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Shakespeare’s Lopsided Mediation between Christian and Jewish Voices in be Merchant of Venice

Corresponding Author : Panna Majumder (majumderpanna1981@gmail.com)

Keywords : mediation, polarities, intolerance, intentionality

Abstract :

Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice (written between 1596 and 1598) offers us an opportunity to study mediation between the Christian voice and the Jewish voice. Through a theatrical intervention Shakespeare unmasks the uneasy coexistence of the dominant Christian and the mute Jewish communities in Venice charting out polarities on racial, theological, and economic fronts. In a sixteenth century Christian socio-cultural milieu, these aforesaid fronts are found to be integrative and collaborative in strategizing moves against the Jewish community. In the play, the greater Christian society and the minority Jewish community in Venice are set in the backdrop of the same historical hostility. Antonio, the Christian merchant and Shylock, the Jew usurer are chosen to dramatize the longstanding intolerance. The playwright intervenes to accommodate these two faith groups presenting two of their aforesaid representatives disproportionately through a calculated plot. The present article will attempt to show that the mediation between these two communities is lopsided. Furthermore the act of mediation will be scrutinized to understand the intentionality of the playwright as well.

Published on December 31st, 2019 in Vol 30, No 2, Humanities