Early English Impressions of Nation, Race, and Religion in Venice and Italy
Part 1: Kaplan helps us understand early modern English impressions of Venice by first explaining how Venice is a primary port in Europe for trade. The city attracted many people from all over the world that had different ethnic backgrounds, origins, and religious beliefs. The introduction of The Merchant of Venice explains how Portia, a woman from Belmont looking for marriage, brought men from all over the world seeking her hand in marriage (Kaplan 2). These men did not all look alike, nor were they all from Venice, so knowing this helps us understand why nation, race, and religion created tension in Venice.
Stereotypes of outsiders were common at this time and Venetians would criticize people of different race, country of origin, and especially discriminate against Jews like Skylock. Common reasons for travel at this time were voyages to holy sites, exploring sea routes or new countries, expanding their territories, or for education and adventure (Kaplan 128). Writers of this time shared similar experiences and opinions of their travel and who and what they saw through travelogues, which are written texts about experiences from travel. Authors like the Italian writer Giovanni Botero, the English writer Fynes Moryson, and Portia from the play all claim how the Germans were all drunks (Kaplan 128-129). Kaplan goes on to explain how racial stereotypes were common during this time period because the English used words like nation and race interchangeably. English authors like John Leo and George Best, explained racial differences through the Bible dehumanized Jews as looking different in the face and were not white like the British (Kaplan 129). Knowing this helps us better comprehend why Skylock seemed to have received a different trial than most Venetians.
Religious mistreating was also another common theme at this time, especially with how the Jews were treated in Venice. Venice was a city dominated by the Catholic faith, but other religions had problems with this practice because Catholics used it to their advantage. Protestants and the Jews were both against Catholics at this time and William Bedell, a Protestant chaplain to the English ambassador, explained how Venetians glorified images like themselves as pagans, but were still different because of the religious freedom Venice allowed (Kaplan 130). Another English author Coryate expresses how the English took many practices from the Jews like resting on the Sabbath, avoiding idolatry, and circumcising; and blames the Italians why practicing the Jewish faith is declining (Kaplan 130-131). Judaism is described as “evil” in The Merchant of Venice, but those who convert to Christianity would be befriended for their actions.
Part 2: Act IV, Scene I, reflects early modern English impressions of Venice and Italians the best from Part 1. Antonio is on trial against Skylock for not upholding his end of the bond, but the court of Venice allows Antonio every opportunity to save himself from Skylock, who is a Jew. Portia, dressed as Balthasar, intervenes to do everything she can to help Antonio by asking for mercy from Skylock, saying “But mercy above this sceptered sway: it is enthroned in the hearts of kings; it is an attribute to God himself” (IV.i.188-190). She uses God against Skylock because, as a Jew, he only answers to God. Skylock does not buy into granting mercy to Antonio because he went against their bond, and he knows in Venice that going against a bond is a serious crime. This all changes when Portia finds a loophole, she knows she can use against Skylock because he is a Jew and they do not respect his people in Venice and the court wants a chance to help Antonio any way it can. As Skylock wets his knife ready to take a “pond of flesh” from Antonio, Portia says:
This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood;
The words expressly are “a pound of flesh”
Take then thy bond, take thou thy pound of flesh,
But in the cutting it if thou dost shed
One drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods
Are by the laws of Venice confiscate
Unto the state of Venice. (IV.i.301-307)
The court seizes its opportunity to not allow Skylock his pound of flesh from Antonio and upholds what Portia has professed. Skylock cannot believe what he has just heard and is adamant that he still gets his pound of flesh. Portia then states that not obeying a bond in Venice is punishable by the court seizing all the land, saying “if it proved against an alien that by any direct or indirect attempts he seek the life of any citizen, the party shall ‘gainst the which he doth contrive shall seize one half his goods; the other half comes to the privy coffer of the state” (IV.i.344-349). The scene goes from Skylock about to take a pound of flesh from Antonio, to Skylock losing his land. The only way Skylock could save himself would be to convert to Christianity, but he will never and believes this may not solve any problems. Skylock realizes his fate at the end of the trial and drops the charges against Antonio.
Skylock was never given a fair trial to begin with because Portia, disguised as Balthasar, comes in mid-trial to save Antonio, which would not have been allowed if the trial was between two Christians. Jews were not seen as equals in Venice during this time because the predominant religion was Catholicism and Portia even calls Skylock an “alien” for his claims against Antonio. Skylock was by no-means a good man, but Antonio did not uphold his end of the bond and should have been punished according. Act IV, Scene I, shows us that the early English believed it did not matter if you followed the law of in Venice, you would not be treated right and discriminated against because of your different nationality, race, and religion by Venetians and Italians.
Kaplan, M. Lindsay. The Merchant of Venice: From the History of Italy, William Shakespeare, Boston 2002, pp. 2; 128-131.
Shakespeare, William. The Merchant of Venice. Edited by M. Lindsay Kaplan, Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2002.