Analisis: The merchant of venice

Symbols
Gold

Gold symbolizes wealth, status, and influence in the play. Bassanio seeks gold to
prove himself worthy of marrying Portia. Shylock uses gold to control others,
compensating for his lack of power elsewhere. Jessica takes her father's gold to assert
independence from him. However, true happiness and worth in life are not tied to
material wealth. Portia loves Bassanio despite his financial troubles. Shylock learns
that neither gold nor revenge can bring him fulfillment. Jessica values her relationship
with Lorenzo more than her father's wealth.

Flesh

Flesh symbolizes life itself, the substance that makes all living beings. Shylock's
religion prohibits certain animal flesh, seeing it as impure. When Antonio agrees to
Shylock's condition of a pound of his own flesh as collateral for Bassanio's loan, he
risks his life for Bassanio's sake. Shylock's demand for the pound of flesh isn't just
about the bond; it's a demand for retribution for the years of suffering Antonio and
Christian society caused him. The actual flesh is less important than the value of
Antonio's life that's at stake.

Rings

Rings symbolize love and commitment. Portia gives Bassanio a ring as a token of
their love when they agree to marry. She warns him that losing or giving away the ring
would mean their love is destroyed. Later, Portia tests Bassanio by tricking him into
giving her the ring. Initially, Bassanio hesitates but gives it away under pressure from
Antonio, showing his strong bond with him. When Portia reveals the trick, Bassanio
realizes his mistake and fully commits to his wife. Another ring holds special
significance for Shylock, who is deeply upset to hear that Jessica traded the ring her
mother gave him for a monkey. He sees this act as disrespectful to their family bond,
which greatly troubles him.

Themes
Prejudice

Shylock seeks revenge on Antonio and Christians as a representative of all the wrongs
Christians have visited upon him and his people. Antonio has personally insulted and
mistreated him, which fuels Shylock's desire for vengeance. Additionally, Shylock's
daughter Jessica elopes with a Christian, further deepening his resentment. Shylock is
limited to being a moneylender due to societal restrictions, and he lives in the Jewish
ghetto of Venice without the rights enjoyed by Christians. These prejudices provoke
Shylock's anger and lead him to seek retribution against Antonio. In response, the
Christians act, again, on their prejudices, using their power to strip Shylock of his
wealth and force him to convert to Christianity as punishment.
Mercy

At the court, Portia (disguised as Balthazar) urges Shylock to show mercy to Antonio,
rising above the strict terms of their contract despite Antonio's past wrongs. Shylock
refuses, and despite sparing his life, the Christians of Venice punish him severely. He
loses half his wealth, but the greatest blow is Antonio's demand for Shylock to convert
to Christianity, stripping him of his identity and community. Ironically, those advocating
for Shylock to be merciful show him little mercy once he's defeated by the law's letter.
Perhaps neither Shylock nor Antonio truly deserves mercy, but that's the
essence of mercy—it's given even to those deemed unworthy.

Appearance versus Reality

In "The Merchant of Venice," appearances frequently deceive. Portia's suitors, the

Prince of Arragon and the Prince of Morocco, fail to win her hand because they are
misled by the flashy appearance of gold and silver caskets, choosing incorrectly in the
challenge set by Portia's father. Bassanio, however, understands that true value may
lie hidden beneath humble exteriors, and he wins by choosing the lead casket.
Similarly, Bassanio initially appears wealthy but later reveals his financial struggles.
Portia herself disguises as a man to use her intelligence and wisdom effectively in
court. Despite appearing as the play's villain, Shylock's suffering evokes sympathy from
the audience, challenging initial impressions based on appearance.

Worth

In "The Merchant of Venice," while wealth plays a significant role in the plot, it's
the emotional value attached to objects that drives the story forward. Bassanio
and Antonio seek a loan from Shylock because Bassanio loves Portia, and Antonio
values Bassanio enough to risk his life for him. Despite being offered much more than
the loan's value, Shylock insists on the pound of flesh because his desire for revenge
on Antonio outweighs any monetary gain. Portia freely offers money because she
values Bassanio's happiness over gold. Later, she tests Bassanio's loyalty by tricking
him into giving away his wedding ring—not for its material worth but as a measure of
his commitment. Gold, silver, and jewels hold significance in the play only
because of the emotions and meanings attached to them by the characters.

Lack of Control

In "The Merchant of Venice," many characters lack control over their own lives.
Antonio's fate depends on the unpredictable seas that carry his ships. Portia is bound
by her father's riddle, determining who she marries. Bassanio is constrained by his
debts. Jessica lives under her father's strict control. Shylock is governed by the city's
laws, restricting where he can live and work. Each of these characters attempts to
overcome the forces that control them but with mixed results.
Motifs
Ships

Venice, a city built on interconnected islands and waterways, relies heavily on

ships for transportation and trade. Characters like Bassanio travel by sea to
Belmont to court Portia, demonstrating the mobility afforded by ships. Similarly, Jessica
and Lorenzo likely escape Venice by ship, highlighting their ability to move freely.
Ships also form the backbone of Venice's bustling trade network with other
regions. Antonio, a merchant, depends entirely on ships to transport goods for trade.
His fortunes rise and fall with the success or loss of these ships. The peril Antonio
faces when his ships are lost illustrates the high stakes tied to maritime commerce in
Venice.

Disguise

Disguise plays a significant role in "The Merchant of Venice," reflecting Venetian life
where citizens commonly wear masks during celebrations. Jessica escapes her
father's house disguised as a boy, highlighting the city's culture of concealment. Portia
and Nerissa also disguise themselves as young men to navigate legal proceedings and
test their husbands' fidelity. During Shakespeare's time, laws prohibited women
from acting on stage, so male actors portrayed female characters. This necessity
made disguise integral to the play's plot. Shakespeare cleverly acknowledged this in
the dialogue, such as Lorenzo teasing Jessica about her disguise. The audience,
aware of the convention, found such banter amusing. Moreover, the convincing
portrayal of disguised characters allowed for scenarios where husbands like
Bassanio and Gratiano could fail to recognize their wives in male attire, adding
depth to the comedic and dramatic elements of the play.

Allusion

Allusions in "The Merchant of Venice" serve to enrich the play by referencing

cultural and literary symbols that resonate with audiences of Shakespeare's time
and beyond. Biblical references, such as those invoked by Shylock and Antonio, are
used to debate moral issues like moneylending, revenge, and mercy. Classical
mythology, on the other hand, is employed to illustrate various points throughout
the play. In the opening scene, Solanio makes an allusion to Janus, the Roman god
with two faces symbolizing beginnings and endings, suggesting the complexity of
human nature. Nestor, an ancient Greek king renowned for his wisdom, is also
mentioned, highlighting the characters' admiration for wisdom and experience. Another
significant allusion in the play is to the classical tale of Jason and the Argonauts, who
embark on a perilous quest to obtain the Golden Fleece. This allusion underscores
themes of adventure, risk-taking, and the pursuit of wealth or glory. Overall, these
allusions deepen the thematic and philosophical dimensions of "The Merchant of
Venice," inviting the audience to draw connections between the ancient stories
and the moral dilemmas faced by the characters in the play.