W illiam Shakespeare
Ⅰ．Brief Introduction to the W riter
1．Life Story
William Shakespeare is one of themost remarkable playwrights and poets the world has ever known．All through his life he has written 38 plays，154 sonnets and 2 long poems．Because of his works he has established his giant position in world literature．
We know little about Shakespeare．The facts of Shakespeare's life，which are not enough，came down to us from three sources: church and legal records，folk traditions and the comments of his contemporaries．From church and legal records people can learn something about his birth，marriage，business records，and his death．These give us a rough outline of his life，which is far from being complete．The old people from Shakespeare's hometown and London know something about him personally．They can give something about the poet's biography when written records are lacking．People can also learn about Shakespeare's image and his influence upon his time from many comments upon Shakespeare's plays and poems in the works of his contemporaries．
William was born into amerchant's family on April23rd，1564 in Stratford－upon－Avon．His father was a trader in wool，hides and leather articles．Hewas aman of some importance in the town．He was described as glover，wool-dealer，farmer and butcher．Repeatedly he served as a member of the town council．His mother was a daughter of a well-to-do farmer．Shakespeare spent his childhood in that beautiful town．At the age of 7，he attended the local grammar school and there he studied for 6 years，and learnt Latin and a little Greek．But his real teacher was nature and its pals around him．
When he was14，his father felt into debt，so the boy probably left school and went towork．At18 hemarried awoman，whowas8 years older than her boy husband，and they had 3 children．Itwas probably because Shakespeare wanted to seek his fortune and to support his family that he left Stratford for London with wandering troupes of professional actors when they visited Stratford in about 1586．Shortly after his arrival in the great city，he went to work at odd jobs in a theater．Then he became an actor and later he started to write for the stage．He learnt much of the technique with the stage．He established himself so well as a playwright that Robert Greene declared him“An upstart crow”．
From about1591 to about1611，Shakespearewas in the prime of his dramatic career and his plays came out one after another．He did not confine his genius to the theater．Notonly did hewrite plays but also he wrote poems and sonnets．By the closing years of the 16th century he had already won the popularity of a successfulwriter．He was so successful that he bought the largest estate in his hometown．At about1610，he left London and retired to his native town，though he continued to write．He died on the 23rd of April，1616 at the age of 52．
2．Literary Career
As a dramatist Shakespeare's career can be divided into four periods．
The first period(1590－1594/1595)of his dramatic career was one of apprenticeship．In play－writing，as a newcomer to London，he learnt a lot from other writers and made experiments in a number of dramatic forms．When he wrote his early plays he was a young man from 26 to 30．In this period hewrotemostof his historical plays and comedies．The five history plays are Henry VI，Parts I，II，and III，Richard III，and Titus Andronicus．The four comedies are The Comedy of Errors，The Two Gentlemen of Verona，The Taming of the Shrew，and Lover's Labour's Lost．His works in this period are filled with an optimistic atmosphere of humanism．The comedies are concerned with the affairs of youth and full of romantic sentimental feeling．In his early history plays，the young dramatist tries to handle political themes and gives historical lessons．
In the second period(1595－1600)his style and approach became highly individualized．He liberated himself from any imitations of the contemporary examples．This period is hismature period，which ismainly a period of“great comedies”and mature historical plays．The four histories he wrote are Richard II，Henry IV，Parts I，and II，and Henry V．The six comedies he wrote are A Midsummer Night's Dream，The Merchant of Venice，Much Ado A-bout Nothing，As You Like It，Twelfth Night and TheMerry Wives of Windsor．Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar are the two tragedies belonged to this period．By describing a complex pattern between different characters and between appearance and reality，Shakespeare made comments on a variety of human weaknesses．As a whole，this period is Shakespeare's sweet and joyful time．The first period makes Shakespeare famous，but it is in the second period that Shakespeare's position as amature and highly successful dramatist and poet is established．
Shakespeare's third period(1601－1608)includes his greatest tragedies and his so-called dark or bitter comedies．The tragedieswritten in this period are Hamlet，Othello，King Lear，Macbeth，Antony and Cleopatra，Troilus and Cressida，Coriolanus，and Timon of Athens，among which the first four have been regarded as Shakespeare's Greatest Tragedies．In the plays of this period，the tragic note is heavy．The sunshine and laughter of the second period has turned into clouds and storms．The cause of such a change should be from Shakespeare's change ofmoods as influenced by the social unrest at the turn of the century．In his works he exposed complicated social contradictions at that time．
The last or the forth period(1608－1634)of Shakespeare's works includes hismain romantic tragicomedies Pericles，Prince of Tyre，Cymbeline，TheWinter's Tale and The Tempest．His last two final plays are Henry VIII and The Two Noble Kinsmen．In these last plays he placed his hopeswith the future ofmankind so people can see Shakespeare's optimistic faith in the future of humanity，at the same time people can also see the dramatist's Utopianism．
Apart from the 38 plays，Shakespeare's true non－dramatic poetry consists of 2 long narrative poems entitled Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece．The two poems togetherwith his sequence of 154 sonnets established his reputation as a gifted and popular poet of the Renaissance．
3．Theme of HisWorks
In the romantic comedies he portrays young people just freed from feudal fetters．He sang of their youth，love and ideal of happiness．The victory of their humanist ideal is inevitable，though it is to be got only after severe struggle against all obstacles．The heroes and heroines fight against destiny itself and control and guide their own fate according to their own free will．As become the sons and daughters of the Renaissance they trust not in God or king but in themselves and their efforts are put a happy finishing with success．The general spirit is optimism．Here Shakespeare takes an optimistic attitude toward love and youth，and the romantic elements are brought into full play．
Shakespeare's histories include ten historical plays，nine of which dramatize successfully two centuries of English history from Richard II to Henry VIII．They show the horrors of civil war，the responsibility of an effective ruler，and the importance of legitimate succession to the throne．The principle idea of these plays is the necessity for national unity under one king．He condemns the War of the Roses in which innocent people were killed．It reveals a trouble reign in the 15th century．Shakespeare shows the patriotic spirit when showing sorrow for the loss of English territories in France．
Like themajority of humanists of his time Shakespeare believes in a wise and human king who would live to serve his country．But in his historical plays Shakespeare's treatment of real English kings is extremely critical．Richard II is condemned for his vanity，political blindness and inability to bring the feudal lords under control．Richard III is represented as a king strong-willed and vicious，who came to power through a series of horrible crimes and turned his country into a prison．And Henry IV，though glorified for his suppression of the rebellion of feudal lords，is criticized for his participation in themurder of Richard IIand his disloyal arrest of the rebels after stopping of fighting．In Shakespeare's histories there is only one ideal king Henry V，whose name for English patriots of that time was associated with the military victories of England in the Hundred Years'War and became a symbol of English glory in the eyes of the well-to-do citizens of England．
Shakespeare exposes social contradictions of the time in his great tragedies．The great tragedies have some characteristics in common．Each portrays some noble hero，who faces the injustice of human life and is caught in a difficult situation and whose fate is closely connected with the fate of the whole nation．Each has his weakness of nature．With the concentration on the tragic hero，we see the sharp conflicts between the individual and the evil force in the society，which shows Shakespeare is a great realist．
4.Literary Achievement
4.1 As a Realistic Writer
Shakespeare is one of the founders of realism in world literature．According to him，the purpose of dramatic performance is“to hold，as it were，the mirror up to nature．”In his plays Shakespeare faithfully and vividly reflects the major social contradictions of his time through a host of typical characters，thus he describes the decaying of the old feudal nobility and the rising of the new Tudormonarchy which represented the interests of English merchants and well-to-do citizens．He also shows us，in bright colors，the life and love of the youngmen and women at that time．In addition，the life-and-death struggles between the humanists，representing the newly emerging forces，and the corrupted kings also find reflection in his plays．He gives a world of full－blooded peoplewho live and struggle，suffer and rejoice，which represent all the complexities and implications of real life．Hewrites about his own people and for his own time．
4.2 As a Prolific Writer
Shakespeare is amazingly prolific．All through his life he produced 38 plays，154 sonnets，and 2 long poems．He is a masterhand for every form of drama:comedy，tragedy，and historical plays．He is also skilled in many poetic forms:song，sonnet，couplet，and dramatic blank verse．
4.3 As a Writer of Adoption
In Shakespeare's dramatic creation he uses themethod of adoption．He seldom invents his own plots，instead he borrows them from Greek legends and Roman history，from Italian stories and English contemporaries．In order tomake the play more lively and compact，he would shorten the time and intensify the story．There are usually several threads running through the play，thus providing the story with suspense and apprehension．
4.4 As a Master of English Language
He is a greatmaster of the English language．He used a vocabulary at about16，000 words，which is larger than any other English writers．Many of his new coinage and turns of expression have become everyday usage in English life．Shakespeare and the authorized version of the English Bible are the two great treasures of the English language．
Ⅱ．Brief Introduction to the Selected Literary Work
The Merchant of Venice
1．Brief Summary of the Play
Bassanio is a failed Venicemerchant in lovewith a rich woman named Portia who lives in Belmont．He needsmoney so that he can travel to Belmontand convince her tomarry him．Portia has a problem aswell，because her father died without choosing a husband for her．According to her father's will a potential suitor would have to solve a puzzle involving chests．Bassanio's friend Antonio offers to borrow money to pay for the trip．Unfortunately，the loan shark，Shylock，has a grudge against Antonio who had interfered with his business，and insulted his religion at every opportunity．Shylock plans to use this opportunity to take revenge on him．He loans Antonio the money on the condition that if he defaults on the loan，Shylock will geta pound of his flesh．Antonio agrees，not taking the consequences seriously．
In Belmont，Portia is unhappy that she can't choose to marry the person she loves，and that all her suitors either refuse to try and solve the puzzle，or are too stupid to figure it out．In Venice，one of Shylock's servants leaves and becomes a servant for Bassanio——justas Shylock's daughter Jessica is planning to elopewith Lorenzo，another one of Bassanio's friends．While Shylock has dinner at Bassanio's house，Lorenzo and a few friends help Jessica escape from her house．Lorenzo and Jessica flee the city with some of Shylock's money．While Bassanio leaves for Belmont，Shylock scours the city with the help of the Duke of Venice，desperate to find hismoney，aswell as his daughter．Word gets out that an Italian ship crashed in the English Channel—perhaps itwas Antonio's．Portia gets word that a Venetian suitor will soon be arriving—she hopes that it is Bassanio，who shemet a year earlier．
It is revealed that it was definitely Antonio's ship that sank in the channel，leaving him without the money to pay Shylock．Shylock is angry about the loss of his daughter and money，but glad that he'll have the chance to take vengeance on Antonio．In Belmont，Bassanio takes the test of the chests，and picks the correct one，winning Portia for his wife—Gratiano，Bassanio's friend，also marries Portia'smaid Nerissa．A letter arrives from Antonio，explai-ning that he's going to default on the debt．Bassanio announces that he's going to go back to Venice to help．Shylock has Antonio taken into custody in preparation for his trial．Portia and hermaid，Nerissa，leave Belmont and go to Venice—hoping to help their husbands，but first Portia sends a letter to her cousin，a doctor in Padua．
The trial of Antonio begins in Venice．The Duke asks Shylock to be forgiving of Antonio，but Shylock refuses．Bassanio now rich because of his marriage offers Shylock three times the money Antonio owes but Shylock still refuses．The Duke had asked a doctor to come to Venice and decide the trial．Portia and Nerissa arrive，disguised in men's clothing，pretending to be a replacement doctor and his clerk．Portia rules in favor of Shylock，and announces that he can proceed to cuta pound of flesh from Antonio．Shewarns him about the finer points of the law，though—according to the loan if Shylock takes anything but an exact pound，itwon't be a collection of a debt，otherwise itwill be an attack on Antonio's life．As a Jew，Shylock can't be a citizen，so if he attacks a citizen，he'll be sentenced to death，and all hismoney will be taken by the state．Shylock gives up，and tries to leave，but Portiawon't let him—because his plans to attack Antonio are a crime on their own—the punishment is that he has to give half hismoney to Antonio，and the other half to the state．Antonio convinces the Duke to give Shylock half of hismoney back，on the condition that Shylock becomes a Christian，and will all of hismoney to his daughter and son－in－law．
Portia and Nerissa trick their husbands out of their wedding rings，demanding them as payment for having gotten Antonio off．Bassanio and Gratiano return to Belmont，ready to face the disapproval of their wives．After toying with them for a little while，Portia and Nerissa reveal the trick they'd played on their husbands，and how they saved Antonio's life．Portia also brings a deed explaining that Shylock haswilled hismoney to Jessica and Lorenzo，and a letter that says the rest of Antonio's ships have arrived safely at port，making him once again wealthy．At the end of the play all the characters aremarried，rich，Christian，or some combination of the three，so they all live happily ever after．
2．Analyses of the M ajor Characters Portia
Portia is the heroine in the play．She is a new type ofwoman，who no longer clings about the neck of a father or a husband，unable to defend herself，instead，she is beautiful，prudent，resourceful，courteous，faithful，witty and capable of rising to an emergency．
She chooses her own husband．She is independent in character and takes her own path of life．She is happy and makes the others happy．She is themaster of her own fates．She carries her destines with her．She not only frees herself from the usual feudal fetters for women buteven shinesmore brightly thanmanymen inmanyways．The device ofwomen disguised asmen in the famous court scene is full of fun and dramatic excitement，and at the same time contributive to the portrayal of character．
Like other new women at that time，though there aremoments ofweariness and frailty，her courage never fails her in times of danger．And with every pang of affection and anxiety she only grows stronger and more capable of coping with the situation．She embodies the best qualities of Shakespeare's ideal of the new women．In her the influence of the Renaissance can be clearly seen，so she is the daughter of the Renaissance．
Shylock
Shylock，on the one hand as a greedy and mercilessmoneylender，he is hatred and condemned．On the other hand，he is a Jew of pride and deep religious instincts．He has suffered much in the hands of the Christians．His revolting bond is counterbalanced by Antonio's arrogant treatment of him．His loud protest against racial discrimination cannot be ignored by the audience．So as a victim of racial discrimination and religious persecution he deserves our sympathy．
3．Theme of the Play
The traditional theme of the play is to praise the friendship between Antonio and Bassanio，to idealize Portia as a heroine of great beauty，wit and loyalty，and to expose the insatiable greed and brutality of the Jew．
Butmodern critics tend to view it from another aspect．Many people today regard the play as a satire of the Christian's hypocrisy and their false standards of friendship and love，their cunning ways of pursuing worldliness and their unreasoning prejudice against Jews，here as represented by Shylock．
Ⅲ．Latest Critical Commentary
《威尼斯商人》是莎士比亚喜剧中十分成功的重要作品之一，该剧因情节安排巧妙，人物性格鲜明，语言生动优美而获得读者的长期青睐。全剧结构严谨，情节逐步推向高潮，波澜迭起，扣人心弦，妙趣横生。
全剧有两条交叉进行的情节线。第一条是“借债割肉”，展现了以威尼斯商人安东尼奥和高利贷者、犹太人夏洛克为对立的民族矛盾，以及早期商业资本家和早期金融资本家之间的矛盾，几重矛盾纠结在一起，尖锐激烈，不可调和。这些使《威尼斯商人》跳出了莎翁早期的一系列轻松欢乐的喜剧格局，成为第一个较显著的，用现实主义手法接触到社会阴暗面的喜剧。第二条线索是“挑匣求婚”，在幽雅的贝尔蒙庄园，美丽而富有的少女鲍西娅的终身大事必须取决于彩匣的挑选。大厅上陈列着金、银、铅三个匣子，等待求婚者的挑选，选中铅匣者，就是她的丈夫。她被父亲的遗命剥夺了婚姻自主权，为此而感到苦恼。幸而她情意所钟的巴塞尼奥选中了铅匣，有情人终成眷属。两条情节线在“法庭审判”一场中汇合在一起。装扮成法学博士的鲍西娅出现在威尼斯法庭，运用智谋，挫败了夏洛克，从刀尖下救出了安东尼奥的性命。该剧中贯穿和描写了三对年轻人的爱情故事及他们之间的友谊，这样友谊与爱情相互交织的情节线索，构成了《威尼斯商人》最重要的喜剧结构。除了鲍西娅与巴塞尼奥的爱情，还有另外两对青年的爱情:夏洛克的女儿杰西卡与基督徒罗兰佐相爱私奔的故事;鲍西娅的女仆尼莉莎与巴塞尼奥的仆人葛来西安诺的爱情故事。
这部剧作的一个鲜明的特色是对人物的生动刻画，剧中出现了莎士比亚笔下相当理想的文艺复兴时期的新女性形象鲍西娅。她集美貌、善良、勇敢、睿智于一身，在剧中起着举足轻重的作用。夏洛克则被塑造成一个惟利是图、阴险狡诈、冷酷无情的高利贷者的典型形象，这与鲍西娅的形象形成鲜明的对比，这两个人物的存在为剧作增添了迷人的光彩。
近年来我国学术界的学者们运用西方文艺批评理论和方法、现代阐释学批评方法、文本分析等方法对莎士比亚《威尼斯商人》一剧进行全面评析和多元阐释，研究成果非常丰富，他们的研究成果大致可以分为对该剧主题的研究、对夏洛克形象的研究、对鲍西娅形象的研究、莎士比亚宗教观的研究和艺术特色研究等方面。
关于主题的研究
一直以来人们认为该剧的主题是歌颂仁爱、友谊和爱情，同时也反映了资本主义早期商业资产阶级与高利贷者之间的矛盾，表现了作者对资产阶级社会中金钱、法律和宗教等问题的人文主义思想。有学者通过对剧情进行分析，结合作者当时创作的历史背景与文学背景，提出该剧主题是讽刺基督徒的虚伪与种族歧视，对他们错误的爱情观和友谊观及其巧取豪夺进行了鞭挞。(张伯香，1998)学者们认为基督徒大谈同情怜悯却对犹太人和奴隶异常野蛮狂暴，追求浪漫却将爱情建立在金钱和门第观念之上，讲究绅士风尚却将友谊视作绝对的和无条件的，他们用狡诈的手段侵吞了夏洛克的财产这一事实无可争辩，对犹太人的社会偏见与种族歧视在整个剧中更是俯拾皆是。因此，在他们看来该剧的主旨意在讽刺虚伪的所谓爱、仁爱的基督精神，以及他们的社会歧视、宗教迫害等种种恶行。(李书仓、刘冬云，2004)
然而，邓楠(2003)运用现代阐释学批评方法对该剧主题进行重新解读，认为过去人们在解读《威尼斯商人》的主题时受到文艺复兴的文化语境的影响，因沿用社会历史批评观，而遮蔽了文本所指。通过分析戏剧文本、展示剧中夏洛克与安东尼奥之间存在的追求更大利润的目的而引发的冲突、宗教信仰方面存在的冲突和民族矛盾所引发的冲突，讽刺嘲笑他们双方的不合理性，提出了夏洛克与安东尼奥之间不存在你死我活的阶级斗争，而只存在互相谅解、消除前嫌的问题，只要他们取得了这一共识，就能和平共处，从而揭示了该剧的主题是呼吁人与人之间应相互沟通、相互信任、相互理解，只有这样才能建立一种真诚和谐的人际关系。而剧中所表现的对青年男女爱情的歌颂，虽突出了人文主义的思想内核，但这只是从属线索，它只是主题的补充和衬托，并不能改变剧本的中心。
还有学者运用美学观点和历史观点来评价这部作品，指出夏洛克和安东尼奥的矛盾是建立在超乎种族、信仰的经济利益上，在整个故事中“金钱”浊流横溢，但友爱的气氛又弥漫全篇，而安东尼奥可谓是这氛围中的支柱，他“真心爱他的朋友”、“死而无怨”。学者们认为像这样，作者把自己的理想，寄托在新式的商业资本家身上，从而给有钱阶级树立一个榜样，这充分表现了莎士比亚式的人道主义理想。夏洛克和安东尼奥的矛盾既反映了以安东尼奥为代表的文艺复兴时期新兴的资产阶级所具有的进步性，又反应了以夏洛克为代表的资本的肮脏和丑恶。这种矛盾在《威尼斯商人》中则转化为资本主义积累时期的现实和莎士比亚理想的矛盾。具体说来，也就是方兴的资本主义和莎士比亚式人道主义的矛盾。(张秀萍，2005)
更有学者提出如果从戏剧结构原型的角度来看，复仇也是《威尼斯商人》主题。(程戈，2004)只不过《威尼斯商人》中的夏洛克的复仇，被莎士比亚用喜剧体裁来处理，这样使人产生犹太人是不配作为悲剧主人公的，犹太人的不幸和苦难当然就是咎由自取了，犹太人的复仇也只能是自找没趣的荒唐。
关于鲍西娅的形象研究
在莎士比亚笔下，鲍西娅曾被认为是最能反映文艺复兴时代，女性解放的代表人物，她不仅漂亮、温柔，而且谨慎、机智、足智多谋。她掌握着自己的命运，不仅自主择夫，而且在与夏洛克的斗争中起到了关键性的作用。然而也有学者们认为无论是作为富有的女继承人、多情的恋人、睿智的律师还是忠实的妻子，她都受到当时男性话语的压迫，她对这些抑制不甘心无条件的接受，于是做出了当时社会权力场所能允许的颠覆。(王玉括，2001)作为富有的女继承人，她必须无条件的遵照父亲遗嘱中的明确规定选择夫婿，而不是根据自己的意愿以自己的方式选择心上人。面对自己中意的巴塞尼奥，由于受到父亲遗嘱的约束，她所能做的只是尽量延长与他相聚的时间和间接的违背父命，巧妙地用歌词来提醒巴塞尼奥如何进行正确的选择。她的所作所为一方面体现出当时父亲权威的严肃性、不可抗拒性和女性在择偶问题上的被动与无助。另一方面体现出鲍西娅用自己的智慧反叛既定的道德准则，成功的颠覆父命。同时，在鲍西娅对巴塞尼奥的话语中可以体现出她甘愿在男性话语一统天下的社会中，让巴塞尼奥成为自己的新主人。在该剧第四幕“法庭审判”这场戏中，鲍西娅女扮男装以一个年轻男性律师的形象出场，在法庭上慷慨陈词、睿智超人，最终取得了对夏洛克的胜利，成为众人瞩目的焦点。在学者王玉括(2001)看来这正显示了女性受压抑的社会现实，因为鲍西娅的胜利是以改换性别为代价的。同时虽然鲍西娅也表现出了反叛的姿态，但在某种程度上这一举动显示出她参与男性话语的压抑力量，无意识的屈服于男性话语的抑制力量、同意男性的权威地位不可动摇的现实，并认同男性主流文化。作为女性，她并没有意识到这种压迫，而是满足于这种从属地位。她对男性话语的颠覆也是受到抑制的。
与此观点不同，也有学者借助女权主义妇女形象批评方法，分析《威尼斯商人》这部剧作，提出鲍西娅是一个反传统、具有现代思想的女性。在剧中同男性形象相比，女性处于主动、中心地位而男性则处于被动、服从地位，因而打破了父权中心，解构了父权社会对妇女的界定，体现了莎士比亚的女权主义倾向。(黎会华，2003)支持这种观点的学者们认为鲍西娅具有强烈的自我意识，深知自己的所求，并能想方设法达到自己的目的。她似乎洞察自己所处世界的道德规范、价值取向，深知自己的地位和角色，因此能够在不触犯父权社会游戏规则的情况下，以其聪明才智给自己选了中意的丈夫，表现出超凡的适应父权社会的能力。她还以自己的勇敢和博学多才，救了丈夫的朋友安东尼奥。学者们认为她在巴塞尼奥面前所表现出的谦卑只是为了迎合他，她把指环交给巴塞尼奥，旨在提醒他自己在家中的重要地位，当巴塞尼奥把指环送给别人时，她所说的不能相信丈夫的誓言，使巴塞尼奥和安东尼奥都感到不安，处于被动服从的地位，这显示出她掌握、控制男人的能力。在法庭上智斗夏洛克，并最终将其击败，迎合了当时大多数基督徒的心愿，反映出她洞察世界的能力。鲍西娅的女权主义者形象还体现在对家庭的管理上，她具有天生的管理才能，能与仆人之间保持轻松自如的关系，她的所作所为赢得了仆人们的尊敬和爱戴。
还有学者运用文本分析的方法，在研究剧情之后认为，鲍西娅与安东尼奥之间存在着争夺巴塞尼奥的隐形战争。(蒋敏珍，2004)在他们看来安东尼奥与巴塞尼奥之间存在同性情感。鲍西娅女扮男装在法庭上机智地周旋，运用法律条文，挽救了安东尼奥的生命，剥夺了安东尼奥为爱情牺牲的机会，免除了巴塞尼奥负疚哀悼他一辈子的命运。后来鲍西娅设计的“指环计”，使安东尼奥因鼓动巴塞尼奥将指环送人而感到愧疚，解决了巴塞尼奥内心的矛盾，逐渐孤立了安东尼奥，赢得丈夫的忠心。后来她又告知安东尼奥关于他的货物失而复得的好消息，使他获得生命和生意的重生，从而给了安东尼奥回到威尼斯的理由，使他远离巴塞尼奥。这反映了在文艺复兴时期，尽管同性情感在一定程度上为社会所接纳，但最终还是让步于异性情感。
关于夏洛克的形象研究
一直以来夏洛克这一人物形象受到学者们的广泛关注，研究成果十分丰富。一些学者认为夏洛克与其说是一位受压迫者和当时犹太人民的代表，倒不如说他本人就是一位压迫者和剥削者，兼具一位高利贷者所具有的贪婪、专制等本性。他对安东尼奥必欲除之而后快的主要原因是，后者是他通过放高利贷赚钱的主要障碍，他对安东尼奥的报复反映了没落封建高利贷者和处于上升时期的新兴资产阶级之争。(曲政，2002)对此也有学者表示赞同，认为夏洛克是一个被金钱贪欲扭曲、犹太民族意识渐趋淡化的高利贷商人。他执意要割安东尼奥胸前的一磅肉，不是为捍卫犹太民族尊严所作的回击、报复，而是对高利贷生意竞争对手的痛恨。(李鹏，2006)学者们指出夏洛克所说的:“我恨他，因为他是个基督徒，可是尤其因为他是个傻子，借钱给人不取利息，把咱们在威尼斯城里放债这一行的利息都压低了。要是我有一天抓住他的把柄，一定要痛痛快快地向他报复我的深仇宿怨。”表明他并没有把基督徒对犹太民族的种族歧视放在首要位置，令他更为切齿痛恨的是安东尼奥妨碍了他放债所应获取的高额利润。在此虽不能说他已丢弃了犹太教的宗教信念，但至少可以说他的重心已倾斜到追逐金钱的一边:为了赚取钱财，他忍气吞声地生活在基督徒的圈子里，忍受着安东尼奥对他的侮辱。夏洛克只是犹太人中的剥削者，他要求的绝不是全体被压迫的犹太人的解放，他的本性是贪图金钱和财富。学者们进而还指出夏洛克声泪俱下地讲述基督徒欺侮犹太人、犹太人遭歧视，仿佛他是一个“爱国者”。其实，经过伪装的夏洛克根本不把犹太人受侮辱的境遇放在首要位置，而是拿这种“社会性意识”当作实现雪耻报仇企图的挡箭牌，表达了借种族复仇达到置生意对手于死地的“本能冲动”。
又有学者指出夏洛克不止是旧式高利贷资本的代表，而是一切资产者的代表，包括当时资产阶级化的贵族，认为夏洛克的血性是“币”型的，他的脸谱也就是“币型世界”的真实写照(张秀萍，2005)持上述观点的人认为夏洛克是一个反面人物。
与此观点不同，有的学者则认为夏洛克是一个悲剧人物，令人同情，在某些方面令人敬佩。他们认为整个一出戏都笼罩在强烈的反犹太人气氛中，对犹太人的歧视随处可见，贯穿全故事，由于歧视与执法不公，夏洛克在基督教的法庭上注定要失败，他的复仇之剑未能伤及安东尼奥一根汗毛，相反却刺伤了自己。(郑晓琴，1995)剧中的宗教偏见显而易见:像夏洛克有着强烈的民族意识和宗教意识感情并对基督教世界怀着深仇宿怨的犹太人，却由于一场官司就改变了信仰，投入到基督教世界的怀抱，这是不能令人信服的。夏洛克的冷酷无情完全是迫害者一手造成的，被压迫者与压迫者之间是没有调和的余地的。夏洛克最后是失败了，他的失败更显示出其民族地位的可悲。夏洛克被迫改信自己所仇恨的基督教，对他来说，不啻又添了一桩新的奇耻大辱。(麦冬雯，1996)他人财两失而又被迫改变信仰，令人怜悯和同情。夏洛克真诚地捍卫人在经济、政治、法律方面的平等权益，不但没有成功，反而毁灭了自己，作为一个意志坚强的人，他的结局是悲剧性的。
还有学者认为夏洛克是一个有着强烈民族意识与宗教信仰的犹太教徒，面对基督徒的歧视、虐待和迫害，积极进行反抗复仇，最后失败，成为种族、宗教文化冲突下的悲剧人物。(梁桂平，2001)夏洛克是反犹主义的牺牲品，他是一位单枪匹马同反犹主义者相对抗而又注定失败的孤独者，一个让人油然而生敬意的悲剧英雄。(周定宁，2001)学者们在将文本放入宗教—文化语境之下进行重新诠释，从新型的“边缘”视角解读夏洛克，认为在信奉基督教的威尼斯，身为异教徒和文化“他者”的夏洛克，总是在寻求犹太文化的认同，努力于犹太身份的自我建构。尤其是在和基督教文化霸权的斗争中，夏洛克执着坚持犹太教信仰和文化，以自己独特的方式，完成了文化身份确认和民族文化的回归。在这种宗教文化意义上，夏洛克确实是犹太文化英雄，而绝不是任何世俗意义上的恶人。(王进，2004)因此有学者指出夏洛克的报复是代表犹太人所作的反抗，是积极的反抗，他的报复是合理的。(张丽，2005)
相当多的学者认为夏洛克既有可恨的一面，又有令人同情的一面。他贪婪、吝啬、残忍，令人憎恶;他受尽凌辱，让人同情;他不畏强权，令人钦佩。(王述文，1999)更有学者指出夏洛克还是一个勤劳的商人，富有爱心的父亲。(高徽南，2003)
对于上述从不同视角对夏洛克的分析，张丽(2005)认为由于受到中国文化的影响，国内学者们易于从阶级论、政治论的角度而不是从文本出发对剧作进行探讨，这样使得他们极其反感种族压迫、宗教歧视，往往会站在非主流的弱小的民族一边。学者们认为的夏洛克被迫改信基督教是种族压迫、宗教歧视的表现，是令人无法容忍的受欺负的事，而在西方信奉基督教的人看来，迫使夏洛克改信基督教就等于给了夏洛克获得永生的机会，恰恰体现了基督教的博爱与伟大。同样关于夏洛克的报复行为，在西方学者看来，基督教文化的“宽恕”观念基本上否定了报复行为，而夏洛克的“割一磅肉”的报复动机是邪恶的和狠毒的，因此不被西方评论界接受。
从上面的分析可以看出，夏洛克这一人物形象极具复杂性，有学者指出这是因为从总体上看，莎士比亚一方面由于受当时文化、宗教、政治、习俗的影响，另一方面由于艺术家对人类复杂的精神世界和灵魂深处的探掘和体察，致使他对犹太人和夏洛克的态度充满矛盾。(程戈，2004)
莎士比亚宗教观的研究
文学作为社会文化的一个重要组成部分，始终不能脱离社会文化大环境，并与其他方面发生联系，其中就包括与宗教的关系，而且文学与宗教二者关系源远流长，在《威尼斯商人》这部剧作中情况也是这样。对于作品中体现的莎士比亚的宗教观学者们也有不同的看法。有学者认为在宗教改革运动和文艺复兴的历史背景下，通过这部剧，莎士比亚不仅仅只是在宣扬传统道德，更是在描述伊丽莎白时代的社会现实，并通过这样的描述来表达他对基督教的一种态度，在剧情的深层处隐含莎士比亚对恢复基督教圣洁性的期望。(尚睿，2006)剧中，从夏洛克所说的话，不难看看出安东尼奥及其朋友对一个犹太人的恶意羞辱，在他们身上全然没有基督教徒所具有的那种博爱、那种宽宏大量。反过来讲，在学者们看来，这也是对基督教会的一种指责，而指责的背后也隐含着莎士比亚对基督教教会现状的不满。巴塞尼奥在挑选匣子时暗自思忖:“外表与事物的本身是多么天壤之别，而世人又往往被这表面的掩饰所蒙蔽。在法律上，哪一件腐败龌龊的案情不都可以用娓娓动听的言辞来掩人耳目?在宗教里，哪一桩罪大极恶的过错不都可以引经据典文过饰非以证明它确实迎合上帝之意?”这些其实是对基督教的一种谴责。
也有学者指出莎士比亚从基督教传统中接受了博爱观念，将人文主义理想与基督教情怀结合在一起，这样他笔下的人物形象无不闪耀着人文主义思想的光辉，同时也凸现出基督教情怀。(黄谷明，2007)安东尼奥仁慈而慷慨，借钱给别人只为解人所难，不为取利。他本着基督徒的精神，为朋友担负债务。在法庭上，他坚守信义，甘愿照约受罚，而且面对苦难，默默忍受，表现出耶稣基督曾经表现过的那种死而无怨的美德。鲍西娅女扮男装来到法庭，用基督教的仁爱精神来劝说夏洛克，试图让他改变心意。待到对夏洛克进行判决的时候，鲍西娅仍不忘慈悲为怀的基督教情怀，在执行严酷的威尼斯法律之时，要求公爵和安东尼奥对夏洛克从宽发落。在塑造夏洛克这一文学艺术形象时，夏洛克不止一次地指责基督徒而为自己的行为辩护，其言辞有理有据，犀利有力。在莎士比亚看来，犹太人也是人，他们有生活的权利，他们也要求平等，因此，歧视和欺侮是没有理由的，也是错误的。这些都体现了莎士比亚的基督教博爱精神。
艺术特色研究
学者们在研究该作品的艺术特色时指出《威尼斯商人》一剧在艺术方面运用“亦悲亦喜”的创作风格，从而大胆地打破了悲、喜剧的严格界限，把悲剧因素与喜剧因素巧妙地揉合起来，在作品中将欢乐与忧伤交织，由此创造出极强烈的戏剧效果。(栗沙，1998)戏剧情节的生动性与丰富性是该剧的另一大特色。对于“吝啬鬼”夏洛克的成功塑造使其具有悲、喜剧双重性格因素的复杂人物典型也是作品的特色之一。除此之外，还有学者指出莎士比亚在作品中还运用了突转手法，(胡健生、朱祖林，2000)主要体现在“法庭审判”这一幕中。在鲍西娅上场之前，夏洛克处于顺境，无论是公爵“晓之以仁慈”的苦口规劝，还是巴塞尼奥“愿以三倍于借款”的巨额偿还的恳求，或者仆人葛莱西安诺的恶意谩骂，都丝毫打动不了夏洛克的铁石心肠，他坚持照约行事。他磨刀霍霍，安东尼奥性命危在旦夕，一场流血悲剧似已成定局;鲍西娅上场之初，她主要以“法律维护者”的面目出现，她的必须也只能“按约审判”的主张使她似乎完全成了夏洛克一方的有力支持者。夏洛克也因此称颂她是一位“执法如山”的贤明法官。至此，事件的发展势态仍使夏洛克处于优势，安东尼奥等人处于劣势;正当众人一筹莫展、夏洛克洋洋自得之际，剧情突然发生了大转变:鲍西娅不失时机地抓住契约中的漏洞，她的这种既出人意料之外、但又合乎情理的反击，使夏洛克陷入欲割不成、欲罢不忍的尴尬境地，逼迫他节节败退，直至毫无藏身之地，由顺境完全跌入了绝境。夏洛克因“杀人未遂罪”而被判财产充公，险些把老命也搭进去。而屠刀之下的安东尼奥则绝处逢生、化险为夷，由逆境跃升至顺境中来。学者们还指出对“幕后人物”的精心构设也是该剧的特色之一，(胡健生、朱祖林，2000)剧中的“幕后人物”就是鲍西娅的父亲。表面上鲍父的“挑匣择婿”之举明显带有封建家长包办婚姻的性质，且与女儿所一贯接受的人文主义教育及其追求的个性自由、婚姻自主的情趣、性格背道而弛，以至于在父女之间造成某种误会，即如鲍西娅埋怨的那样:“一个活着的女儿的意志，却要被一个死去的父亲的遗嘱所钳制!”但若就实质而论，此举恰恰表明鲍父是洞悉世事、深谋远虑的人物。可以说鲍父的“挑匣择婿”乃是决定女儿终身幸福的上策，因为只有不贪金钱、不图浮华而注重人品者，才会看中那只朴实无华，甚至于显露出几分寒伧陋相的铅匣。用这种方式，鲍父帮助自己的女儿选得可靠的夫婿。
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