The Relationship Between Father and Daughter in The Merchant of Venice

Introduction to the Father-Daughter Relationship in Shakespearean Literature

The topic we will be examining within the cultural context of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries is the relationship between father and daughter in Shakespearean literature. Our specific focus is on Shakespeare's play, The Merchant of Venice. For a daughter in the period of the English Renaissance, the cultural implications of her station were enormous. A father had particular expectations of her. His desires for his daughter are occasionally expressed by him, rarely by her. When any untoward behavior on the part of the daughter is recorded, the father is embarrassed and distressed and is subsequently the hapless victim of his own powerful role as mentor. Some young women of the period might have seen themselves in a "losing" role, irrespective of the wealth of the father. Clearly, arranged marriages for economic reasons were not uncommon, but were to be expected among noble-class parents. Dowries were considered to be an important element in the marriage, and it would seem from the historical record of this century that some younger daughters had dowries granted that were substantially below the expectations sometimes suggested by the wills of their fathers.

Portrayal of the Father-Daughter Relationship in The Merchant of Venice

In Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, we are presented with an interesting configuration of a father-daughter relationship. In this essay, I will explore how Shakespeare portrays this relationship in his play and how our modern-day views can or cannot relate to it. The relationship between Shylock and his daughter Jessica is one of the most intriguing in the play. When the characters are first introduced to us, it seems as if the relationship is based solely on the stereotype of a greedy Jewish moneylender. Later on, we learn that there is a lot more to Jessica's tale than the fact that she is the offspring of a Jew and that Shylock returns the favor of their bond. We are also told that Jessica's mother, a Christian, ran away from Shylock in order to marry Antonio, but Shylock is still, inevitably, characterized as a "Jewish-hearted daughter." The loss of Jessica is one of the most hurtful that Shylock endures, because coupled with his love for her is the loss of part of his own soul.

Themes and Motifs in the Father-Daughter Relationship in the Play

There are two distinct father-daughter relationships in The Merchant of Venice. The first is that of Portia and her deceased father, who wishes that she waits to be married. He arranges three caskets that the man who desires to marry his daughter must choose the correct one to be able to marry her. The second father-daughter relationship, which happens at the same time as the first, is between Shylock and Jessica. Shylock is overbearing and does not wish for Jessica to marry someone of her own liking, even when she has the opportunity. Portia’s father seems to have little or no control over who or what goes on in the outside world regarding his daughter, while Shylock wishes to control his daughter completely.

On the surface, Portia seems to despise her father’s method of having a future husband selected by them choosing the right casket. Portia tells Bassanio that the only way she will marry a man is if he chooses the lead casket. At no time does she show the joy of a new bride-to-be or speak of longing for her future husband. Portia’s idea of respecting her father’s wishes may be different from that of her own. While she is showing respect for her dead father’s arrangements, she is also free from an unwanted suitor. Being a proper and obedient daughter, Portia tolerates her father’s wish even after he has passed away. To her, the choice of the casket is merely a business transaction, as we see in Belmont with the announcement of the two unsuccessful suitors who have chosen the gold and silver caskets and the speculation of who will choose the proper one.

Impact of the Father-Daughter Relationship on the Plot and Characters

'The love of a daughter for her father' is traditional to every religious, ethical, and cultural ground. This happiness is greatly amplified by the daughter's guidance and praises of her father. The Merchant of Venice reflects the same pure relationship between Shylock and Jessica. The father-daughter relationships in Shakespeare are based on fraternity and knowledge. Even in The Merchant of Venice, the father-daughter relationship is shown from various angles. The relationship of Shylock and Jessica grows through tragedy. Shylock raised his daughter during Jessica's childhood after his mother's early death. It is very simple that without a mother, how the desires and emotions of a girl unknown to a father could be fulfilled. So the playwright presents both the father-daughter as a good tragic combination.

Jessica's actions are contradictory to the previous scene where the love between Jessica and Shylock is exhibited. Her cutting of both this bond and her excommunication must be seen against the background of operations within the Venice ruling class where daughters belong. She cannot escape from that class by marrying a rich Christian as she dreams. She is still locked up in her father’s house, unable, as she sees it, to enjoy the large safe world that seems open to her masking mistress. The only way for happiness is either she has to be with her father or escape from her father. Such a contrary situation of a father and daughter opens The Merchant of Venice. The Merchant of Venice is a protest play in favor of Jews. However, the plot and principal characters hide the propriety, and also a touching father-daughter relationship is concealed. Thus, a father-daughter relationship becomes a part of this play.

Comparative Analysis with other Shakespearean Works

There are various plays of Shakespeare that can be explored to corroborate the father-daughter relationship in The Merchant of Venice. Certain aspects can be found to strengthen the decree. King Lear, being one of the greatest tragedies in Shakespeare, also features a strong father-daughter relationship, as the relationship between Portia and Bassanio shows their readiness to brave the world to win her in The Merchant of Venice. Desdemona, daughter of Brabantio, a Venetian senator, tells of Othello and her love story, and the father-daughter relationship becomes significant. The role of Cordelia as the loving daughter of King Lear has a strong relationship with her father. Weighing the relationship between Cordelia and King Lear, one can associate it with the relationship of Shylock and Jessica. A detailed study of this father-daughter relationship may be interesting and significant to the world. Considering Shakespeare's works, the comparisons and contrasts offer unique opportunities to narrow students' thinking on the intent of complex characters and motivations that are at the heart of many of the plays.