Self-Interest Versus Love
On the surface, the main difference between the Christian characters and Shylock appears to be that
the Christian characters value human relationships over business ones, whereas Shylock is only
interested in money. The Christian characters certainly view the matter this way. Merchants like
Antonio lend money free of interest and put themselves at risk for those they love, whereas Shylock
agonizes over the loss of his money and is reported to run through the streets crying, “O, my ducats!
O, my daughter!” (II.viii.15). With these words, he apparently values his money at least as much as his
daughter, suggesting that his greed outweighs his love. However, upon closer inspection, this
supposed difference between Christian and Jew breaks down. When we see Shylock in Act III, scene
i, he seems more hurt by the fact that his daughter sold a ring that was given to him by his dead wife
before they were married than he is by the loss of the ring’s monetary value. Some human
relationships do indeed matter to Shylock more than money. Moreover, his insistence that he have a
pound of flesh rather than any amount of money shows that his resentment is much stronger than his
greed. mypursemypersonmyextremestmeansheallunlockedtoyouroccasion cantonionisi anequalpoundofyourfairflesh shylockaiss
Just as Shylock’s character seems hard to pin down, the Christian characters also present an
inconsistent picture. Though Portia and Bassanio come to love one another, Bassanio seeks her
hand in the first place because he is monstrously in debt and needs her money. Bassanio even asks
Antonio to look at the money he lends Bassanio as an investment, though Antonio insists that he
lends him the money solely out of love. In other words, Bassanio is anxious to view his relationship
with Antonio as a matter of business rather than of love. Finally, Shylock eloquently argues that Jews
are human beings just as Christians are, but Christians such as Antonio hate Jews simply because
they are Jews. Thus, while the Christian characters may talk more about mercy, love, and charity,
they are not always consistent in how they display these qualities.
The Divine Quality of Mercy
The conflict between Shylock and the Christian characters comes to a head over the issue of mercy.
The other characters acknowledge that the law is on Shylock’s side, but they all expect him to show
mercy, which he refuses to do. When, during the trial, Shylock asks Portia what could possibly
compel him to be merciful, Portia’s long reply, beginning with the words, “The quality of mercy is not
strained,” clarifies what is at stake in the argument (IV.i.179). Human beings should be merciful
because God is merciful: mercy is an attribute of God himself and therefore greater than power,
majesty, or law. Portia’s understanding of mercy is based on the way Christians in Shakespeare’s
time understood the difference between the Old and New Testaments. According to the writings of
St. Paul in the New Testament, the Old Testament depicts God as requiring strict adherence to rules
and exacting harsh punishments for those who stray. The New Testament, in contrast, emphasizes
adherence to the spirit rather than the letter of the law, portraying a God who forgives rather than
punishes and offers salvation to those followers who forgive others. Thus, when Portia warns Shylock
against pursuing the law without regard for mercy, she is promoting what Elizabethan Christians
would have seen as a pro-Christian, anti-Jewish agenda.
The strictures of Renaissance drama demanded that Shylock be a villain, and, as such, patently
On the surface, the main difference between the Christian characters and Shylock appears to be that
the Christian characters value human relationships over business ones, whereas Shylock is only
interested in money. The Christian characters certainly view the matter this way. Merchants like
Antonio lend money free of interest and put themselves at risk for those they love, whereas Shylock
agonizes over the loss of his money and is reported to run through the streets crying, “O, my ducats!
O, my daughter!” (II.viii.15). With these words, he apparently values his money at least as much as his
daughter, suggesting that his greed outweighs his love. However, upon closer inspection, this
supposed difference between Christian and Jew breaks down. When we see Shylock in Act III, scene
i, he seems more hurt by the fact that his daughter sold a ring that was given to him by his dead wife
before they were married than he is by the loss of the ring’s monetary value. Some human
relationships do indeed matter to Shylock more than money. Moreover, his insistence that he have a
pound of flesh rather than any amount of money shows that his resentment is much stronger than his
greed. mypursemypersonmyextremestmeansheallunlockedtoyouroccasion cantonionisi anequalpoundofyourfairflesh shylockaiss
Just as Shylock’s character seems hard to pin down, the Christian characters also present an
inconsistent picture. Though Portia and Bassanio come to love one another, Bassanio seeks her
hand in the first place because he is monstrously in debt and needs her money. Bassanio even asks
Antonio to look at the money he lends Bassanio as an investment, though Antonio insists that he
lends him the money solely out of love. In other words, Bassanio is anxious to view his relationship
with Antonio as a matter of business rather than of love. Finally, Shylock eloquently argues that Jews
are human beings just as Christians are, but Christians such as Antonio hate Jews simply because
they are Jews. Thus, while the Christian characters may talk more about mercy, love, and charity,
they are not always consistent in how they display these qualities.
The Divine Quality of Mercy
The conflict between Shylock and the Christian characters comes to a head over the issue of mercy.
The other characters acknowledge that the law is on Shylock’s side, but they all expect him to show
mercy, which he refuses to do. When, during the trial, Shylock asks Portia what could possibly
compel him to be merciful, Portia’s long reply, beginning with the words, “The quality of mercy is not
strained,” clarifies what is at stake in the argument (IV.i.179). Human beings should be merciful
because God is merciful: mercy is an attribute of God himself and therefore greater than power,
majesty, or law. Portia’s understanding of mercy is based on the way Christians in Shakespeare’s
time understood the difference between the Old and New Testaments. According to the writings of
St. Paul in the New Testament, the Old Testament depicts God as requiring strict adherence to rules
and exacting harsh punishments for those who stray. The New Testament, in contrast, emphasizes
adherence to the spirit rather than the letter of the law, portraying a God who forgives rather than
punishes and offers salvation to those followers who forgive others. Thus, when Portia warns Shylock
against pursuing the law without regard for mercy, she is promoting what Elizabethan Christians
would have seen as a pro-Christian, anti-Jewish agenda.
The strictures of Renaissance drama demanded that Shylock be a villain, and, as such, patently
