Theme of Obedience in The Merchant of Venice
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The theme of obedience in ôThe Merchant of Veniceö is somewhat complex and a bit tinged with irony. For the most part, the context of obedience throughout the play is obedience to oneÆs word, or keeping promises. However, in many cases it is clear that the characters are keeping their word under constraint or out of compliance rather than from a willing desire to obey. Portia, for example, obeys her dead fatherÆs command with regard to inviting her suitors to choose the correct one of three caskets and agreeing to marry the one who chooses correctly. However, she dislikes all of her suitors and is secretly hoping that Bassiano will choose the correct casket. For his part, Bassiano wants to be obedient to his promise to pay his debt to Antonio, but this does not stop him from borrowing more money from him before he can repay the first loan. Aragon complains that he has given an oath to do three things(never to tell anyone which casket he chose, never to court a maid for marriage if he picks the wrong one, and to leave if he chooses wrongly. These are examples of characters who are chafing under the collar of obedience. They feel compelled to obey something that they do not really believe in or want to honor. This compliance, although it can be considered obedience, differs from sincere obedience in that the underlying conviction is not there. It is obedience under constraint, or obedience because there is little choice but to obey.
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the end of ShylockÆs woes; he doesnÆt get back all of the money he has lent, either(to Christians, paradoxically. He loses all the way around.
The unmistakable parallel to Biblical themes draws forth yet another facet to the obedience issue. Although GodÆs people are instructed to obey the law, they are admonished that no one is justified by the law. In other words, keeping the exact terms of the very complex Judaic law does not make a man right with God. Romans 3:28 states ôFor we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from observing the law,ö and then Galatians 3:24-25 explains ôSo the law was put in charge to lead us to Christ that we might be justified by faith. Now that faith has come, we are no longer under the supervision of the law.ö So what makes a man right with God is receiving Christ and allowing Him to atone for sins; after that, the only commandment is to walk in love. The essence of this concept is that it is the condition of oneÆs heart that matters to God, not unfeeling adherence to law.
Shylock, however, is trying to adhere to the letter of the law, and he finds that this does not work. Unwillingly, his experience bears testimony to the Scriptures that they are true, because he actually is led
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1413
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)
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