Evaluate The Merchant of Venice as a Tragicomedy

Answer

‘”The Merchant of Venice” is the Finest example of Tragicomedy that way we possess.’-Discuss.

Or, Evaluate “The Merchant of Venice” as a tragicomedy.

Tragicomedy is a dramatic work incorporating tragic and comic elements coined by the Roman dramatist Plautus in the 2nd century BC. William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is a king as a writer of tragicomedy. His comedy has a happy ending, usually involving marriages between unmarried characters or settling down the confusion. A tragicomedy demands several criteria, which are available in the famous play “The Merchant of Venice” (1600). 

Themes of Tragicomedy: The dominant theme of Shakespeare’s tragicomedies is love. Besides, they have several thematic elements and almost always end with a marriage or reunion. The play’s ending, “The Merchant of Venice” traces the happy closure. Antonio’s happy dialogue expresses it.

 Sweet lady, you have given me life and living;

Standard Plot: Shakespearean tragicomedies are based on a standard plot. “The Merchant of Venice” is no exception. In this tragicomedy, the standard plot creates suspense for the audience. It develops the plot from a threat to fun with a conspicuous message. The developing threat of death to Antonio is suddenly reversed at the end by Portia’s ingenious arguments in the trial scene. The trial scene carries the message that justice never betrays, although somewhat delay may happen in the way of justice.

Intermingled Characters: Unlike tragedy, tragicomedy intermingles people of the aristocracy with lower-class characters such as the Jewish Merchant Shylock and the clown Launcelot Gobbo. Besides, there are some recurring characters in the comedies, like the drunk, the fool, the clever servant and the young lover. They are often funny characters to offer enough extent for the audiences to laugh. Gratiano is such a type of character.

Trickery and Comic Language: A tragicomedy is engulfed with trickery and comic language. Shylock’s trick to avenge Antonio is a token of abominable mentality. Portia’s deceased father has left casket riddles so that his daughter could get a perfect husband who will love, respect and evaluate her from the core of the heart. By trickery, Shakespeare has applied his proverb that is:

All that glitters is not gold

However, from the outset of the play to the end, comic language and trickery entertain the audience very much. But by the end, Portia’s trick and coming language to return the ring to Bassanio is heart-touching.

I had it of him: pardon me, Bassanio;

For, by this ring, the doctor lay with me.

Structure of Tragicomedy: The structure of Shakespeare’s tragicomedies is unique since it is engulfed with humour and tragedy. They provide a harmonious blend of the two. Even the same character shows a great interchange of tragic and comic strands. In a very artistic way, comedy is used to bring relief from sorrow or pain and create a level of resolution and reconciliation. To put it differently, humour is used to ensure that human life is not always delighted or despaired, but often it is both. Such structure is well matched with “The Merchant of Venice”. Thus, it is a fine example of tragicomedy.

Tools and Devices: The tragicomedies of William Shakespeare contain a wealth of imagination and poetry but also a touch of realism. Verbal antagonism and verbal humour are appreciated in the same. Portia is the mouthpiece of Shakespeare for his tools and devices.

Therefore prepare thee to cut off the flesh.

Shed thou no blood, nor cut thou less nor more

……, if the scale do turn

But in the estimation of a hair,

Thou diest, and all thy goods are confiscated.

Use of allusions, metaphors, insults and puns are also profuse in Shakespearean comedies. Vocal and instrumental music is used to illuminate and foreshadow the characters and also to provide momentum and entertainment to the plot. “The Merchant of Venice” is, therefore, Shakespeare’s masterpiece of new inventive writing.

In termination, it has to be said that “The Merchant of Venice” is a conspicuous paradigm of tragicomedy from top to bottom. Besides, it paves the way for the enrichment of comedy in English literature, admixed with tragic and comic effects.