Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice is a play about how to con a person out of what they want the most. Between Portia's father's will and the Jew, Shylock, everyone is trying to get something they either don't deserve or they want out of greed or revenge. It all begins with Portia?s father's will.In his will, Portia's father states that the only person who has the chance of gaining his daughter hand in marriage is the male who chooses the right casket. Many suitors come calling and all are sworn that they will choose their casket and if Portia's picture is within, they receive her hand and all assets that was her fathers'. But if they choose wrong, then they must not speak of the caskets again and must leave immediately never to bring words of marriage to Portia again. With three caskets of gold, silver and lead, it is easy to see where the suitors would pick the one they think deserve. Their conceit is noticeable when they chose the gold or silver casket. They only saw what was on the outside and not what was within, the true self. Both the Prince of Aragon and the Prince of Morocco only saw gold and silver when looking at the three caskets. They did not see the hidden beauty within each of these caskets and therefore they chose wrong. It took the simple man of Bassanio to see the hidden beauty in lead that resulting in the marriage of Portia and Bassanio. Even though their courtship was short, it was the chance of the courtship that brings to the plot another form of wanting for the sake of greed and revenge.
In order for Bassanio to go to Belmont and try his luck at the three caskets, he must borrow money in order to make himself worthy of Portia's time. He borrows this money from Antonio who then makes a deal with the Jew, Shylock, to borrow three thousands ducats to be paid back at the end of three months or Antonio will forfeit a pound of his flesh near his heart if he can not repay the sum. Antonio believes that there will be no problem in repaying the sum when all of his merchant ships return from their perspective countries. Unfortunately, while Bassanio is away wooing his new wife, Antonio finds that his ships have all reached disaster in some shape or form and that Shylock now wants his pound of flesh. With Shylock being a Jew in a Christian atmosphere, Shylock has much animosity towards anything Christian. When he has the chance to take revenge on all things Christian by taking Antonio's flesh, he does not hesitate or will not let anyone persuade him from his unmerciful act. It takes the brilliance of Portia's mind to persuade Shylock from taking Antonio's flesh simply because Shylock didn't realize that he wouldn't be allowed to take a drop of blood and one can not take flesh without blood.
This whole idea of getting something from someone else that has too real purpose in everyday transactions, such as a pound of flesh, has no validity in society. Why someone would want a pound flesh is beyond me. Although the whole idea of having three caskets and letting chance decide a husband is a good idea, so long as the daughter goes for it. It took brilliance to realize that only a man in love would choose the lead casket for he would look within to see the real prize and not by not what is on the outside. This is what struck me the most about the Merchant of Venice. As well as the stupidity of idiots who would make deals with devils for the sake of chance.
Written by J. Morgan 1999
© 2005-2008 J. Morgan
