8Context

Merchant of Venice - Contexts

﻿As always, to really understand a Shakespeare play we need to know about the historical context of his plays. A very good way to do this without reading a lot is to study this picture. It is called The Ambassadors. It was painted by Hans Holbein, the younger, in 1533 (just before Shakespeare started writing his plays). The picture that I have uploaded (below) is not the greatest because I have enlarged it so much that it has pixilated. To see it better google it and look at it closely. it shows a number of things.
 * 1) Shakespeare's England was a man's world. Yes, there was a female monarch (ruler or queen) but the men under her and everywhere else ran the show. In Merchant of Venice, women are usually shown as prostitutes, weak and helpless or the possession of a man. For instance, Portia is to be given away, according to her father, like treasure to the one that finds her in a treasure chest. She has to get married and cannot remain without a man. When Portia saves Antonio in the courtroom scene she does so as a man. We also see an acceptance of male homesexuality. Note in the film, the scene where Antonio and Basanio kiss full on the lips. Moreover, we usually see Venetian men without women as if male and female companionship is all the same or doesn't really matter.
 * 2) Shakespeare's England was dominated by the pursuit of wealth and scientific knowledge. The man on the left is obviously very wealthy and has made his wealth probably through trading goods (buying and selling). The man on the right is not wealthy in terms of money but in terms of power and knowledge. He is wealthy as a scholar or as a political official (a courtier). Look at the expensive clothes of the man on the left, look at his beautiful and well trimmed beard, look at the well manicured fingernails and the jewelry. Everything says wealth. Look at the man on the right, everything says importance. Look at all the objects on the table that they have accumulated - this says that they have the money to travel and accumulate things. In Merchant of Venice, everyone seems to be pursuing and enjoying wealth in any way they can. We also see wealthy or important scholars and political officials, most notably when Portia is dressed up as a Doctor (a scholar).
 * 3) Shakespeare's England was dominated by a devastating contradiction (not the only one). On one hand, there was the popular saying 'carpe diem' (seize the day). That is, do it now, don't wait, don't let anything stop you, think of what you want and go out and get it. On the other hand, there was 'Momento Mori' (remember, you must die). That is, the church and christianity says that you must forgo or give up all worldly goods and the pursuit of them and instead live a catholic or religious life. Don't do it, You can't just do anthing you like because when you die and you will (!) you will go to hell and burn for eternity. You can see in the painting that both men have seized the day and accumualated wealth and objects. They have really gone for it. You can also see in the picture reminders that they will die and cannot get rid of Jesus Christ. If you look up in the far left hand corner (on a better picture than this one) that is a crucifix (Jesus on the cross). Try as they might neither men could get rid of Jesus. The thing in the forground or bottom middle of the picture is a shimmering skull (death). Neither man can escape it. They cannot go back (the green curtain looks a hard wall) and they cannot go side ways (they look like they hemmed in at the sides). Both men can only go forwards to the skull. Moreover, all the objects that they have accumulated and thought were so important just sit on the table like scattered and thrown away, useless junk. If you look in the eyes of both men they are dead. There is nothing in there.