Kia ora, we’re hearing a lot about Shylock. Or alternatively, not much.
The Merchant of Venice is one of my three favourite plays and at the moment it seems no-one knows what the play’s about so I thought I’d enlighten you.
Think about it. This is Venice a long time ago – Jews are not allowed to own property (this law takes a long time to change, like 2-300 years?) – the only way Shylock can do business is to lend money and charge for that. This is against Christian law although, of course, Christians borrow from him. They might spit on him when they pass him in the street (e.g. Antonio ) but they borrow from him.
So we have Antonio who is so in love with Bassanio but not of course admitting it given that Venice is allegedly a Christian city etc etc and the love that dare not speak its name is unthinkable – whatever – he lends money (two loans – unpaid) again. Bassanio can pretend to be rich and win Portia’s hand and will get entrée to all her wealth and property. If he has to say he loves her that’s okay, he loves her money and property – same thing isn’t it?
Antonio’s a bit short of the ready at the moment because his ships are on the high seas and all his money is tied up in them – or at least what’s left after Bassanio borrowed the other two loans and not paid them back. But – Bassanio wants money and what Bassanio wants, Bassanio must have, so Antonio borrows from Shylock. Who lends it on the condition that if it’s not paid on due date he will get a pound of flesh. Antonio agrees. This is an indication of how besotted he is. And how stupid.
At Portia’s castle, there are three caskets. One of them contains the magic words that say the one who opens it can have Portia’s hand (and all her land and money). Bassanio has to choose the right casket. And of course he does. This is Shakespeare after all.
Then we have Portia dressing up as a man, (hello? does anyone believe this change of dress hides the fact that she’s female?) and getting all ponderous and uppity and finally telling Shylock that he can have the pound of flesh but he can’t have any blood. If he spills one drop, he’s sunk. So of course Shylock declines – he loses everything, his money, he’s already lost his daughter Jessica who’s run off with a Christian and now sells her mother’s ring while Portia and her offsider give their rings away. Shakespeare loves threes.
Shylock loses everything. Bassanio gets all he wants. Antonio continues being noble and occasionally spits on Jews. No of course the play doesn’t actually say that – I’m using poetic license okay? Although it’s a pretty good bet.
If I had to say why I like this play so much when all the characters are so stupid then there might be a clue in Shylock’s deservedly famous speech …
He hath …laughed at my losses, mocked my gains, scorned my nation, thwarted my bargains, cooled my friends, heated mine enemies – and what’s his reason? 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? And if you wrong us shall we not revenge? – if we are like you in the rest, we will resemble you in that. If a Jew wrong a Christian, what is his humility? Revenge! If a Christian wrong a Jew, what should his sufferance be by Christian example? – why revenge! The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction.
Change the word Jew to Maori, Pasifika, Chinese, Indian, European, Arab, African, or any other – and this speech fits. Like Antonio and the other nobles in this play we distrust the ‘other’ and the ‘other’ resents and distrusts us.
I will better the instruction?
No need to look far to see how true these lines still are.
Renée
