The
good people of Venice
in
The Merchant
of Venice
Antonio
is a good and generous person. When Bassanio needs money Antonio says, ‘My
purse, my person, my extremest means/ Lie all unlocked to your occasions’
(1.1). Bassanio later describes him as ‘the kindest man’ (3.2).
Portia
is a good and clever person. Virtuous, of course: ‘… of wonderous virtues’
(1.1). She shines as a lawyer and reminds us a bit of amiable Columbo when
after a long list of reasons why Shylock should win his case, she says, ‘Tarry
a little. There is something else’ (4.1).
So.
Good, generous, clever, amiable. But Antonio has repeatedly insulted and abused
Shylock. Portia deliberately and coolly ruins his life. Because he is a Jew.
Antonio and Portia hate Jews.
But
it was an anti-Semitic society, filled with hatred and fear, you may argue, and
you would be right. But you may continue, that’s all in the past. You would be
wrong.
Four
years ago, a racist and otherwise thoroughly contemptible man was elected
(though he got fewer votes than his opponent) President of the United States. A
few weeks ago, a majority of voters voted him out and the civilised world
heaved a cautious sigh of relief.
The
problem is, millions voted for Trump. Let me tell you about three of them.
The
first one I’ll call Chichi. Like her name (even her real name)) she is a sweet,
whimsical, harp-playing angelic poet who loves her little daughter very much. She
posted her support of Trump on Facebook and when I expressed my dismay, she
wrote that she too had once seen Trump as racist, misogynist, environmentally
dangerous, etc but she had now realised that he was misunderstood and falsely
maligned. She supports him because of all the good he has done.
The
second one is my cousin, let’s say she’s called Trish. We have very little
contact and haven’t since we were children. Her support, also on FB, has been
discreet but very clear. We haven’t discussed it at all. What puzzles me is
that she is a very devout Christian. I’m naïve enough to think that religious
people should promote love, not hate and contempt.
My
third example, another cousin, Laura. As far as we remember, we’ve only met
once, when we were kids, but in recent years we have had a very friendly and
mutually supportive relationship on FB. She has even bought and promoted my
books. As far as I can tell, she loves her adopted kids. Then suddenly this
summer she started posting pro-Trump memes and texts on FB. When I tried to
discuss this with her, she first admitted to being confused about the situation
in the US, but she hated Obama and Biden. When it became clear that Trump had
lost the election, she - and especially her husband - began ranting and raving
about fraud and stolen votes, spewing out hatred of Biden and Harris, and
nastily abusing me with hateful insults.
So.
My
question, simplified and perhaps unreasonable, but nevertheless, is this: Are
these three people good but delusional? Good parents but bad people who
understand exactly what Trump is and approves, agrees? Or are they basically
bad, with streaks of goodness in them but only towards their own kind? Like
Antonio and Portia?
We
know what the Christian society of Antonio and Portia led to throughout the
centuries. Let’s just hope that the current 306 electoral votes will be the
start of a democratic, equal and inclusive society where these kinds of
questions are unnecessary.
Maybe
understanding, or at least pondering, Shakespeare will help.
Shakespeare
calling – the book available here and other sites:
No comments:
Post a Comment