As individuals in the play the Christians are not portrayed as a superior race, as they would be considered in the society of Venice. Gratiano shows a lewd side to Antonio’s allies, by making an inappropriate joke during the trial. He taunted shylock acerbically, by telling him to “beg that thou may have leave to go hang thyself”. Shylock was not, however always portrayed as righteous, relentlessly stating “I will have my bond” (IV.1) this demonstrates a key issue in the play of equality, the flawed personalitys of all characters show that there is bad and good in all people, emphasised by Shylocks speech “A Jew hath not eyes?”
The final reversal of fate in which Balthazar revealed a loophole in Shylock’s bond allowing for Antonio to keep his 3000 ducats and his pound of flesh. Antonio persuades the duke to agree to “pardon thee (Shylock’s) life” IV.1 365 and orders that “half thy (Shylocks) wealth, it is Antonio’s” IV.1 366 “and the other half comes to the general state” IV.1 367. Shylock, however, protests, asking that the duke “take my life and all” IV.1 370, claiming that “you (the duke) take my life when you do take the means whereby I live” IV.1 372-373. Antonio, the man who Shylock wanted to kill, gains half of his possessions when it is Antonio who owed 3000 ducats. Shylock then retreated a broken man.
After it is revealed Shylock’s bond is flawed he has minimal lines compared to the long flowing speeches of previous scenes, this silence shows the shock and devastation of Shylock, he is no longer a powerful man but, again, a Jew who had nothing the Christian men wanted. Even in the law of Venice Shylock is open to greater punishment as he is an “alien” to the state, the penalty for a Christian would be much less.
Bonds are a central theme in the Merchant of Venice, not only the financial bond between Shylock and Antonio but the bond of friendship and family bonds. From the beginning Bassanio attaches himself to Antonio through friendship and debt. Shakespeare offers an exploration of this friendship in act IV.1, when Shylock tries to take Antonio’s life. He makes an enormous self-sacrifice for Bassanio and treat others with contempt.
The loyalty of friendship is tested when Balthazar requests “and for your love I’ll take this ring from you” (IV.1 423) Bassanio initially refuses as “this ring was given to me (Bassanio) by my (Bassanio’s) wife” (IV.1 437) as Portia stated the loss of it “shall presage the ruin of your love”. (V.2 173) However the ease in which he bestowed his ring to Balthazar at Antonio’s request demonstrates the loyalty to his friend is more important than a vow to his wife.
The different strengths of family bond are key to characters personality in the Merchant of Venice. Shylocks daughter Jessica leaves her father for a Christian, this demonstrates the build up of how Shylock feels he has been repeatedly insulted by Christians. This individual issue reaches a climax in the play when Shylock is ordered that “of all he dies possessed/ Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter” (IV.1 356). Portia’s compliance with her courting being “curbed by the will of a dead father” (I.1 21) shows her family loyalty. It demonstrates the importance she puts on a promise to a relative or loved one, or how she made Bassanio promise that when the ring leaves his finger “o then be bold to say Bassanio’s dead!” (V.2 185) Bassanio, in act IV.1, disregards the obvious importance the ring holds for Portia and gives it away.
The issue of justice versus mercy is prominent throughout the play. In act IV.1, Portia tries to convince Shylock of the qualities of justice and mercy in her famous speech, she tells him “mercy is not strained”, IV.1 180 and that “It blesseth him that gives, and him that takes” IV.1 183 But later on in the scene, she does not show Shylock any mercy when she insists “The Jew shall have all justice” IV.1 317 when it will lead to the death of Shylock. The hypocrisy of Portia alludes to the issue that shylock raised in V.1 concerning the duplicity of Christians asking “what should his (a christian) sufferance be by Christian example? Why, revenge!” V.1 53.
Venetian law is questioned in the merchant of Venice, initially for Shylock legally being able to seize a “pound of flesh”, then for the triviality in which Shylocks fortunes were reversed. Antonio, by demanding that shylock “presently become a Christian” IV.1 383 asserts that the law does not allow for justice or mercy. Portia argued that bending the law to save Antonio “’Twill be recorded for a precedent”, therefore effecting other court cases. However she does not practice what she later preaches to Shylock that a sensitive case such as this one needs to be approached with mercy from all parties. The duke, who ultimately decides the ruling, allows the law to govern events in favour of a Christian victory.
The conflict of power between men and women in the merchant of Venice, begins in it’s context. Up until 30 years ago women were not seen as equal to men, men would be the only breadwinners and women would raise a family at home. In the merchant of Venice Portia is the most powerful character, she governs over the Island of Belmont, and it is her who convinces the duke of a loophole in Shylocks bond. The men of the play Antonio and Bassanio were saved by Portia, opposing the stereotype that men take care of business. Portia and Nerissa also go on to outsmart Bassanio and Gratiano, by convincing them to part with their rings that the loss of “shall presage the ruin of your love”. (V.2 173)
Although it is obvious that the women are the dominant characters, the way in which they achieved this demonstrates the real balance of power. Portia in courting “may neither choose who I/ would, nor refuse who I dislike, so is the will of a living daughter/ curbed by the will of a dead father (I.2 19)”. Later when Bassanio has chosen the correct casket and it is revealed they will marry, Portia surrenders herself to him “her lord, her governor, her king (V.2 165)”. The actual deeds in which the superlative cunning of the women is demonstrated, prevail in IV.1.
Portia, now “Balthazar” foils Shylock by encouraging him to fulfil his merry bond, but blood is not included in the bond so in taking his pound of flesh if “one drop of Christian blood (IV.1 306)” is lost, his “lands and goods are by the laws of Venice confiscate (IV.1 307)”. Furthermore if the weight of flesh removed is “less or more” than a pound, “in the estimation of a hair, Thou (Shylock) diest, and all thy goods are confiscate (IV.1 227-228)”. Even though Portia’s obvious intellect saves Antonio, she was only allowed into the courtroom disguised as a man, this demonstrates that men are still superior, whether it is right or wrong, in Venice.
At the end of the trial when it is revealed Portia and Nerrisa were the lawyer and lawyers clerk, therefore revealing that Bassanio and Gratiano gave their rings to their wives, are not irate as Portia earlier stated that the loss of Bassanio’s ring “shall presage the ruin of your love(V.2 173)”. They are subservient to them, the only consequence is some good-humoured teasing ***. This, again demonstrates that ultimately men govern the women of Venice. Even in the performance of the MOV, the female parts would be played by pre-pubescent boys.
The main issue in the merchant of Venice is equality, against common misconception Shakespeare gives the characters that would usually be portrayed as weak, strong lines