by Guy Shaked

In his analysis of Shakespeare's "Merchant of Venice" Derrida refers the reader to two main focal points for thought: the Abrahamic and the post Lutheran [1].

The Abrahamic reference reminds us of the sacrifice of Isaac. There God showed his mercy and exchanges the sacrifice of Isaac with that of a lamb [2]. So that Shylock when he refuses the exchange of a pound of flesh for money is betraying what the Jewish (Abrahamic) Bible teaches him. He betrays his Judaism which states mercy and a substitute for a human sacrifice (taking life) are desirable.

Therefore it could be deduced that Shakespeare in "The Merchant of Venice" was not anti-Semitic, for the Jew Shylock is not punished for his Jewishness but for abandoning it. Shylock also betrayed his role as money lender, given to him because of his religion when he refused to exchange an IOU for money. It is because the Merchant Shylock lost his Judaism that his conversion to Christianity is legitimate – if he won't be a Jew at least he might be a Christian.

The post Lutheran point suggests to us that the directed to the Merchant of Venice to abandon an oath and a breach of agreement for money is a then a Catholic act of that time. For in the pre Lutheran era indulgences where given perhaps also for donation (money) and Luther spoke against that costume [3]. So that here Shakespeare is in support of a Catholic practice. This point would have been understood by Shakespeare's contemporaries because they were not so far in time from the Lutheran revolution where indulgences were an issue debated. So that Shakespeare shows this Catholicism to be merciful in this practice unlike (according to Shakespeare’s Merchant) the protestant reform that followed.

Derrida sees the Merchant of Venice also as a source for the question of translation. For words in one language are exchanged and replaced also by words in another language like in the play it is suggested the IOU will be exchanged for money.

It could be concluded that Shakespeare's Merchant is pro Jewish and Catholic and against the novel (then) current of Protestantism.

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[1] Jacques Derrida, "What Is a "Relevant" Translation?", Lawrence Venuti (tr.) Critical Inquiry, Vol. 27, No. 2 (Winter, 2001), p. 179

[2] Bible, Genesis 22:1-19. Derrida explored the sacrifice of Isaac in Jacques Derrida, "The Gift of Death", David Wills (tr.), Chicago: Uni. of Chicago Press, 1996

[3] "Indulgence", Wikipedia, 1/12/2007

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Derrida's Interpretation of Plato's Pharmacy

Descartes' "I think therefore I am"

The art of rhetoric

The Philosopher Leader of Leo Strauss

Four that Entered the Pardes

The New European Antisemitism (And Anti Americanism) Heb

Other articles by G. Shaked: ART BIBLICAL STUDIES BIOLOGY CINEMA LITERATURE MUSIC PHILOSOPHY PHYSICS (ACOUSTICS)