Religious Ridicule Through Critical Stereotypes

Alex Laubscher

Merchant of Venice Portfolio A

Through the mockery and religious stereotypes Antonio and Shylock have for one another’s religion, Shakespeare reveals that their desire to ridicule the opposing religious group is stronger than their desire to be fully cooperative business partners. In the beginning of the scene, Bassanio is looking to lend money from Shylock, a Jew. Because Bassanio wants to lend the money under Antonio’s credit, Shylock wants to meet with Antonio first. Bassanio offers a meeting over dinner to Shylock, but Shylock responds saying, “Yes, to smell pork” (1.3.31). Shylock responds with sass to Bassanio’s offer, saying that Bassanio and Antonio would serve pork at dinner, obligating him smell the pork throughout dinner. Not only is Shylock expressing Bassanio and Antonio as inconsiderate and insensitive, but he is also stereotyping Christians to all be like this. Shylock is not willing to attend Antonio’s business dinner, since he believes the Christians would disregard his religious, dietary customs. Later, Shylock continues by explaining that “suff’rance is the badge of all our tribe, / You call me misbeliever, cut-throat, dog / … Well then, it now appears you need my help” (1.3.107-108, 110). Shylock says that the suffering is now an identifying label for “[his] tribe,” all Jewish people, who have become inured to the disdain from Christians. When he says “you,” he is not only referring Antonio and his disparagements but all of the Christians’ as well. Shylock says that although the Christians cause him and fellow Jews suffering, he knows that in the end they will come back to him needing financial help, poking fun specifically at Antonio and Bassanio. After Antonio and Shylock have agreed to the loan, Antonio says, “Hie thee, gentle Jew / The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grow kind” (1.3.174-175). Because Shylock was kind enough to loan money to Antonio and Bassanio, Antonio says Shylock is becoming more Christian. Mocking Jewish people, Antonio states that by simply being Jewish a person has room to grow into a better, kinder person by becoming a Christian. Even after the two have agreed to work together, Antonio cannot resist the chance to jab at Shylock and Jewish people in general. Shakespeare uses Shylock and Antonio’s insulting exchange to show that a partnership with mutual respect between is quickly spoiled by any chance to mock the other person or his religion.