Nicoar Maria-Magdalena

IIIrd Year, A, Gropu 1

The trial in The Merchant of Venice

The religious conflict between Christianity and Judaism lies at the basis of Shakespeares
play, The Merchant of Venice. The author manages to portray the dispute between the two
ideologies through two of his major characters: Shylock the representative of Judaism- and
Antonio who stands for Christianity. Even though this conflict is present throughout the entire
play, it reaches the climax in the trial scene, where the struggle between Antonio and Shylock
becomes one of life and death.
The play opens with a discussion between Antonio and his friends Salanio and Salarino.
Their conversation is significant because it provides the reader with an insight into the nature of
Antonios affairs: he is a merchant and therefore, a respectful member of the Venetian society,
where traders were perceived as heroes, who exemplified Christian virtues of charity
(Nicolaescu). Shylock, who may be interpreted as Antonios antagonist, as he is a usurer, is
introduced to the auditory in Act I, Scene III, where he reveals both his religious orientation and
the reasons of his hatred for Antonio: How like a fawning publican he looks! / I hate him for he
is a Christian/ But more for that in low simplicity/ He lends out money gratis and brings
down/The rate of usance here with us in Venice. (Shakespeare).
Shylock proves to be very shrewd and cunning, as he understands, from the very
beginning, that Bassanios proposal offers him the opportunity to take revenge on Antonio and
does not hesitate to take advantage of it. Thus, he lends Bassanio three thousand ducats provided
that, he would have the right to take a pound of his flesh, if Antonio does not respect the
agreement. Antonios inability to keep the bond leads to the trial which takes place in Act IV,
Scene I.
The trial brings Antonio and Shylock to the same level, making them alike and suggests
that there are no valid reasons for hatred. This idea is reinforced both by Shylocks great argue in
favor of the basic human rights from Act III, Scene I, through which he implies that all humans
are the same, and by his statement that he cannot name the reasons of his hatred for Antonio: So
I can give no reason, nor I will not/ More than a lodged hate and a certain loathing/ I bear
Antonio, (Shakespeare).
At the same time, Antonio and Shylock become similar with respect to their family, their
attitude towards money and their religion. At the beginning of the play, the difference between
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IIIrd Year, A, Gropu 1

the two characters is very clear, as Antonio has neither a wife, nor children, while Shylock has a
daughter, Jessica. After Jessicas elopement with Lorenzo, Shylock also loses his family. Another
difference between them is that, while Antonio is a Christian and a merchant, who lends money
without interest, Shylock is a Jew and he claims usury. However, Antonio convinces him to lend
Bassanio money without intrest and, finally, the Duke forces him to become a Marrano 1 and to
give up to his occupation.
The trial also emphasizes the values which are specific to each of the two ideologies:
while Christianity relies on the idea of mercy and perceives revenge as Gods justice
(Nicolaescu), Judaism understands it as a justice made through law. For Portia, who is a
Christian, mercy is a gift from God, as it droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven/ Upon the
place beneath: (Shakespeare). The quality of mercy2 elevates the position of the person who
gives proof of it, as it is enthroned in the hearts of kings (Shakespeare), it is an attribute to
God himself (Shakespeare). Finally, she asserts that mercy may be the solution for all the
people who are in a desperate situation: consider this, / That in the course of justice, none of us/
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy; (Shakespeare).But this quality does not make part
of Shylocks value system (he is a Jew), and, consequently, this is why neither the Duke, nor
Portias touching discourse manage to persuade him to give up to his forfeit.
Another significant role of the trial scene is that, through Antonios recovery, it manages
to restore peace and the cheerful atmosphere, specific to a comedy. If Shylock would have
carried out his plan, killing Antonio, the play would have been interpreted as a tragedy and
would have ended in a mournful atmosphere. However, Shakespeare might have preserved the
structure of a comedy, by making Shylock to spare Antonio.
In conclusion, The Merchant of Venice is a faithful portrayal of the relationship between
different ideologies in the Elizabethan society, while the struggle between Shylock and Antonio
may be interpreted as a universal clash between two distinct beliefs. In the same spirit, mercy
and hatred are feelings which are common to human nature and which almost all men have at

1 Nicolaescu, Mdlina. Lecture. Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures.

2 Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Web. 04 January 2016. <

http://shakespeare.mit.edu/merchant/full.html>
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IIIrd Year, A, Gropu 1

some time felt; therefore, the auditory sustains Antonios cause, while it understands Shylocks
reasons, empathizing, at the same time, with both of them.

Bibliography:

Primary Source:
Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Web. 04 January 2016.
< http://shakespeare.mit.edu/merchant/full.html>
Secondary Source:
Nicolaescu, Mdlina. Lecture. Faculty of Foreign Languages and Literatures