The characters and scenario that
Shakespeare presents in The Merchant of
Venice portray the inconsistency and unpredictable nature of human actions.
Each introduction of a character was similar to meeting someone in real life.
Shakespeare was able to craft characters as complex and real as the average
person, with the first "meeting" of the character forming the initial
impression of that character, and then as the play goes on, that impression
changing with each side the character shows.
At
first, Antonio seemed like a foolish man for being so willing to loan his
friend 3000 ducats while his wealth was insecure and Bassanio did not actually
have a solid plan or way to pay him back. As the play progressed, however,
Antonio became the compassionate and selfless friend who wanted to aid in the
success of his friend and who looked out for the wellbeing of others. Even
after being saved from losing a pound of flesh and receiving half of Shylock's
inheritance, he makes sure that the money he receives will be given to Jessica
and Lorenzo so they can have an inheritance to assure their comfort. He is more
than a just a foolish friend, but a kind, caring, and solicitous person.
Moreover,
even the characters such as Shylock show multiple facets. Initially, Shylock is
presented as a hateful and bitter character, but in other scenes he is shown to
be more than what is shown on the surface. Much of Shylock's dislike towards
Antonio seems to be a result of past damages inflicted on him by the other
merchants. The context in which this work was written was at a time of intense
religious intolerance. Jewish minorities with a Christian majority were likely
mistreated and abused constantly. Often times, it is the hurt people that seek
to hurt other people. Shakespeare creates this aspect of Shylock incredibly
through his writing, and adds that extra dynamic to the "villain" of
the play. Much of Shylock's actions are driven by the injuries that he has
obtained from those around him, he is hurt and is really just trying to protect
himself. This complexity makes the story and the characters even more appealing
to the audience. They are relatable characters that have inconsistent and
complicated reasoning behind their actions, but at the end of the day, they are
just like us. We have all had our moments where we have been bent on revenge
and aimed at getting what we felt we deserve, like Shylock, and also when we
have done foolish things for the sake of love.
This
is a typical characteristic of Shakespeare's plays. He presents very dramatic
situations, and characters that often commit unforeseeable actions, making the
audience uncertain about what is going to happen next. Generally, the results
are surprising but artfully close the story and express the underlying idea or
lesson of the play. The development of characters in The Merchant of Venice works to this effect, drawing the audience
in, surprising the audience, and consequently gratifying the audience with a crafty
end result.
