The precise date for the composition of Shakespeare’s "The Merchant of Venice" is unknown (Cerasano 97), but it must have been written “sometime between 1596 and 1598” (Gross 19). It was first printed in 1600 (Cerasano 2), with the title: “The most excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. With the extreame crueltie of Shylocke the Iewe towards the sayd Merchant, in cutting a iust pound of his fleshe: and the obtayning of Portia by the choyse of three chests. As it hath beene divers times acted by the Lord Chamberlaine his servants” (Alexander 8). This title might give the one or other reader food for thought. It implies that Shakespeare’s contemporaries must have seen the play, especially the character Shylock, “in dissimilar terms” from us nowadays (Cerasano 55).
The following work will shed some light on the changes in reception and interpretation of "The Merchant of Venice", which have developed from the time of its creation until today, which is an absolutely natural process, as “texts change with time and audience” (Alexander 90). To get to the bottom of these changes, especially the character Shylock and the attitudes of the audiences of the different centuries towards him have to be brought into focus. This work will show in what ways these attitudes and thus the reception have changed and where these changes derive from.
In addition to that, a selection of suggestions made by twentieth-century critics for interpreting the play, as it might have been meant to be by Shakespeare, will be introduced. His underlying intention has been debated over very much, which has given rise to an abundance of divergent interpretations, especially about how Shylock has to be assessed and how Shakespeare himself saw him. To find answers, we have to enter “into Elizabethan attitudes and beliefs” and theatrical conventions which have influenced him, because “an author can only be properly understood in the context of his own times” (Gross 181) and “the more knowledge […] we bring to it the richer our reading is likely to be” (Moody 20).
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Shylock
2.1 Characterisation and Attitudes towards him
2.2 The Conflict between Shylock and the Christians
2.3 Performance History and Reception
3. Socio-Historical Background
3.1 Religious Attitudes
3.2 Commercial Attitudes
3.3 Jews in Venice
4. Shakespeare’s Background
4.1 Shakespeare and Jews
4.2 Shakespeare’s Attitude towards his Shylock
6. Conclusion
Objective & Core Topics
The objective of this paper is to explore the evolving reception and interpretation of William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, focusing on the character of Shylock and the socio-historical attitudes that have influenced his portrayal from the Elizabethan era to the modern day.
- The socio-historical and religious background of 16th-century England and Venice.
- The conflict between Shylock and the Christian characters regarding religious and commercial values.
- The performance history of Shylock and the shifts in audience sympathy.
- Shakespeare's potential inspirations and personal knowledge regarding Jews.
- The complexity of assessing Shakespeare’s own attitude towards his controversial character.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 Characterisation and Attitudes towards him
Some of the character traits of Shylock shown to the audience are “hatred of Christians, pride in Jewish identity, caution, calculation, cunning, […], inflexible will” and money-centredness (Alexander 48). He is marked as different by peculiar speech habits which include the use of “special Jewish vocabulary” (Alexander 52), Old Testament expressions (Schabert (1972) 422) as well as simply unusual expressions (Gross 65) and idioms (Alexander 52). He also uses Hebrew names, like Jacob and Abraham, and speaks of “my tribe” (I, 3, 46) with which he refers to the Jews and pointedly sets himself apart from the others. Thus, “a sense of his different ethnic identity is created” (Alexander 52), namely “an Old Testament religious identity” (Alexander 53). Shakespeare also made Shylock “pointedly anti-Christian”, for example by having him mock at the New Testament (Alexander 53). It is made clear to the audience repeatedly that Shylock feels revulsion for the Christians. For instance, when he says that he wishes that “any of the stock of Barabbas’ had been Jessica’s husband rather than a Christian” (IV, 1, 92-3). Moreover, his listing of “what Jewish Law says he may and may not do: trade or talk with Gentiles, but not eat or pray with them” (Alexander 57) as well as his derogatory answer to the invitation for dinner show that he “is wilfully excluding himself” from the Venetian Christian society (Lyon 43). Ironically, he later agrees to dine with them (Alexander 57). “Shylock’s attitudes are very peculiar.” He is full of contradictions and inconsistencies and shows a somewhat strange behaviour (Halio 14).
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter outlines the scope of the study, noting the unknown exact composition date of the play and the intent to analyze shifts in Shylock’s reception over time.
2. Shylock: This section provides a detailed characterization of Shylock, explores the conflict with the Christians, and chronicles the diverse interpretations in theatrical history.
3. Socio-Historical Background: This chapter examines the crucial historical contexts of religious anti-Semitism and the controversies surrounding usury that shaped Elizabethan views.
4. Shakespeare’s Background: This part investigates the extent of Shakespeare’s knowledge regarding Jewish life and assesses various academic theories concerning his personal stance toward Shylock.
6. Conclusion: The concluding chapter synthesizes the findings, arguing that Shylock remains a complex figure whose interpretation is inextricably linked to the evolving social consciousness of the observer.
Key Words
Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice, Shylock, Anti-Semitism, Usury, Elizabethan England, Performance History, Religious Attitudes, Jewish Identity, Reception, Literary Criticism, Historical Context, Capitalism, Stage Jew, Cultural Studies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic work?
The work examines the character of Shylock in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice, analyzing how the interpretation of this figure has shifted significantly due to changing socio-historical contexts from the 16th century to the present.
What are the central thematic fields addressed in the analysis?
The analysis covers religious attitudes toward Judaism in the Renaissance, the commercial and moral controversies surrounding usury, and the theatrical history of performing Shylock.
What is the author's primary research goal?
The goal is to determine how and why audience attitudes toward Shylock have changed and to investigate the extent to which Shakespeare's own background and societal influences shaped this multifaceted character.
Which academic methodology does the author employ?
The author uses a historical-literary approach, synthesizing critical scholarly sources to place the play within its contemporary Elizabethan framework while comparing it to modern post-Holocaust interpretations.
What aspects are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body breaks down Shylock's specific character traits, the religious and economic antagonisms in the play, the stage history of the role, and the debated question of Shakespeare's personal intentions.
Which key terms characterize this publication?
The work is defined by terms such as Shylock, usury, Elizabethan anti-Semitism, historical reception, and the socio-historical background of Renaissance Venice.
How did the Lopez affair likely influence Shakespeare’s portrayal of Shylock?
The trial and execution of Roderigo Lopez in 1594 created a sensation and revived anti-Semitic fervor in London, which likely prompted Shakespeare to utilize contemporary stereotypes of the "villainous Jew" to ensure the play resonated with his audience.
Does the author conclude that Shylock is definitively a victim or a villain?
The author rejects a binary interpretation, arguing that the character's inconsistencies and complexity—being both a victim of systemic abuse and a vengeful antagonist—prevent a simple moral categorization.
Why does the author consider Venice an essential setting for the play?
Venice is presented as a commercially vibrant yet segregated environment that allowed for the interaction of diverse cultures and facilitated the specific economic tensions central to the play's plot.
- Quote paper
- Miriam Weinmann (Author), 2008, Shakespeare's Shylock and attitudes towards him in socio-historical context, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/93563
