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Anti-Semitism in The Merchant of Venice
all of Antonio's ships have been lost was followed by the
news that Shylock has been insisting on the repayment of his bond. Shylock has told the Duke of Venice that unless the bond is paid, no future business or contract in Venice will have any value. Therefore, the matter is set for court. In this scene, each character lives up to their personality. Antonio shows his courage and forgiveness; Bassanio prepares to sacrifice his happiness and his life to save Antonio; Portia shows her generosity and her respect for friendship; and Jessica, now a Christian, is fully virtuous. By contrast to these Christians, Shylock the Jew is seen as a totally selfish and vengeful character. Shylock refuses to listen to Antonio's pleas for mercy. He states, "I'll have my bond. Thou call'st me dog before thou hadst a cause, but since I am a dog, beware my fangs." Shylock insists on his pound of flesh. Totally in character, Shylock makes no attempt to justify himself, and refuses the appeal made by the Duke. He has sworn "by our holy Sabbath" to collect his dues. Bassanio then pleas with Shylock to change his mind, but to no avail. Antonio interrupts Bassanio, saying that one might well ask the wolf why he eats lambs, as try to soften Shylock's hard heart. He compares Shylock's temperament with the images of destructive forces and says that it is useless to appeal to Shylock on the grounds of decency and kindness since his evil differentiates him from all. Bassanio offers Shylock six thousand ducats now, but Shylock will not relent. The Duke makes a Christian appeal for mercy, reminding Shylock "How shalt thou hope for mercy, rendering none." Shylock, however, firmly believes that he is doing nothing wrong and answers in legal terms, stating, "What judgment shall I dread, doing no wrong?" He then claims that the Christians are the ones, who do wrong, treating their slaves abjectly. Significantly, no one answers Shylock's accusations. Shylock is not affected by the eloquence of Portia's speech. He ignores and argues with her every offer. He also rejects Bassanio's offer of even more ducats. As a result, Bassanio turns to Balthazar (Portia), and pleads with her to stretch the law in Antonio's favor. Her reply is that the law is unchangeable. Only Shylock can decide to set the law aside through his mercy. If the law itself is tampered with in this one instance, it will set a precedent, cause "many an error," and make Venice an unacceptable place to do business. An elated Shylock praises this wise, young judge as "a Daniel come to judgment--yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge, how I do honor thee!" The reference here is to the Biblical figure of Daniel who gave justice to Susannah. Just as the suspense and the tension reach their height, Portia produces a legality in the bond by stating, "This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood," only a pound of flesh. The wise Portia [next page]