The Merchant of Venice: Mythological References

The Merchant of Veniceis littered with random references to figures in Roman and Greek mythology. While Shylock told stories from the Bible, the Venetians mentioned mythology in relation to their own lives and experiences. This initially struck me more than any other aspect of this play. I immediately wondered if there was any serious significance in this, aside from the fact that the play is set in Italy, and the characters were sometimes referring to Roman mythology.

In my pursuit of grander knowledge in these mythological tidbits, I discovered some things that contributed greatly to the play. These references begin in Act I, Scene I as Bassanio tells Antonio about Portia. He likens her hair to the Golden Fleece that Jason sought, and adds, "...Many Jasons come in quest of her."

However, the majority of these allusions are found near the end of the play. Act V begins (lines 1-18) with Lorenzo and Jessica holding a conversation comprised of various romantic stories, overflowing with these references to particular mythological figures. "... In such a night," Lorenzo begins, "Trolius, methinks, mounted the Trojan walls, And sigh'd his soul toward the Grecian tents, Where Cressida lay that night." As the prince of Troy, Trolius fell in love with Cressida, a Greek prisoner of war who pledged her love to him.

Jessica continues the conversation by mentioning Thisbe, a young lover who's parents disapproved of her marriage to Pyramus-Much like Shylock disapproved of Jessica's marriage to Lorenzo. Other figures mentioned include Dido-who, in Roman mythology, fell in love with Aeneas and killed herself to avoid marrying the king of Libya, and Medea and Aeson. Medea, who fell in love with Jason and helped him obtained he Golden Fleece, also gathered herbs that healed his father, Aeson.

In lines 18-28 of Act V, they continue, but Lorenzo begins replacing mythological references with references to each other.

"In such a night
Did Jessica steal from the wealthy Jew
And, with an unthrift love, did run from Venice
As far as Belmont."