Justice In The Merchant Of Venice Analysis

The theme of justice in Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” is both controversial and complicated towards the content of whether justice is served. Justice of law and justice of morality are illustrated in the play, but in a closer examination hypocrisy and lawlessness are present as well. I will be trying to analyze the theme of justice taking under consideration the themes of religion, racism and Anti-Semitism of that era. To be more specific, Shylock is a merchant whose legal rights have been violated, as Antonio was incapable of paying his debt to him. Seeking justice, Shylock goes to court demanding his “pound of flesh” from Antonio, in order for his bond to be satisfied. Obviously, Shylock seeks vengeance against Antonio through the Venetian law system. In fact, his main concern is not the nomination of justice, but his deepest thirst for revenge. But are his rage and hate towards Antonio unjustified? Is he an evil villain or is he a victim of racism and abuse? Before coming to a conclusion about justice and its role in the play, some issues should be considered, beginning with the issue of anti-Semitism in literature. “Jews have been depicted in English and American literature largely in negative terms. Foster and Epstein state: From ‘Shylock’ to ‘shyster,’ words and images have been used and invented to depict Jews as canny, crafty, usurious, power-mad, conspiratorial, stubborn, greedy,” (315). In other words, the Jews were depicted as malicious and inferior