Jews and Christians in a Merchant of Venice
Jews and Christians in a Merchant of Venice I think the passages demonstrate negative feelings and attitudes between the two religions, Judaism and Christianity. I think this is because of the history of Jews living in the Christian community, which dates back many years. In medieval England, the money lender or usurer was a sinner therefore you can imagine how Shylock was treated by the Christian community in Venice, the Christian Church was openly abusive to Jews, calling the Jews money making criminals. Many people depended on Shylock’s loans for help although no one really accepted interest which they had to pay back along with the sum of the money, which was borrowed. Shylock gained success in his money lending. Shylock made it clear that his relationship with Christians was strictly business, Shylock said: "I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you." This passage tells us that Shylock was willing to offer his profit-making services to Christians but was not prepared to socialise with them. One person who also depended on ShylockÆs loan was Antonio. Shylock agreed to give Antonio the three thousand ducats he required but did not charge interest instead he said if Antonio could not pay him back he would have his bond, which was one pound of flesh of AntonioÆs, one pound of flesh would virtually kill Antonio. Antonio was confident of his three ships arriving back however Shylock doubted the security of Antonio's ships, which were to repay Shylocks loan. Shylock wanted Antonio to suffer and Shylock knew there were no guarantees that the ships would return so he fancied his chances of fulfilling his vengeance against Antonio, Shylock agreed to have one pound of AntonioÆs flesh if he could not pay back the three thousand ducats, also this way Shylock would not be prosecuted by the law of Venice. Shylock had made a bond with Antonio, which Antonio could not break. Shylock said: "But ships are but boards, sailors but men; there be land rats, and water
rats, water thieves and land thieves-I mean pirates- and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is notwithstanding sufficient." Shylock wanted revenge on Antonio because of the way Antonio had physically and verbally abused Shylock in the past. Shylock said: "You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine." Shylock tells how Antonio had treated him in the past. It is noticeable that Antonio does not deny abusing Shylock, instead Antonio swears that he is likely to do it again: "I am as like to call thee so again, To spet ...
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rats, water thieves and land thieves-I mean pirates- and then there is the peril of waters, winds and rocks. The man is notwithstanding sufficient." Shylock wanted revenge on Antonio because of the way Antonio had physically and verbally abused Shylock in the past. Shylock said: "You call me misbeliever, cut throat dog, and spit upon my Jewish gabardine." Shylock tells how Antonio had treated him in the past. It is noticeable that Antonio does not deny abusing Shylock, instead Antonio swears that he is likely to do it again: "I am as like to call thee so again, To spet on thee, to spurn thee too" This shows that even though Antonio was dependent on the Jew (Shylock) he still acknowledged the fact of the differences between the two religions. We had learnt that Shylock had suffered at the hands of Antonio but it did not appear it was just Shylock suffering, Shylock said: "For suffÆrance is the badge of all our tribe." This passage tells us that all of ShylockÆs tribe, Jews, were used to suffering, it is highly likely they suffered at the hands of Christians. I think this causes prejudice against all Christians and gives the reader the impression that the Christians in Venice treated all Jews this unfairly. Shylock asked if a Jew wrongs a Christian a Christian would seek revenge therefore if a Christian wrongs a Jew then the Jew should also seek revenge, Shylock said: "If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge. If a Christian wrongs a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? Why revenge. The villainy you teach me I will execute." Shylock felt he had been wronged therefore he thought he was entitled to revenge. Shylock had been waiting for the opportunity of getting one up on Antonio, Shylock now intended to use the bond as a way of getting revenge on Antonio, Shylock said: "If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him." ShylockÆs hatred of Antonio was for three reasons; the first reason was he was a Christian, Shylock said: 'I hate him for he is a Christian'. It was clearly obvious that Jews did not like Christians and vice-versa due to the different religious beliefs in both religions. Also Antonio warns off Bassanio when Shylock quotes from the bible, Antonio said: "The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witness." By reading this passage we can tell that Antonio hated Jews. The second reason was that Christians lent money for no interest this clearly affected ShylockÆs business. Shylock said: "He lends out money gratis, an bring down The rate of usance here with us in Venice." This passage tells us that Christians did not charge interest therefore the Christians did not make profits whereas people like Shylock made their profits from interest, this clearly did not please the Christian community, this may have created negative attitudes towards all Jews because Jews may have been prejudiced against. Antonio had also saved many of ShylockÆs customers by defaulting on their loans, this meant Shylock did not collect any interest therefore he made no profits. Antonio said: "Shylock seeks my life; his reasons I well know: I oft delivered from his forfeitures Many that have at times made moan to me; Therefore he hates me." (III, ii, 21-24) This did clearly not please Shylock because his schemes of gaining interest were often ruined by Antonio therefore his hunger for revenge grew upon Antonio. The third reason was that Antonio hated the Jews sacred nation, Shylock said: æHe hates our sacred nation, and he railsÆ This passage tells the readers or the audience that Christians hated Jews. These three reasons had caused Shylock to seek revenge on Antonio. AntonioÆs ships did not return which resulted in Antonio having to face the bond, which he had agreed with Shylock. When Shylock learned about the state of AntonioÆs ships, which had not returned he happily declared: "I'm very glad of it. I'll plague him, I'll Torture him, I am glad of it." (III, i, 116-17) Shylock now knew that Antonio had lost his capital and would not be able to repay him. Shylock was now looking to have his bond, one pound of AntonioÆs flesh. Shylock was not going to let this opportunity of revenge on Antonio slip, he said: "Cursed be my tribe if I forgive him!" There was no way that Shylock would forgive Antonio for his doings. Shylock made clear that he would only have his bond. In court Portia begged Shylock to forfeit the bond and accept three times the amount of money borrowed by Antonio. Shylock refused, saying: "I'll have by bond; I will not hear thee speak; I'll have my bond, and therefore speak no-more." Jessica, ShylockÆs daughter, said: "When I was with him I have heard him swear To Tubal and to Chus, his countrymen, That he would rather have Antonio's flesh Than twenty times the value of the sum That he did owe him." (III, ii, 284-88) This passage shows that the Jew seeked the ChristianÆs life. Clearly Shylock seeked revenge and only revenge, he said: "If it will feed nothing else, it will feed nothing else, it will feed my revenge. He hath disgraced me, hindered me half a million, laughed at my losses, mocked at my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies-and whatÆs his reason? I am a Jew. " Shylock felt he had been wronged and treated unfairly because he was a Jew. This passage demonstrates that Christians treated Jews badly because of their differences in religions. Shylock cursed that if his bond was not forfeited: "And by our holy Sabaoth have I sworn To have the due forfeit of my bond. If you deny it, let the danger light Upon your charter and city's freedom." Shylock cursed VeniceÆs freedom if his bond was not met. This passage shows ShylockÆs eagerness of revenge on Antonio, who Shylock knew he had been wronged by. Antonio knew that there was no way that Shylock would turn away form the bond, he said: "You may as well do anything most hard As seek to soften that- than which whatÆs harder? - His Jewish heart. Therefore I do beseech you make no more offers," This passage clearly show that the Jew was hard hearted towards the Christian, Shylock would only have his bond, and he now had the chance of revenge, which he had been patiently waiting for. Shylock clearly showed that money was worthless compared to the bond, he said: "If every ducat in six thousand ducats Were in six parts, and every part a ducat. I would not draw them. I would have my bond." This passage clearly indicates ShylockÆs eagerness of revenge on Antonio. ShylockÆs only want was one pound of AntonioÆs flesh. Shylock said: "The pound of flesh which I demand of him Is dearly bought. ætis mine, and I will have it." Shylock was clearly saying that he owns the pound of flesh and it is his property therefore he shall have it. The Dukes behaviour was rather surprising considering the fact he was supposed to me impartial but he was clearly supporting Antonio, he began by sympathising with Antonio: "I am sorry for thee. Thou art come to answer A stone adversary, an inhuman wretch, Uncapable of pity, void and empty From any dram of mercy." The Dukes actions were clearly unfair therefore it was impossible for the Duke to give a fair hearing. The Duke also calls Shylock æthe JewÆ: "Go one and call the Jew into the court". This clearly indicates that many people did not give Jews respect. In many cases Shylock was not referred as æShylockÆ instead he was referred to as: "dog Jew" (II,viii,14) "currish Jew" (IV,i,292) Gratiano said of Shylock "O, be thou damned, inexecrable dog!" (IV,i,128) The Duke called Shylock "a stony adversary, inhuman wretch" (IV,i,4-5). Bassanio identified Shylock as a "cruel devil" (IV,i,217). I think William Shakespeare gave these titles to Shylock to strip him of his humanity and remove his religious identity. This made Shylock appear something other than human, I think this was because he was a Jew. I think William Shakespeare was not against Jews because he included a passage that made Christians and Jews feel alike, Shylock said: "I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses affections passions? Fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us do we not die?" In my opinion Shakespeare wanted Christians to realise that Jews were also human but at the same time he could not make the Christians unhappy by sticking up for the Jews therefore he had to write want the Christians wanted to read.
