Question

Compare and contrast Portia and Shylock

Answer 1

Portia, as a woman and Shylock, as a Jew are marginals of society. They are of less importance then the ruling Christian men. Portia, as a woman isn’t allowed to express her opinion and has no power over her life. She only freely expresses her opinions on her suitors in front of trusted confidante, Nerissa. In front of Morocco, she puts on a facade.

“And yet a maiden hath no tongue but thought” reiterates the suppressed life women in the Victorian era lived. Her identity is only derivative – she was her father’s daughter and now after his death she is destined to be someone else’s wife.

Shylock is ill treated by society due to him being a “Jew.”

“You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,

And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine.” –

Antonio has internalised the conflict and dehumanised Shylock. Shylock’s identity is derivative of Antonio, the white christian man.

Shylock’s own servant, Launcelot curses him and calls him a “devil for he is a Jew.” Antonio doesn’t trust him and remarks that “The devil can cite scripture for his purpose.” Shylock’s recurrent comparison to a devil on the name of his religion and no reason other than that antagonises him in the typical Christian society, where the devil was an evil and ungodly creature. This continuous dehumanisation and antagonisation Shylock faces through out the play makes him a marginal of society – he is not important and is small in the eyes of the people who he interacts with daily, just like Portia. Like Shylock, Portia is of no importance in the Christian dominated Venetian society.

Lastly, Shakespeare introduces both Shylock and Portia as conflicted characters. Portia’s “little body is weary of the world” and Shylock’s conflict is introduced in his soliloquy. Shylock has no one and has been betrayed by his daughter and Portia is alone. Shylock’s identity is derivative of Antonio and Portia’s of the men in her life. Shakespeare’s portrayal of both of them as similar people stuck in the same rut of monotony, prejudice, and marginalisation adds excitement and a sense of suspense to the play.