Sel Interest Versus Love in the Merchant of Venice

1341 Words6 Pages
Self Interest Versus Love in The Merchant of Venice In today’s culture, love is viewed as a profoundly tender attachment or affection towards another person, whereas self interest is focusing on the needs or desires of one’s self. Throughout the play The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, the theme of love versus self interest is depicted through many characters. The power of love and self interest can affect the relationships between friends, family, and even companions. Love is shown through the relationship of the friends Antonio and Bassanio, as they support each other through difficult circumstances, while self interest is depicted through their selfish actions. Also, love and self interest is shown through the father- daughter relationship between Shylock, and Jessica, who both love each other, but meanwhile betray each other through actions of self interest. In like manner, love and self interest is conveyed through the relationship of the lovers, Portia and Bassanio, as they struggle to find real love, and put aside the unnecessary self interest. Although the relationships in the play The Merchant Of Venice may have love, it is evident that it is not always powerful, and that it does not derive from a solid or substantial background because it weakens during difficult circumstances, while the self interest becomes more important. To begin with, Antonio and Bassanio are good friends who truly do love each other. However, one can say that Bassanio uses Antonio’s money for self interest. In the first scene of The Merchant of Venice, Bassanio asks Antonio for money in hopes of pursuing Portia, the wealthy heiress in Belmont. Bassanio says “In Belmont is a lady richly left, and she is fair and—fairer than that word—of wondrous virtues. Sometimes from her eyes I did receive fair speechless messages. Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued To Cato’s
Open Document