Abstract
The aim of my essay is to analyse the concepts of law and mercy in The Merchant of Venice. I will argue that the interpretation of the play in terms of law and mercy has to be tempered by two considerations.
First, that although the dichotomy of law and mercy automatically suggests that the central subject of the play is the clash of two different religious systems and their codes of behaviour, the events of the play are in fact not so much driven by religion than by financial matters. Second, if the play is to be interpreted through the prism of law and mercy, it cannot be viewed as a conflict in which one of the two prevails, but rather as a warning against various misuses of both law and mercy, which lead to problematic solutions for the issues that the play presents.
The discussion of law and mercy will then be used to raise questions about ways in which today's 'Christian Europe' (Christian in name but focused on easy, enjoyable life, much like the Venetians) may profit from recognition of what kind of law and what kind of mercy we may offer those who come into our country, who are our 'Others' and whose 'Others' we are.