Bassiano's Reversal of Religious Roles in "The Merchant of Venice"

A central theme in Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice involves the delineation of Jewish and Christian ideals. The claim that Christians thrive on spirituality and "bonds of brotherhood" rather than on materialism is expressly conveyed throughout the play by Christian characters. However, there are several instances where this claim proves false. Bassanio can be interpreted as one such character that strays from the established ideals of his religion on several occasions. The language he uses …

…of the values the Christian characters boast. Bassanio's language in The Merchant of Venice can be interpreted as having un-Christian nuances in many situations. His emphasis on materialistic entities (namely outward beauty and wealth) suggests that he is subconsciously adhering to values associated with Shylock and Judaism. As the disparity between Jewish and Christian ideals is one of the play's important themes, it is significant to emphasize any vacillation between the distinct sets of values.