Paper -The Bonds That Tie Us Together -Grant Eagar

 

 

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In the article “Shylock and the Struggle for Closure” by John Picker, he addresses the Venetian 16^th-century socioeconomic paradox. The Jewish population in Venice, Italy resided in a ghetto ostracized from the general public; except for the business district where the Venetians relied on Jewish usury to finance their business ventures (174). The Jews were the venture capitalists of the time. The play titled The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare takes place in this community. A compelling character in the play is Shylock, a money lender of the Jewish faith. In the play, Antonio, a Christian merchant who is normally well off, is short on funds. He takes out a bizarre loan ‘bond’ with Shylock. The bond states that, if Antonio violates it, Shylock will be entitled to a pound of his flesh. The concept of a bond is a powerful unifying element in the play. One definition of a bond as defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary is a binding agreement: a covenant.  This discussion will focus on the image of the ‘bond’ and how it drives the plot of the play as a legal agreement, as a facilitator of revenge, and the bond as a social contract. 

 

The play Merchant of Venice uses the symbol of a ‘bond’ as a legal agreement. In the play, Antonio borrows 3000 ducats from Shylock and must pay as agreed or lose a pound of flesh. There are two reasons why Shylock went into this business arrangement. First, he considered Antonio a good man, i.e., “sufficient”, a good credit risk. From The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Greenblatt and others, “The man is, notwithstanding, sufficient. Three thousand ducats: I think I may take his bond” (Greenblatt 1.3.22-23). Second, if Antonio did fail to make the payment, then Shylock would be able to exact revenge,

Shylock. [aside] . . . I hate him for he is a Christian,
He lends out money gratis and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation, cursed be my tribe
If I forgive him (Greenblatt 1.3.36, 38-39, 41-42, 45-46).

 

Here the bond is similar to a loan. Shylock is publicly saying that he is taking the bond because Antonio is sufficient, but privately, he is hoping he can use the bond as a vehicle for revenge. Portia, the judge, first pleads for mercy for Antonio, and then after Shylock refuses, “Shylock. My deeds upon my head! I crave the law, the penalty and forfeit of my bond” (Greenblatt 4.1.204-205). Here he is demanding justice. And Portia then holds Shylock to the letter of the bond: “Portia. Thyself shall see the act; For as thou urgest justice, be assured thou shalt have justice more than thou desir’st” (Greenblatt 4.1.312-314). This drama between justice and mercy is one of the most powerful themes of the play. There is a sense here that Shylock should not expect any mercy after he refuses to offer any. 

 

Aside from the legal agreement, the image of a ‘bond’ also shows Shylock’s need for revenge. In the past, Antonio had practiced antisemitism by mocking, spitting upon, and kicking Shylock. When Antonio is unable to pay and is brought before the duke, Shylock repeats, again and again, that his bond must be honored. Soon it becomes clear that it is not his bond that must be honored but his need for revenge. This is an opportunity for Shylock to achieve vengeance on Antonio. Shylock’s words when he hears that Antonio cannot pay what is owed,

Shylock. I’ll have my bond; speak not against my bond.
 I have sworn an oath that I will have my bond.
Thou called’st me dog before thou hadst a cause;
But since I am a dog, beware my fangs (Greenblatt 3.3.4-7).

 

Here Shylock uses the metaphor of a dog and issues the threat, “Beware my fangs”. It becomes evident that the term ‘bond’ is equivalent to the word ‘revenge’.  This is illustrated when Shylock is offered twelve times what was owed him to release the bond,

Bassanio. For thy three thousand ducats here is six.

Shylock. If every ducat in six thousand ducats
Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,
I would not draw them. I would have my bond (Greenblatt 4.1.84-87).

 

So, Shylock would not accept 36000 ducats to release the bond of 3000 ducats. Again, it is apparent that it is not about the money, but about revenge. The loan was simply the vehicle to achieve vengeance. Because of the way the agreement was written, the hearing before the duke becomes a public execution rather than a financial resolution. 

 

This need for revenge is facilitated by the bond as a social contract between Shylock and the city of Venice.  When he is urged to offer mercy by the duke, he reminds the duke of the social contract,

Duke. We all expect a gentle answer, Jew.

Shylock. I have possessed your grace of what I purpose,
And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn
To have the due and forfeit of my bond.
If you deny it, let the danger light
Upon your charter and your city’s freedom (Greenblatt 4.1.34-39)!

 

Here, Shylock threatens to take matters to a higher court if his petition is not satisfied. Since Shylock is Jewish, a minority in Venice, and at the mercy of the Christian majority, the social bond has additional value and meaning to him. The law is set up to protect his interests, which he is also using to exact his revenge. In many ways, the play is about the failure of Venetian society to honor the social bond with the Jewish community, hence the Jewish ghetto and the antisemitism.  

 

In conclusion, the play Merchant of Venice uses the image of the bond to help drive the plot, generate interest, and provide the stakes between Shylock and Antonio. The several meanings of the symbol of the bond are a legal agreement, revenge, and a social contract. The bond was used by Shylock to exact revenge upon Antonio and by Portia to exact justice upon Shylock.

 

 

Works Cited

Greenblatt, Stephen et al. The Norton Shakespeare. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016.

                        Pg 281-335.

Picker, John. “Shylock and the Struggle for Closure.” Judaism, vol. 43, no. 2, Spring 1994, p. 174. EBSCOhost, https://search-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.bakersfieldcollege.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=9407051652&site=ehost-live&scope=site.