The Merchant of Venice I Dating: , some two or three years after MND. Dating: , some two or three years after MND. No fairies, comic mechanicals; rather the hard-headed world of trade, money-lending, law. No fairies, comic mechanicals; rather the hard-headed world of trade, money-lending, law. Even Bassanio’s motivation: “In Belmont is a lady richly left.” Even Bassanio’s motivation: “In Belmont is a lady richly left.” Even conclusion of love story threatens nightmare: Portia: “Since he hath got the jewel I loved...” V, I, 224. Even conclusion of love story threatens nightmare: Portia: “Since he hath got the jewel I loved...” V, I, 224. The “Tragedy of Shylock” embedded in the comedy. The “Tragedy of Shylock” embedded in the comedy.

The interpretive challenge of the play: After the Holocaust, or Shoah, any anti-Semitism must take on a different meaning for our world. After the Holocaust, or Shoah, any anti-Semitism must take on a different meaning for our world. So any modern production must mean differently from what the play meant to Elizabethans. So any modern production must mean differently from what the play meant to Elizabethans. More than any other of Shakespeare’s plays, we see changes, alterations of meaning. More than any other of Shakespeare’s plays, we see changes, alterations of meaning. But play itself seems to suspend contradictory meanings. But play itself seems to suspend contradictory meanings. Thus a wonderful test case of what we might mean by “classic.” Thus a wonderful test case of what we might mean by “classic.”

Shylock and anti-Semitism How did Elizabethans understand Judaism? How did Elizabethans understand Judaism? Few Jews in Elizabethan London – they had been expelled three centuries earlier. But doubtless some in London. Few Jews in Elizabethan London – they had been expelled three centuries earlier. But doubtless some in London. Usury and moneylending. Usury and moneylending. Case of Rodrigo Lopez in 1593, a converso Portuguese Jew. Case of Rodrigo Lopez in 1593, a converso Portuguese Jew. Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta. Barrabas as villain. Marlowe’s The Jew of Malta. Barrabas as villain.

Interpretive challenge of Shylock How to interpret anti-Semitism historically? How to interpret anti-Semitism historically? Anti-Semitism of Gratiano. Anti-Semitism of Gratiano. But also of Antonio and Bassanio. But also of Antonio and Bassanio. Shylock’s hatred of Antonio: I, 3, 38ff. Shylock’s hatred of Antonio: I, 3, 38ff. Shylock in court scene. Shylock in court scene. Shylock’s “conversion” at end of court scene. Shylock’s “conversion” at end of court scene.

Shylock as oppositional figure Antonio’s generosity vs. Shylock’s usury. Antonio’s generosity vs. Shylock’s usury. Shylock as figure of locks, keys, bonds. Shylock as figure of locks, keys, bonds. Shylock as “heavy” father – like Egeus in MND. Shylock as “heavy” father – like Egeus in MND. Wants to kill Antonio. Wants to kill Antonio. Genre: comedy drives out the villain. Genre: comedy drives out the villain.

But the logic of Shylock’s position “Signor Antonio, many a time and oft...” I, 3, 103. “Signor Antonio, many a time and oft...” I, 3, 103. Jewish money-lending as a system within Christian economy. Jewish money-lending as a system within Christian economy. The logic of interest. The logic of interest. Charging of interest up to 10% legal in England. Charging of interest up to 10% legal in England. “Usury”. “Usury”.

Shylock’s initial intent? “I hate him for he is a Christian.” I, 3, 39ff. “I hate him for he is a Christian.” I, 3, 39ff. Do we know what does he intend in “this merry bond”? Simply humiliation? Do we know what does he intend in “this merry bond”? Simply humiliation?

“A wilderness of monkeys” Shakespeare’s “narrativizes” Shylock’s hatred. Shakespeare’s “narrativizes” Shylock’s hatred. Jessica’s elopement, II, 6. Jessica’s elopement, II, 6. Solanio’s mockery of Shylock, II, 9: “my daughter, oh my ducats, my daughter.” Solanio’s mockery of Shylock, II, 9: “my daughter, oh my ducats, my daughter.” Salarino and Solanio’s taunting of Shylock, III, 1, 21ff. Salarino and Solanio’s taunting of Shylock, III, 1, 21ff. “what’s his reason? I am a Jew.” “what’s his reason? I am a Jew.” His bitterness at Jessica’s betrayal. His bitterness at Jessica’s betrayal. “It was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.” “It was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a bachelor. I would not have given it for a wilderness of monkeys.”

Merchant as a play of ideas Reinserting Shylock into the larger play. Reinserting Shylock into the larger play. Shylock as part of the Venetian system. Shylock as part of the Venetian system. His opposition to Antonio structural. His opposition to Antonio structural. But he undergirds the Venetian economy. But he undergirds the Venetian economy. Bassanio in Belmont depends on Shylock’s money. Bassanio in Belmont depends on Shylock’s money. Isn’t Shylock absolutely right about the contradictions in Venetian/Christian economy? Isn’t Shylock absolutely right about the contradictions in Venetian/Christian economy? Venetian law must underwrite Shylock’s bond – otherwise? Venetian law must underwrite Shylock’s bond – otherwise?

The bond 3,000 ducats for 3 months, no interest. 3,000 ducats for 3 months, no interest. But default means 1 pound of flesh. But default means 1 pound of flesh. Flesh, death, becomes equal to the interest? Flesh, death, becomes equal to the interest? Pay or you die: Antonio takes this risk. Pay or you die: Antonio takes this risk. “Merry bond” turns unmerry. “Merry bond” turns unmerry. What’s missing on both sides? What’s missing on both sides?

Shylock and Portia/Balthasar “Which is the merchant here and which the Jew.” IV, “Which is the merchant here and which the Jew.” IV, “Then the Jew must be merciful.” “Then the Jew must be merciful.” Why? Why? “The quality of mercy is not strained...” “The quality of mercy is not strained...” Self-annihilation of absolute justice – this necessitates mercy. Self-annihilation of absolute justice – this necessitates mercy. Absolute denial of mercy – no physician standing by. Absolute denial of mercy – no physician standing by.

Justice and Mercy Denial of mercy leads to Shylock’s undoing. Denial of mercy leads to Shylock’s undoing. Is he shown mercy? Is he shown mercy? His “conversion”. His “conversion”. Does Elizabethan unfamiliarity with Judaism allows this as mercy? Does Elizabethan unfamiliarity with Judaism allows this as mercy? Idea consuming character at this point? Idea consuming character at this point? No more heard of Shylock until Nerissa’s letter at end of play. No more heard of Shylock until Nerissa’s letter at end of play.

But this leads to the “ring plot”. But this leads to the “ring plot”. How does the ring plot connect to the bond plot? How does the ring plot connect to the bond plot? And how is Belmont different from Venice? And how is Belmont different from Venice?