Character and Textual Analysis

I’ve been looking at outside sources thus far, so I thought it might be time for some good ole textual analysis. My process:

1. Stare at paper version of The Merchant of Venice.
2. Decide to use searchable online text.
3. Stare at online text.
4. Look at summary again.
5. Decide to go by character instead of chronological plot.
6. Realize doing one character takes a really long time.
7. Decide to do characters post by post.

Portia has a couple of interesting points. One is her treatment and how she is treated with relationships.

Her father’s will makes it so she cannot choose her husband. Though she loves her father, Portia also resents him:

I may neither choose whom I would nor refuse whom I dislike; so is the will of a living daughter curbed by the will of a dead father.

This leads her to her attitude toward suitors (and seemingly all men). She makes fun of all of the men that come to try and win her, even though most seem respectful enough to respect her wishes and not have the possibility of forcing her to marry them by choosing a casket. Finally, Bassanio comes. Portia has considered herself too good for any of the suitors so far, but when one comes that she likes, she considers herself unworthy.

I might in virtue, beauties, livings, friends,
Exceed account; but the full sum of me
Is sum of something, which, to term in gross,
Is an unlesson'd girl, unschool'd, unpractised

She is somewhat insecure in the relationship. She tests Bassanio by giving him a ring as a token of her love. When she gets it from him in disguise, she gets irritated with him. The outcome could have been more unfortunate if Portia hadn’t been forgiving. The couple makes up, and she doesn’t take this test as a showing of the quality of his love.

Another plotline is when Portia is dressed up as a law clerk during Antonio and Shylock’s case. She preaches to Shylock on the virtue of mercy.

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:

When Shylock refuses to show mercy, though, Portia admits that justice must win out.

It must not be; there is no power in Venice
Can alter a decree established:

Basically, she says that Venetian law doesn’t allow for mercy. (Though as I’ve mentioned before, I don’t know if I believe this. They seem to circumvent the law and justice just fine when they want to.) Portia asks once more for mercy, as Shylock is the only one that can allow for it.

Be merciful:
Take thrice thy money; bid me tear the bond.

After this one last chance, a chain of events occur that turn the tables around on Shylock. He then is the one in need of mercy. After all she said before, however, Portia only allows for justice.

Thyself shalt see the act:
For, as thou urgest justice, be assured
Thou shalt have justice, more than thou desirest.

She says it is because that’s what he wanted, so that’s what he’d get. Really though, this is just saying, “Well he was mean, so now we can be mean to him.” It’s exactly how Shylock felt about Antonio. Not only does Portia require justice instead of mercy, she makes it very exacting.

if thou cut'st more
Or less than a just pound, be it but so much
As makes it light or heavy in the substance,
Or the division of the twentieth part
Of one poor scruple, nay, if the scale do turn
But in the estimation of a hair,
Thou diest and all thy goods are confiscate.

She isn’t just offering justice; she’s offering the harshest justice available. She even adds:

Tarry, Jew:
The law hath yet another hold on you.

The only mercy she talks of is that that Antonio can choose to render. His mercy isn’t particularly merciful.

What mercy can you render him, Antonio?

Tah-Dah! There's the start of my Portia analysis. One down, a few more to go.