yet another instance which the audience views Shylock
as a shallow miser who only thinks of himself.
     Act III, scene 1 is probably the biggest turning point in the play,
especially for the audience.  After being badgered by Salarino and Salanio,
Shylock manipulates the audience's sympathies by offering a monologue on revenge.
The scene is as follows:

          Salarino.  Why, I am sure, if he forfeit,
                     thou wilt not take his flesh:
                     what's that good for?
          Shylock.   To bait fish withal:  if it will
                     feed nothing else, it will feed
                     my revenge.  He hath disgraced me,
                     and hindered me half a million;
                     laughed at my losses, mocked at
                     my gains, scorned my nation,
                     thwarted my bargains, co...

This is ONLY a preview of the article. If you would like to view the entire document, you must subscribe to Digital Term Papers. Please register below now!

Digital Term Papers has over 63,000 essays, term papers, and book notes online. Many paper sites will charge you hundreds of dollars for a single paper. Digital Term Papers only charges $14.95 for a one month membership with instant account activation!

Don't waste anymore time! Join NOW!!!

1 Month (automatic renewal) ($14.95)

3 Months (automatic renewal) ($29.95)

6 Months (one-time billing) ($39.95)

Pay by: