A risk is the possibility that something good or bad may happen. It is applied in generally the financial sector where a high valued risk is expected to deliver high returns.
A hazard is something dangerous that could cause damage or an accident. It may also refer to risk.
In the Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare denotes various forms of risk as well as hazards. He uses the concept of play to drive home a few points on risk. In the play, he highlights different themes that were and are still relevant to society. The play is generally about merchants and money lenders living in Venice, a city known for its trade and its laws. In addition to this, there is the aspect of a rich, young and beautiful heiress, Portia abiding in Belmont. The play thus revolves around money lending, the laws of Venice and the extent to which love triumphs over law.
Among the main characters in the play, is Shylock, a Jewish money lender abiding in Venice where he conducts his business. Antonio, a Christian businessman also abiding in Venice, is a wealthy man, kind to his friends but also with his uncanny habits. The play begins as Antonio’s friend Bassanio approaches him to ask for help in wooing the fair and virtuous Portia. Bassanio explains that he is already in debt, Antonio being one of his creditors, but desperately needs to travel to Belmont. Antonio, inclined to help his friend, agrees to be bound to Shylock on behalf of Bassanio as all his fortunes are at sea and thus could not advance Bassanio the money himself. Shylock loans three thousand ducats for three months to Antonio.
According to Freud’s Dreams, on the subject of interpretation of dreams, dream content is generally related to dream thoughts. The book highlights the fact that manifest of dreams is due to the latent content of the dreams. In other words, dream content is as a result of dream thoughts. In the comparison of the two, dream content is brief, meager and laconic as compared to the expansive nature of dream thoughts. Therefore, this goes to insinuate that the brain generally, condenses the expansive thoughts into brief manifestations, at times so accurate, that they depict the exact mental picture a person has (Freud 194).
The book goes further to explain that the brain carries out the work of displacement. This refers to psychical forces attached to the artificial interpolations made for certain specific purposes. It is the assumption of the author that these psychical forces attached to the latent content of dreams go a long way in the displacement that occurs in dream construction. To further elaborate, dream content does not exactly resemble dream thoughts but gives reflections of a dream wish (Freud 195).
Relating this to Shylock’s dream, it is first of all clear that his aim was to take revenge on Antonio (Shakespeare 26). Therefore, at the back of his mind, deep in his subconscious, Shylock intends to bring harm to Antonio. It is for Shylock’s benefit and loss that Antonio repays the loan on behalf of Bassanio. The benefit is that, he will get to have revenge on his enemy, no matter how twisted it seems. To his loss, his money will not be recovered. Therefore, his dream thoughts are made up of his hatred towards Antonio and despite the loss that may come from forfeiture, the truth is, and he would rather have the pound of flesh. Thus, the dream content, relating to money bags, was based upon these thoughts, showing the truth of the work of condensation (Shakespeare 26). The kernel of Shylock’s dream is thus based upon his desire for revenge. He knows that the only way his desire will be fulfilled is if something goes wrong with Antonio’s ships. He wishes, at the back of his mind that this happens, and hence the truth behind the work of displacement.
Another aspect of risk is related to the suitors lined up to woo Portia. According to her father’s will, she cannot choose her groom, but instead, he has to be the one who chooses the right casket as a form of test. There are three caskets: gold, silver and lead. The play depicts three suitors, the Prince of Morocco, the Prince of Aragon and Bassanio (Shakespeare & Marcus 155). In her conversations with her maid, Portia insists that Bassanio, the young Venetian is the one she desires. The Prince of Morocco, who is the first to arrive, chooses the golden casket but fails the test. Similarly, the prince of Aragon chooses the silver casket and fails the test. Bassanio chooses the lead casket which bears an inscription “who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath.” (Shakespeare 29).
Both Princes rejected this casket deeming it as dull and insisting that they would not hazard, or risk all they had for mere lead. Upon Bassanio’s arrival, Portia urges him to take a few days before making his choice. Bassanio is however in a hurry to choose in order to go back to Venice and aid his friend Antonio. After clearly scrutinizing all the caskets, he realizes that appearances may be deceptive and hence chooses the lead casket. “Thy paleness moves me more than eloquence, and here choose I joy be the consequence.” (Shakespeare 30). It was highly beneficial that Bassanio decided to reject the physical appearances of the other caskets. It was important for him to choose the right casket, not only because of his love for Portia, but also because Antonio’s life was in danger because of him.
The three caskets were placed by Portia’s father. They were his assurance that his daughter will get an appropriate husband, even in his absentia. The choice of one out of three caskets is described in some versions of the play as a hazard (Shakespeare & Marcus 152). The prince of Morocco, who as the first to make a choice is warned by Portia before he chooses of the consequences that would arise from a wrong choice. She says:
You must take your chance,
And either not attempt to choose at all
Or swear before you choose, if you choose wrong
Never to speak to lady afterward
In way of marriage: therefore be advised (Shakespeare 19).
The risk was to have it all or lose it all by one simple choice. The above lines imply that if the suitor chose the wrong casket, then he was to forfeit marriage forever. It was a big risk for any man. The thought of losing a chance at becoming a husband or father was enough to drive many suitors away. Moreover, it was clear that the choice was not going to be simple; it involved wisdom and not knowledge.
Bassanio and the other suitors had put their entire lives on the line because of one woman, whom they were not assured to get in the end. It was an even bigger risk for Bassanio, who not only stood to lose the woman he loved, but also get his friend Antonio in trouble because of the loan they had received from Shylock. His decision was crucial, it would affect not only his but Antonio’s as well.
In the final acts of the play, Portia takes the greatest risk. She goes beyond her means to help both Bassanio and Antonio. She requests for help from her cousin, Doctor Bellario of Padua, to write a letter that allows her to represent Antonio in the courts of Venice. She wittily disguises herself and travels to Venice, to the Duke’s court and arrives before the trial begins. In those times, women were not allowed in courts to engage in matters of law or religion, hence one of the reasons for disguise. The other, obviously was for concealing her identity and that of Nerissa, her maid, from their husbands, Bassanio and Gratiano respectively. Portia began her argument by asking Shylock to pardon Antonio and show mercy. Shylock refuses by saying that he took an oath and he must execute the penalty. He further rejects Bassanio’s offer for twice the sum of money and says he must have the pound of flesh, in line with the law. He goes on to eagerly sharpen his knife publicly.
Out of desperation, Bassanio asks the Duke to bend the law to pardon Antonio. Portia hastily disagrees saying it will affect future laws, a very risky move. It would have been possible for the Duke to pardon Antonio under very extreme circumstances, but the refusal by Portia was driven towards the ultimate goal of freeing Antonio and punishing Shylock. She tells Shylock that he could have his way as long as he stuck to the terms of the bond.
The bond stipulated that he must cut off a pound of flesh, nothing more, and it said nothing about blood. Therefore, Shylock could not shed Antonio’s blood, which is, in itself a paradox. Shylock attempts to admit defeat and defer his earlier statement on rejecting the sum offered by Bassanio. Portia, however, insists that he must have the bond he fought for so hard. Shylock finally realizes that he is defeated and tries to leave. He is stopped by Portia, who reminds him of the consequences of being a Jew. According to the law, if a Jew tried to kill a Venetian, half of his assets were confiscated by the state and the other half given to the victim. After triumphantly rescuing Antonio, Portia and Nerissa hurry back to Belmont before their husbands arrive.
It is my opinion that Portia was very smart and witty. It was highly risky to disguise herself as a lawyer and attempt to free Antonio. Had she been discovered, she would have probably lost her life and wealth to the state. Also, her entire argument was a risk, despite its wise gearing. It could have gone either way and she may have had to live with the consequence of Antonio’s death on her conscience.
In conclusion, the greater the risk one undertakes, the greater the benefit expected. It was risky of Portia to attempt to help Bassanio and Antonio, but in the end, many people stood to gain. Lorenzo and Jessica got half of Shylock’s wealth and most of all Antonio’s life was spared. Bassanio’s risk got him the woman he so desired and Antonio’s risk fueled the direction of the entire play, whether it was a good decision or otherwise. The world is driven by risk, whether economically, emotionally or socially. It is the greatest way to gain, not only material or physical benefit, but also personal experience.
