The Merchant of Venice: Themes (AQA GCSE English Literature)

Exam responses that are led by ideas are more likely to reach the highest levels of the mark scheme. Exploring the ideas of the text, specifically in relation to the question being asked, will help to increase your fluency and assurance in writing about the novel.

Your exam question could be on any topic. However, having a really good grasp of the following themes and,  crucially, why Shakespeare is exploring these themes, will enable you to produce a “conceptualised response” in your exam. This list is not exhaustive and you are encouraged to identify other ideas within the novel.

• Prejudice and Intolerance
• Justice and Mercy
• Love and Friendship
• Wealth and Power

Prejudice and Intolerance

Prejudice is a prevalent theme in The Merchant of Venice. The majority of the Venetian characters exhibit strong prejudice and intolerance against Shylock in the play.

Knowledge and evidence:

• Through Shylock, Shakespeare depicts the plight of the outsider in society due to prejudice and intolerance
• Despite his reputation as a malevolent character, Shylock is portrayed as a man who has experienced significant abuse:
• His frequent mentions of past mistreatment at the hands of Christians, make him a more complex and sympathetic character
• As a character he is continually subjected to prejudice and humiliation:
• Antonio's harsh behaviour towards Shylock reveals a violent and cruel aspect of Antonio’s character
• Antonio confesses of having used offensive language towards Shylock, including calling him a non-believer, as well as spitting on him
• Although the audience is not expected to sympathise completely with Shylock, his malice could be seen to be partly driven by the other characters’ prejudices towards him
• Prejudice and intolerance are also demonstrated through the play's plot when Shylock is forced to convert to Christianity, thus abandoning his faith and livelihood:
• Antonio's insistence on Shylock’s religious conversion would be viewed as denying liberty of religion by a contemporary audience
• However, from Antonio’s Christian perspective, it could be viewed as a gesture of goodwill and an attempt to save Shylock's soul
• In turn, Shakespeare also demonstrates Shylock’s own prejudice against the Christian characters in the play:
• Before meeting Antonino, Shylock states that he despises him: for example, "I hate him for he is a Christian"
• However, it appears that Shylock detests Antonio as much on business terms as much as religious ones
• For example, Antonio’s lending of money with no profit hurts Shylock's business
• In Act I, Scene iii and Act III, Scene i, Shylock presents his argument that Jews and Christians share a universal sense of humanity and a similar desire for retribution:
• For example: “If you prick us do we not bleed? …And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?”
• However, neither of these assertions could be viewed as entirely persuasive and Shylock’s incapacity to show mercy is starkly contrasted with Antonio’s tolerance and benevolence towards him later on in the play
• Shylock becomes so fixated on following the exact wording of the law and consumed by his own prejudice and hatred that he is unable to perceive anything beyond the cruel act of cutting Antonio’s flesh
• Despite Bassanio extending an invitation to dine together, Shylock refuses to eat with Christians or forgive Antonio, one of the fundamental principles of Christianity
• However, in this speech, we gain insight into Shylock's character and the reasons behind his actions, revealing him as a more intricate and complex character than initially assumed
• Through the marriage of Jessica and Lorenzo, Shakespeare may be highlighting the potential for two people with significant differences to come together in unity and equality

What is Shakespeare’s intention?

• It can be suggested that Shakespeare may be subtly critiquing his characters for holding prejudiced and intolerant views 
• Shakespeare appears to suggest that Shylock's anger stems from the maltreatment he has endured over time rather than being inherently tied to his Jewish identity, therefore holding prejudiced views only fuels further intolerance

Justice and Mercy

In The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare explores the theme of justice and mercy by using a range of literary techniques. Justice is demanded when a person senses injustice, while mercy refers to the act of granting forgiveness, which may not be easily bestowed.

Knowledge and evidence:

• Ideas relating to justice and mercy are a central focus of the play and Shakespeare encourages the audience to reflect on these concepts:
• Shakespeare demonstrates that justice is not always settled in court and that it involves the natural rights of individuals within society
• Throughout the play, the notion of revenge appears in various forms and Shakespeare portrays it in both serious and humorous forms:
• For example, the more serious aspects are conveyed through Shylock's attempt to claim a pound of flesh from Antonio, Portia's punishment of Shylock in court and Antonio's coercion of Shylock to convert
• For example, the more comical aspects are evidenced through Portia and Nerissa when they deceive their husbands regarding the rings they were supposed to keep
• Shylock attempts to enact his revenge by strictly adhering to the justice system in Venice:
• However, both Portia and the Duke advise Shylock to demonstrate mercy rather than seeking revenge, though Shylock rejects this
• Whilst religious intolerance and personal vengeance could appear to dominate much of the play, mercy is still very much in evidence
• Shakespeare illustrates the theme of justice and mercy by portraying the contrasting beliefs of Shylock and Portia
• During Portia's trial scene, she delivers an important speech regarding mercy: “earthly power doth then show likest God's / When mercy seasons justice”:
• She indicates that mercy cannot be coerced but must be voluntary
• She effectively advocates for mercy by persuading the Duke to grant Shylock's pardon
• Further, she also urges Antonio not to seize all of Shylock's wealth
• She emphasises that this virtue is not frequently expected of ordinary individuals, but rather bestowed upon kings and rulers by divine right
• The Venetian trial embraces both mercy and justice, allowing for the sparing of a citizen's life while also ensuring consequences for a person’s actions
• The differing interpretations of the law during the trial scenes help to raise questions about the validity of different codes of law and what happens when they potentially conflict:
• Shylock's request for his bond, which was legally agreed upon, is deemed just while Portia pleads for mercy
• Shylock demands justice but is asked to show mercy
• Conversely, requiring Shylock to convert to Christianity could be viewed (largely by an Elizabethan audience) as a means of granting him salvation
• The symbolism of Portia is particularly evident when she assumes the identity of a lawyer and ventures to Venice:
• This juxtaposition portrays Portia in a city where her idealistic values are challenged by a harsh reality
• Shylock's rigid adherence to the law, without any consideration for compassion or empathy, ultimately leads to his downfall
• However, an audience who may feel that Portia's punishment of Shylock is too severe:
• While the court may consider the verdict to be appropriate for Shylock's actions, their strict interpretation of the law results in the complete destruction of an individual

What is Shakespeare’s intention?

• Shakespeare highlights the importance of showing mercy in order to receive mercy
• This is evidenced through Launcelot's request for his father's forgiveness; Portia and Nerissa's forgiveness of their husbands for giving away their rings; and Shylock who receives no mercy because he shows none to Antonio

Love and Friendship

The Merchant of Venice explores the theme of love and friendship between many of its characters. The chief romantic relationship in the play involves Bassanio and Portia, and other relationships are also explored through Jessica's elopement with Lorenzo, the wedding between Nerissa and Gratiano, and the bond of friendship between Antonio and Bassanio.

• Antonio and Bassanio's bond could be viewed as the strongest friendship in the play and their unwavering alliance is a key aspect
• The dynamic between Bassanio and Antonio, appears to be contradictory but despite their different personalities, they maintain a strong friendship:
  • Antonio is older and more generous, while Bassanio is younger and more carefree
• Antonio expresses a faithful loyalty towards his companion Bassanio and he conveys his love for his friend with great exuberance
• However, it is important to note the distinction between the conventional sentimental relationships between men during the Renaissance
• Antonio acts as a generous benefactor, advisor and confidante to Bassanio:
  • Antonio displays a tolerant attitude towards Bassanio's indulgence and willingly consents to lend him more money
• The play highlights the idea that economic interests can often taint even the purest form of love:
  • For example, the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio could be perceived to be one-sided as Antonio appears to sacrifice many things for Bassanio though this does not appear to be reciprocated
  • This is exemplified by Bassanio's borrowing of money in order to pursue his romantic interests with Portia
• However, Shakespeare portrays a role reversal between Antonio and Bassanio as the play progresses:
  • The play initially depicts Bassanio as someone in need, but later on, Antonio seeks aid from Bassanio
• As a result of the deep mutual trust and support between Antonio and Bassanio, their friendship brings positive consequences for their relationship:
  • Their camaraderie thus becomes more balanced which presents a stronger and more reciprocal bond to the audience
• The central romantic relationship between Portia and Bassanio is mirrored by other romantic plots within the play: 
  • Jessica's elopement with Lorenzo and the marriage of Nerissa and Gratiano
• The love between a father and child is exemplified through Shylock and Jessica's disordered relationship:
  • Although Shylock is not affectionate towards Jessica, his affection for her is still evident in the play
• The relationship among the Venetian Christian characters in the play is depicted as strong, and they all come together to support Antonio

 What is Shakespeare’s intention?

• Shakespeare uses the themes of love and friendship to demonstrate how they can be used to overcome the most challenging of circumstances and that these are more important than wealth and material possessions

Wealth and Power

The Merchant of Venice highlights the complexities of wealth and power through several characters. Although Bassanio is portrayed as a noble character, his financial struggles are a significant obstacle which leads him to borrow from Antonio, while Shylock's vengeful actions enable him to profit by taking advantage of others. 

Knowledge and evidence:

• The play contains multiple references to wealth and prosperity, as well as alluding to the uncertainty surrounding Antonio's shipment and the caskets
• Shakespeare uses the opening scene of the play to introduce the character of Bassanio and his pursuit of Portia, which is the chief romantic storyline and also sets in motion the bond plot point:
• In the opening scene, although Antonio inquires about Bassanio's courtship of Portia, Bassanio deftly shifts the conversation to concerns about money
• From Bassanio's speeches, the audience could interpret that he may not be financially reckless:
• He is willing to further burden Antonio, who has already been generous towards him
• Hence, the play is predominantly driven by Bassanio's desire for wealth, which encompasses most of the other characters in some way:
• Bassanio seeks to resolve his money concerns by trying to win Portia's affection which is evident when he mentions her wealth before her beauty: she is “richly left”
• Shylock's actions are largely motivated by his miserliness and greed, and Antonio is a merchant venturer
• The hatred between Shylock and Antonio is due to Antonio’s attitude to usury
• The play explores the divergent attitudes towards the acquisition of wealth that are displayed by the characters, specifically Antonio and Shylock, who are both merchants but have fundamentally different approaches to accumulating money
• During the trial scene Shylock’s obsession with Antonio is clearly evident when he declines Portia's initial proposal:
• It could suggest that justice proves to be more significant to Shylock than his wealth, or he would not have insisted on the bond
• Throughout the play, the characters of Bassanio and Portia demonstrate a shared understanding of the importance of wealth; however, they also acknowledge its lack of intrinsic value:
• Within their romanticised world, the concern for money could be seen to not be a priority
•  Both Bassanio and Portia’s perspective on money is sharply contrasted with that of Shylock’s:
• Shylock’s character is largely defined by his need to use money as a defence against those who oppress him
• Antonio prioritises love and friendship over monetary possessions when it comes to his relationship with Bassanio:
• When Bassanio requires help, Antonio willingly offers all of his financial assets to assist him

What is Shakespeare’s intention?

• Shakespeare highlights the complexities of wealth and power through several characters and demonstrates that whilst money can be viewed as a negative force associated with greed and discontentment, Shakespeare also suggests that having wealth can also provide individuals with autonomy and authority