Themes of relationships and society in Merchant of Venice

Themes of relationships and society in Merchant of Venice

1. Male friendhsips

   • Antonio and Bassanio
     • Homoerotic?
       • Antonio's sadness could possibly be caused by Bassanio's impending courtship
         • Well, tell me now what lady is the same To whom you swore a secret pilgrimage, That you today promised to tell me of?
         • Are Antonio's feelings towards Bassanio completely platonic?
           • My purse, my person, my extremest means Lie all unlocked to your occasions.
             • 'My person' has implications of sexual relationship
           • solanio says 'i think he only loves the world for him'
     • Financial gain
       • Aristotle argues that there are three types of friendship; one based on financial gain, one based on pleasure and lastly the only perfect frienship, one based on admiration of the other's virtue
       • Is Bassanio's love for Antonio heavily based on his wealth?
   • The dynamics of male friendships feature heavily in the merchant of venice, in elizabethan times often more value was placed on these relationships than on marriage or familial bonds.
     • This is displayed when Bassanio runs off to Antonio's trial immediately after his wedding and gives away Portia's ring.

2. Women and society

   • the relationships shown are microcosmic of the attitudes in society
   • Shakespeare representation of female relationships displays the oppression and male control of women in society at the time
     • All of Portia's relationships are controlled by men
       • Although they seem to be true friends Nerissa refers to her as 'sweet madam' this is a reference to her employment
         • Presumably it was set up by Portia's father displaying how even her closest friendship was set up by him
       • Her arranged marriage
         • 'so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father'
           • pun because will is a homophone displaying how Portia's whole orld is controlled by her dead ftaher
           • The unfamiliar pronoun 'a' implies a lack of affection for her father, perhaps showing how relationships beteen a father and daughter were more about business than affection.
     • The ownership of Jessica
       • Throughout Jessica seems to be owned by a man; originally she is being oppressed by her father, he orders her around and has little consideration for her emotion
         • When she leaves he seems to value her less than his stones; 'My daughter! O my ducats!'
           • This displays she is his property
       • She is only ever referred to in terms of her relationships with men
         • Lorenzo- 'his amorous Jessica'
         • Shylock- 'Jessica my girl'
           • 'Issue to a faithless jew'

3. The issue of class

   • This is mainly demonstrated through Portia's relationship with Nerissa
     • Although they are close friends Nerissa still refers to her as 'madam' this hows how status divides them