Shylock's Aside in 'The Merchant of Venice': Breaking the Fourth Wall

The concept of breaking the fourth wall has captivated theater scholars and audiences alike for centuries. In ldquo;The Merchant of Venicerdquo; by William Shakespeare, the character of Shylock employs this theatrical device in a subtle, yet significant manner, which is often misunderstood.

Understanding Breaking the Fourth Wall

First, it is essential to clarify the term ldquo;breaking the fourth wall.rdquo; While some mistakenly refer to it as ldquo;breaking the third wall,rdquo; the error lies in the nomenclature. The fourth wall is the invisible barrier between the stage and the audience that the characters do not notice or acknowledge. When a character breaks the fourth wall, they address the audience directly, often revealing their inner thoughts or speaking to the audience as if they were a part of the story.

Shylock and the Aside

Shylock, a character renowned for his villainy and his complex moral code, makes use of this technique in Act I, Scene 3. When Bassanio introduces him to Antonio, Shylock delivers a sequence of lines that are said in an aside. This term refers to a dramatic convention where a character's internal thoughts or monologue is spoken to the audience but not to other characters on stage. Asides can be valuable tools for sharing crucial information or revealing a character's true feelings and motivations.

Shylock's aside is particularly poignant and revealing, offering a glimpse into his mindset and motivations. His lines convey:

ldquo;How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is a Christian,
But more for that in low simplicity
He lends out money gratis and brings down
The rate of usance here with us in Venice.
If I can catch him once upon the hip,
I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him.
He hates our sacred nation and he rails
Even there where merchants most do congregate
On me my bargains and my well-won thrift
Which he calls interest. Cursed be my tribe
If I forgive him!rdquo;

It is important to note that the aside is a theatrical device used extensively by Shakespeare. Unlike a soliloquy, which is a longer and more direct form of internal monologue, an aside is typically shorter, often delivered almost inaudibly to the audience.

Staging Aside

When staged, the aside can be played in different manners. Traditionally, the actor would actually step aside from the other characters and directly address the audience, often behind his hand. This manner of delivery is quite direct, akin to breaking the fourth wall. However, modern productions often treat the aside as if it were a stage whisper or a voice-over, with the actor perhaps not speaking at all, but ensuring that the aside is clear to the audience.

The key point is that whether an aside is staged traditionally or in a more modern manner, the intent remains the same: to directly communicate the character's thoughts to the audience, providing a deeper insight into their psyche. This device allows Shakespeare to give the audience a candid look into the character's true feelings and motivations, increasing the layers of complexity in the play's narrative.

Conclusion

Shylock's aside in ldquo;The Merchant of Venicerdquo; is a masterful use of the fourth wall, a technique that enhances the play's depth and complexity. By breaking the fourth wall, Shylock gives voice to his innermost thoughts, making his character more authentic and human.