The Merchant of Venice: Context

Historical and Cultural Context

The Merchant of Venice was written by William Shakespeare, around 1596-1598, during the Elizabethan era.
Judaism was outlawed in England around 1290, with Jews facing severe punishment and expulsion. This historical context forms the foundation of the religious conflict in the play.
Despite the exclusion of Jews, usury (money lending), associated with Shylock’s character, was common. This was often decried by the clergy as it was seen as a practice against Christian beliefs, leading to negative stereotypes.
The play was set in Venice and Belmont, Italy. Venice was a commercial hub, representing the world of business, while Belmont was an idealised, fairy-tale world, a place of romance and high ideals.

The Elizabethan audience had a mixed class composition: the groundlings (lower class) would stand in the yard, while the richer audience members would have seats in the galleries.
Male actors played all roles in the Elizabethan theatre, including female characters like Portia and Jessica.
Costumes and props were very important, as they helped display a character’s nature or profession and recreate the written scenery on a nearly bare stage.

Patriarchal society: Men dominated all facets of society, and women were expected to comply with their fathers or husbands’ decisions, as evident in Portia’s marriage matter.
Church and law: They enforced that a woman’s place was to be submissive, obedient, and dependent upon her husband, reflected by the three chests Portia’s suitors must choose from.

The play deals with various themes such as mercy vs justice, love vs wealth, religious discrimination, and self-interest vs friendship.
The late 16th century morals, values, and social hierarchy are explored in depth via the characters’ dialogues and actions.

Shakespeare often used blank verse, nonrhymed lines of iambic pentameter, allowing characters to express complex thoughts and feelings.
Soliloquies also served as a dramatic tool, revealing a character’s innermost thoughts to the audience.
Shakespeare’s choice of sophisticated and poetic language emphasised his skill as a playwright and enriched the play’s themes.

The play mirrors the social, religious, and economic issues of Shakespeare’s time embedded in a dramatic narrative.
The portrayal of these issues invites the audience to reconsider their own biases and prejudices towards different classes, religions, and genders.