Ashley Grocki

Ajzenstat, Samuel. "The Ubiquity of Contract in The Merchant of Venice." Philosophy and Literature 21.2 (1997): 262-278. 

Ajzenstat presents an argument for the duality of Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice by illustrating, through a series of examples, the line that can be drawn between the conditional and the unconditional. The question of contract in both love and the legal agreement existing between Antonio and Shylock shows that there are two sides to everything. In each case, there remain conditions to be met, voicing doubt to the benefit of contract, as it can easily destroy relationships, but also realizing that without it society would have no stability in itself. Ajzenstat also believes The Merchant of Venice to be a make-believe world that is organized around definitive social distinctions between Jew and Christian, man and woman. There is a duality in this as well. The author argues that the concept of contract in the play and the clash of social roles lead to the collapse of the traditional dichotomy of society. 

Ajzenstat thoroughly explores the literary source of his argument, using The Merchant of Venice most effectively in his analysis of contract in both the romantic and the social realms. His two mains theses are clearly introduced before he begins and the transition between topics adds to the general fluidity of the piece. Ajzenstat emphasizes his points by constant reiteration of ideas, but uses different examples. His argument reflects a number of valid points that Shakespeare may have been attempting to convey in his literary work, The Merchant of Venice.  

Campos , Edmund Valentine. "Jews, Spaniards, and Portingales: Ambiguous Identities of Portuguese Marranos in Elizabethan England ." ELH 69.3 (2002): 599-616. 

In his discourse on the society of 16th Century England , Campos contemplates the question of Jewish and Spanish identities and their inevitable clash within English society. He quite extensively discusses matters of race and religion, or the other, as well as the resulting political and economic issues. Campos leads into a detailed historical narrative of the treacherous assassination attempt on Queen Elizabeth and the subsequent execution of the Portuguese Jew, Roderigo Lopez. Campos claims that this event inspired Renaissance literature that furthered feelings of anti-Semitism in England . Following the Lopez account, Campos demonstrates the economical and political impact of Spanish Jews on society, who had fled to England during the Spanish Inquisition.  Cultural identities are also thoroughly discussed as the Iberian Jew, as a foreigner and a threat to the unity of Christendom, is particularly singled out as a cause for destabilization within the Catholic, English society. Campos concludes with a series of literary examples that support his theses. 

This article is filled with both detailed historical knowledge and solid literary comparisons that effectively supports the arguments of the author. Despite a rather complex compilation of this information Campos ties together the interlocking themes and historical context of the literature under discussion in an organized and relevant manner. The combination of historical aspects with those of literature allow for the reader to gain a comprehensive understanding of both areas. In addition, the clarity of the article and Campos ' obvious efforts to define his terms contributes to the overall argument and relevance of the piece.   

Japtok, Martin and Schleiner, Winfried. "Genetics and "Race" in The Merchant of Venice." Literature and Medicine 18.2 (1999): 155-172. 

Japtok presents the opinion that Shakespeare's obsession with the other in his literary work, The Merchant of Venice, is meant to demonstrate the fact that racism was already an existent factor in Renaissance Europe, despite an undefined concept of race itself. The idea of race was still under construction, "hovering between the spheres of religion and genetics" (155). Jopak argues that religious otherness was in the process of shifting towards racial otherness. Joptak also explores the question of genetics and the role of science in the transmission of traits. It is genetics that gives definition to race rather than personal beliefs, as in the case of religion. Therefore, religion and race find science separating them. While the two remained somewhat intertwined during the 16th century and, the obvious difference between both created an inevitable conflict, evident in the play that Japtok chooses to discuss. 

The perspective that Japtok takes in analyzing the role of the other in Shakespeare's work ties a more modern concept to a nonexistent term of the 16th Century. This enables his readers to relate meaning and interpretation of literature of that time period to their modern knowledge. A stronger reference to the actual historical events that took place during the writing of The Merchant of Venice would have explained the basis for Japtok's argument better, but the lack of detailed circumstantial evidence left the article clear and concise. 

O'Rourke, James L. "Racism and Homophobia in The Merchant of Venice ." ELH 70.2 (2003):  375-397.  

O'Rourke argues that William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice is a work of stereotypical illustrations of the opposition between Jew and Christian. Yet, this traditionally accepted oppostition "is unsettled by the repeated juxtaposition of inconsistencies, contradictions, and hypocrisies in the Tudor stereotyping of Jews and Italians" (375). Therefore, O'Rourke says, Shakespeare's audience was given cause to mistrust the preconceived notions of the status of both the Jew and the Christian within their society. O'Rourke discusses the historical context of The Merchant of Venice as well, presenting a case for the idea that Shakespeare wrote this work in an attempt to combat the anti-Semitic feelings of Renaissance England inspired by the hanging of the Jew, Roderigo Lopez in 1594. O'Rourke also writes of the conflict of Antonio's homosexuality within Shakespeare's work, adding yet another argument that supports the contradicting nature of the Jewish/Christian opposition.  

O'Rourke appears to take one of the more traditional views of The Merchant of Venice. It is his clear language and contextual support of his argument, however, that makes this an interesting and easy to read dissertation on the clash of Jew and Christian in Renaissance society. Various examples taken from the literary work itself are used to support O'Rourke's argument, and are proven to be in line with the culture during that time in history. Further speculation on the motivation and intent of Shakespeare in writing The Merchant of Venice may have proved interesting.  

Schuchard, Ronald. "Burbank with a Baedeker, Eliot with a Cigar: American Intellectuals, Anti-Semitism, and the Idea of Culture." Modernism/modernity 10.1 (2003): 1-26. 

Schuchard uses commentary on T.S. Elliot's writings to express his feelings on anti-Semitism and the Jewish culture in European society. A lengthy and detailed account of Elliot's life serves to transmit the author’s ideas, while giving a biographical account of the man's life as well. Schuchard speaks of Eliot's attempts to reflect the duplicitous attitudes common towards Jews, and the racial problems that appear to exist. Literary references to Elliot's works as well as other examples of classic literature involving anti-Semitic illustrations help to support his argument. Schuchard agrees with Elliot's argument that religion rather than race is the issue, and culture cannot survive for long without religion. In short, Schuchard believes as Elliot does that without the Jewish role in early society, from which all other European is said to develop, the world would be left with an inferior civilization. 

Schuchard relays an impressive amount of detailed and precise information in this article, convincing his readers of his credibility as a source. The focus on T.S. Elliot severely limits Schuchard's ability to voice many of his own opinions, thereby forcing the reader to take for granted the author’s views and Elliot's as well. Schuchard's writing style lacks the precision that might make this article easier to read, and his argument is not as clearly stated at the beginning as it might be. Yet, relevant information may be gained from Schuchard's piece if one looks closely enough.