The Merchant Of Venice Context wjec-eduqas Shakespeare

The Merchant of Venice historical context

Shakespeare plays dating from before April 1603 are considered Elizabethan as they were written and performed at the time Elizabeth I was on the English throne. The Merchant of Venice was written between 1596 and 1598 and is therefore an Elizabethan play. 

• In 1290, King Edward I issued an edict expelling all Jews from England:

  • This expulsion remained in effect for over 350 years

• By the time of Elizabeth I’s reign, Jews were still officially banned, but a small minority lived in England

• At this time Jews faced significant prejudice and were barely tolerated by society:

  • Jews often had to conceal their faith and live as Christians to avoid persecution

  • Many were forced into specific occupations, such as moneylending, which often exacerbated negative stereotypes

  • They were often stereotyped and vilified in literature

The Merchant of Venice social context

The play explores various social themes and issues of Shakespeare’s time. The play juxtaposes the bustling, commercial world of Venice with the more intimate inner world of love and relationships, including explorations of gender and discrimination.

Prejudice and intolerance

• Despite being involved in various trades, Jews were renowned for their occupation as usurers, lending money at interest rates

• During the Elizabethan era, there was a prevalent belief that Jews had animosity towards Christians and would resort to any means necessary to harm them

• Consequently, it was not uncommon for Renaissance comedy to feature a Jewish character as the primary antagonist

• At the time, Venice was a commercial port and one of the richest trading cities in the world:

  • Trade would have been an essential aspect of Venice’s economy and it would have been imperative to provide equal protections to merchants of all religions and nationalities:

  • However, prejudice and intolerance would still have been common

Love and friendship

• In 16th-century England, platonic, passionate friendships between men were a commonality

• Marriages in the Elizabethan era, especially among the aristocracy (but also extending to the middle and lower classes) were frequently organised between families:

  • This was done to benefit both parties and marriage was highly influenced by factors such as money, status and alliances

• Women had no influence over who they were to marry and were obliged to comply with their parents’ (particularly fathers’) decisions

• However, as Europe moved towards modernisation, there arose a new ideal of marriages based on mutual attraction and love:

  • Therefore, traditions surrounding courtship and marriage went through substantial changes

• In Venetian culture, paternal authority was held in high regard and was considered to be sacred:

  • Any resistance or rebellion against it ran the risk of facing severe consequences, including the possibility of death, although typically such a severe punishment was not carried out

  • Sons who disobeyed their fathers were typically disowned or sent into exile, whereas daughters were often locked up or sent to convents

Power and wealth

• For centuries, wealth was predominantly held by landowners and the aristocracy

• Venice was a city driven by trade and commerce:

  • Its opulence was founded on business rather than inherited wealth or noble status

• The Merchant of Venice was written during a period in which a new group of merchants and business people were on the rise

• Lending money with the intention of profiting from it was considered to be against Christian religious beliefs

• In England, borrowing money to finance ventures was made legal, although it still carried negative connotations since it was traditionally done through Jewish lenders

The Merchant of Venice literary context

The Merchant of Venice is known as a Shakespearean comedy. Knowing this — and that an audience would also have certain expectations when watching a comedy — can help to elevate your analysis of Shakespeare’s choices as a playwright.

The structure of a comedy

Many of Shakespeare’s comedies follow the same five-part structure:

Sources

Stanley Wells and Gary Taylor (eds), 2005, The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works (Second Edition), Oxford University Press