Dealing with Resentment

         Living in the human society, people make different decisions to treat one another, and therefore causing relationships of acquaintance, love and hatred. In Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, we can look deeper to see the way how Antonio, Shylock and Portia deal with resentment. In this paper, we would focus on Act 1 Scene 4, but also mention other parts of the story.

        “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” (Bible, Matt. 5:44-45)

All Christians are expected to obey what Bible says. However, the whole Christian society was against the Jewish. In the beginning, Antonio was one of the Christians who started the chain of the resentment between him and Shylock. Instead of loving the Jewish, Antonio looked down on them, called them dogs and even split on their faces. When it was Antonio turning for financial help, he first made his effort to achieve his friend’s goal— to borrow money from any rich person—even the creditor was a Jewish. At this moment, we could see apparently that Antonio viewed friendship more important than hatred. During the dialogue between Antonio and Shylock, Antonio still showed his hatred by saying that he would continue to do such disrespectful things to Shylock.

After three months, Antonio failed to return the money back and was accused by Shylock. Somehow Antonio widely accepted the punishment. “I am armed and well prepared. Give me your hand, Bassanio; fare you well.” (The Norton Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice 4.1 262-263) Lofty sentiment though he had, Antonio wasn’t wise enough to protect himself. All the way to his almost death, he just did whoever told or wanted him to. He borrowed huge amount of money not for his own use; he invested goods that he couldn’t control all the changeable factors; he accepted the insane contract and easily handed his life into his enemy’s hand. When he was on the street, he looked down on the Jewish as other Christian; when he was the defendant, he was about to give his flesh kindly to Shylock without hesitation. Antonio didn’t have a principle to face resentment.

Shylock’s resentment toward Christians was like a snow ball, accumulated in his daily life. Shylock waited for opportunity to attack. Once Antonio broke his promise to return the money, Shylock got mad and swore to seek justice of his own. Antonio and Shylock had the agreement that Shylock could get one pound of Antonio’s flesh if Shylock didn’t get the money back. “All the civil acts should never be against public orders and moral standards.” (「民事所適用之習慣，以不背於公共秩序或善良風俗者為限。」中華民國民法1-1-2) It is not appropriate to apply our law to that kind of setting, but we would not judge if Shakespeare’s setting was illegal at that time here in this paper. Standing in a modern R.O.C. perspective, the contract itself was against the law. Shylock put all his resentment on the punishment and joked that it was for fun.

“Your single bond and, in a merry sport,

If you repay me not…

Of your fair flesh, to be cut off and taken

In what part of your body pleaseth me”

(The Norton Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice 2.1 138-144) Shakespeare left the story hole for the readers and the audience to think deeper.

As Shylock’s servant and daughter both left him in order to live with Christians, the snow ball grew bigger and bigger. Shylock filed a lawsuit against Antonio after Antonio admitted that he couldn’t repay the money. Even though Portia offered three times the price for Bassanio to give back to Antonio, Shylock had made up his mind to cut Antonio’s body. No matter how hard Portia tried to persuade him to forgive and let go, Shylock had a heart of burning rage and will of cold iron. Antonio was well prepared, and so did Shylock—he brought knife and scale to the court in order to enforce the execution on the spot. It was Shylock’s personality and hatred that made him engulfed by resentment, and dominated by hostility. Despite Shylock was literally legal to pursue justice, his way to his goal was far too righteous. Such self-centered person would find no sympathy from others.

“Someone said, ‘What do you say concerning the principle that injury should be recompensed with kindness?’ The Master said, ‘With what then will you recompense kindness? Recompense injury with justice, and recompense kindness with kindness.’”(或曰：「以德報怨，何如？」子曰：「何以報德？以直報怨，以德報德。」讀經出版社/學庸論語/王財貴編訂/論語-憲問第十四/三六; Translation from online Confucian Analects/ James Legge, 1893 http://www.cnculture.net/ebook/jing/sishu/lunyu_en/14.html)

Shylock was in deep grief, and he decided to use injury to recompense injury. Though an acceptable justice was offered—to receive the money Portia sent—he refused to take it. In modern society, people usually adopted Shylock’s way to cope with things, which makes them too righteous that others would take no pity for them. Therefore, it was suggested that Shylock handle his emotion, accept the money and stop letting the resentment grow bigger.

Last, Portia seemed to be the root of the entire event. If Bassanio hadn’t fallen in love with Portia, the whole chain of resentment wouldn’t have developed. When she noticed the hostility of Shylock, Portia wasn’t provoked. Instead, she tried her best to comforted Shylock, persuading him to be merciful.

“Shylock: On what compulsion must I? Tell me that.

Portia: The quality of mercy is not strained;

  It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven

  Upon the place beneath. It is twice blest:

  It blesseth him that gives and him that takes.”

(The Norton Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice 4.1 181-185)

        Giving mercy was the kindness mentioned in Confucian Analects. Few people like Laozi appreciate to recompense injury with kindness, therefore, we never expect people to carry out such virtue, not even mention the stubborn Shylock with fierce. After Portia ensured Antonio to confess the bond, Shylock was agreed to cut off Antonio’s flesh. As Shylock got close to Antonio with the sharp knife to uphold his justice, all of a sudden, Portia, in order to reverse the trembling situation, reminded Shylock that there was truly a proviso—he mustn’t let one drop of Christian blood out because the bond didn’t say anything about bleeding.

        Shocked by the resentment of Shylock, Portia decided to fight back. Shylock didn’t insist to take the flesh, and he turned to accept the offer and said that Antonio could leave. However, Portia refused. “He shall have nothing but the penalty.”(4.1 320) Finally, Shylock was asked to hand in much money and immediately become a Christian. The judge eliminated the resentment of Portia and Antonio. However, did the judgement help reduce the resentment of Shylock? To some extent, I think the answer would be yes. “I am content,” said Shylock. (4.1 392) At this moment, we should see that in the subconscious of Shylock, he didn’t actually want Antonio to die.

        Nonetheless, Portia didn’t have the right to decide this judgement. First of all, she committed a fraud. She disguised as a young doctor of law to interfere the court. Why could she point at Shylock boldly to accuse his mistakes when she had a fake identity? In addition, before Shylock made the taking-one-pound decision, I think Portia as a judge had to tell him about the proviso and explain more. She shouldn’t agree with it first and then shut down his intention. His intention was to finish her agreement. Last, Portia’s attitude toward resentment wasn’t consistent. Requiring Shylock to give mercy was one thing, and asking herself to show kindness was another. Was commanding Shylock to receive penalty and get rid of his Jewish life mercy? Having elaborated this god-like behavior, Portia easily put this aside and punished Shylock. When it comes to resentment, people tend to choose the justice to recompense injury. In my opinion, justice is what the majority would accept, which makes kindness for injury rare and invaluable.

        “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” said Martin Luther King. Shakespeare brought out the grace of mercy, but in the end, none could implement what touched their hearts. I think what makes The Merchant of Venice a masterpiece is that it demonstrates the common weakness of all times—people are born to learn how to deal with resentment.