Mercy, Justice, and Identity in William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice

Author(s)	Dr. PALLAVI ARYA
Country	India
Abstract	William Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice is a complex play that intertwines themes of justice, mercy, prejudice, identity, and human relationships. Set in the mercantile city of Venice and the romantic backdrop of Belmont, the play explores the moral dilemmas faced by its characters, especially within the fraught relationship between Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, and Antonio, a Christian merchant. This paper examines the ways in which Shakespeare critiques legal rigidity, religious intolerance, and the performance of identity. It also considers Portia’s role in navigating male-dominated spaces through disguise and intellect, thus commenting on gender dynamics of the Elizabethan era. Through a careful analysis of key scenes and character arcs, this paper argues that The Merchant of Venice remains a powerful and controversial commentary on justice, mercy, and societal boundaries, offering insights that remain relevant to modern discussions about inclusion, fairness, and human dignity
Keywords	Mercy,Justice, ,Religious Intolerance, Hypocrisy
Field	Arts
Published In	Volume 6, Issue 1, January-February 2024
Published On	2024-02-08

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International Journal For Multidisciplinary Research