A Brief Textual Analysis of Sections of

The Merchant of Venice

A play-text has many, if any, meanings and we must recognize that a text is open to multiple interpretations: some can even directly contradict one another. What this section presents, then, is not the play's final word on the issue of anti-semitism. Rather, what this section strives to illustrate is how the text of Merchant echoes some of the elements that occur in the survey of The History of the Jews in England outlined earlier.

In my interpretation of Shakespeare's text, I find that The Merchant of Venice inscribes these elements, one by one, and cumulatively stacks them up in order to define the character of Shylock less as a man and more as a cultural image of the malignant Jew.

A Note Against the Case for the Humanist View of Shylock

It is often argued that the famous "hath not a Jew eyes . . . If you prick us do we not bleed" speech of (III, i, 59-70) stresses the common core of humanity that lurks beneath the exterior of Shylock's public character. The fact that Shakespeare's play affords a glimpse of the Shylock's human core supposedly mitigates the accusations of anti-semitism. This speech, the argument maintains, reveals kind of humanist good-will of Shakespeare who allows his audience to see into the plight of Shylock, the persecuted and bitter man.

I think that, on the whole, this point about the humanity of Shylock being portrayed in the play is a good one. Clearly, this pivotal speech creates a degree of empathy in the audience for Shylock. However, I do not feel that one short speech of eleven lines outweighs the far more dominate themes of Shylock's characterization in the play. In particular, it is important to note how a mere seventeen lines after Shylock pleads with his persecutors to recognize his humanity, Shakespeare has Shylock ranting and raving over the elopement of his daughter and her theft of his money. With very strong language, Shylock wishes that his daughter "were dead at my foot and the / Jewels in her ear! Would she were hears'd at / My foot and the ducats in her coffin!" (III,i,88-90).

This wish for his daughter's death surely revokes much of the sympathy that was created by the former plea for the recognition of Shylock's humanity. In the moment of this outburst, Shakespeare again portrays an image a malignant, murderous Jew who--in this instance-- is willing to kill his own daughter for the sake a few ducats.