English Literature Project

Johnichan J. MA., M Ed.

Johny.thattaparambil@gmail.com

Blogs: Johny@hisbest

ICSE English Made Easy

Topic for the Project

A Study of Historical Events, Biblical References and Classical Allusions in ‘The Merchant of Venice’

I.               Introduction

          Allusion  is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text.

          For instance, you make a literary allusion the moment you say, “I do not approve of this quixotic idea,” Quixotic means stupid and impractical derived from Cervantes’s “Don Quixote”, a story of a foolish knight and his misadventures.

          By and large, the use of allusions enables writers or poets to simplify complex ideas and emotions. The readers comprehend the complex ideas by comparing the emotions of the writer or poet to the references given by them. Furthermore, the references to Greek Mythology give a dreamlike and magical touch to the works of art. Similarly, biblical allusions appeal to the readers with religious backgrounds.

Historical events are past events used in literature as direct or indirect references. Historical events are not legendary or tales of the past, but they are facts such as wars, independence movements, reformation, renaissance, etc. It also deals with developments over a period of time.

The Bible is the sacred scripture of Christians. In ‘The Merchant of Venice’, we find umpteen examples of verses from the Bible used by Shakespeare to enhance his style and content. The uses of biblical references add beauty and elegance to the play. Certain references like Daniel, Prodigal Son, Barabbas, etc. help us to understand the

context easily. 

By doing this project, I make a sincere attempt to understand the allusions, the biblical references and the historical events used in The Merchant of Venice. My attempt to understand the literary devices will surely help me to appreciate the play and comprehend the sequence of events with ease and comfort.

I sincerely thank...................., my English Teacher for giving us such a challenging topic as project.

II.             Classical Allusions

a)    Janus

Salarino:  

“ Now, by two-headed Janus,

Nature hath framed strange fellows in her time:

Some that will evermore peep through their eyes

And laugh like parrots at a bag-piper,

And other of such vinegar aspect

That they'll not show their teeth in way of smile,

Though Nestor swear the jest be laughable.” (Act I, Sc. 1)

          Janus was a Roman god whose dominion was beginnings, endings, transitions, and doorways. The month January, because it marks the end of the old year and beginning of the New Year, is named after Janus. In Roman art, Janus is usually portrayed as having two faces, one looking backwards to the past and one looking forwards to the future.

          Salarino, in comparing Antonio to Janus, is trying to discover if Antonio is troubled by business issues or romantic ones. As Antonio is normally cheerful, Salarino wonders if bad luck in business has made him unhappy. That not being the case, Salarino suggests the cause may be love. His final (humorous) suggestion is that perhaps Antonio is like Janus with two faces, of which one is happy and the other sad. 

b)   Sibylla

PORTIA:

“If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence. And I pray God grant them a fair departure.(Act I, Sc.2)”

          According to the stories recounted in Ovid’s Metamorphoses Sibylla was granted a wish by Appollo that she would live for as many years as the grains of sand she held in her hand. She was the ageless woman.

          Portia alludes to Sibylla, a prophetess in ancient times, famous for her extreme old age. Portia is saying that she will remain unmarried for the rest of her life, until a man chooses the right casket and gains the right to marry her.

c)    Diana

          Portia:

“If I live to be as old as Sibylla, I will die as chaste as Diana unless I be obtained by the manner of my father’s will. I am glad this parcel of wooers are so reasonable, for there is not one among them but I dote on his very absence. And I pray God grant them a fair departure.” (Act I, Sc.2

          Diana means the ‘Bright Goddess.’ Diana was the goddess of the moon and of hunting. She was associated with wild animals and woodlands. She was an emblem of chastity. She is also known as Virgin Goddess.

          Portia alludes to Diana and says that she will die a virgin like Diana, unless I am married according to my father’s will.

d)   Heraclitus

PORTIA

“He doth nothing but frown, as who should say, “And you will not have me, choose.” He hears merry tales and smiles not. I fear he will prove the weeping philosopher when he grows old, being so full of unmannerly sadness in his youth. I had rather be married to a death’s-head with a bone in his mouth than to either of these. God defend me from these two!”( Act I, Sc. 2)

          Heraclitus of Ephesus was a Pre-Socratic Greek Philosopher, who lived around 5 B.C. He had poor opinions of the human affairs. He was so depressed of human follies that he secluded himself on the mountains. He suffered from melancholy and later he was referred as the ‘Weeping Philosopher’ as opposed to Democritus, who was known as the laughing philosopher.

          Portia expresses her opinion of County Palatine and says that he does nothing but frowns. He will become the weeping philosopher (Heraclitus) when he grows old, being so full of improper sadness in his youth.

e)    King Midas

Bassanio: The seeming truth which cunning times put on
To entrap the wisest. Therefore, thou gaudy gold,
Hard food for Midas, I will none of thee;( Act III, Sc. 2)

          Midas was wealthy king in Greek mythology who desired that all things which he touched should be turned into gold. The request was granted; but  as even the food which he touched became gold, he implored Dionysus to take his favour back, which the god did.

          Bassanio express his opinion of external appearance when he stands in front of the gold casket. He says that he doesn’t have faith in showy gold, the hard food that Midas could not eat.

f)     Cupid

JESSICA

Here, catch this casket. It is worth the pains.

I am glad ’tis night, you do not look on me,

For I am much ashamed of my exchange.

But love is blind, and lovers cannot see

The pretty follies that themselves commit,

For if they could Cupid himself would blush

To see me thus transformed to a boy. (Act II, Sc. 7)

          Cupid, the Roman god of love, is the son of Venus. He is a small winged boy blindfolded carrying bows and arrows. The arrows once struck the heart makes the victim fall in love.

          Jessica who is dressed herself like a page boy says that Cupid, the Roman gold of love, will be embarrassed to see her thus transformed into a boy.

 III. Biblical References

a)    Jacob and Laban's sheep( Genesis 25-35)

When Jacob grazed his uncle Laban’s sheep,

This Jacob from our holy Abraham was

The third possessor; ay, he was the third (Act I, Sc 3)

          These lines refer to two stories about Jacob in the Book of Genesis. The first story (Chapters 25,27) tells how Jacob was aided by mother, Rebecca, to succeed his father, Isaac, to the family’s estates, elbowing his elder brother, Esau, out of the way. This way he became the third in line(third possessor), after Abraham, founder of the Jewish race and his grandfather, and Isaac, Abraham’s son and his father. The second story (Chapter 30) tells of Jacob’s trick with Laban’s sheep whereby all of Laban’s sheep were appropriated by Jacob.

b)   Jesus Casts Devils into a Herd of Swine

Yes, to smell pork; to eat of the habitation

Which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into. (Act I, Sc. 3)

     Jesus once healed a madman by ordering the devils that possessed him to leave his body and enter a herd of pigs ( Mark 5: 1-13)

c)    Publican

Shylock:

How like a fawning publican he looks! (Act I, Sc. 3)

          Here publican refers to Roman tax collector. The reference here is to the parable of the publican and the Pharisee (Luke 18: 10-14)

IV. Historical Events

a)    Portia, wife of the ancient Roman Brutus

Bassanio:

Her name is Portia; nothing undervalued

To Cato’s daughter, Brutus’ Portia: (Act I, Sc. 1)

          Portia is compared to here to Portia, daughter of the Roman statesman Cato and wife of Brutus, the Roman General and conspirator in the assassination of Julius Caesar. She was known to be beautiful and courageous.

V. Conclusion

How did the project help you? Write in your own word your opinion.

VI. Bibliography

1.    The Merchant of Venice, William Shakespeare, A Verity Edition.

2.    https://www.biblegateway.com

3.    http://www.enotes.com

4.    http://nfs.sparknotes.com

5.    http://www.gradesaver.com