Shakespeare relies mainly upon his two setting in
Merchant of Venice to demonstrate the conflict and contrast between
Romanticism and Pragmatism. Belmont is the fairy-tale island, isolated from the
hum-drum of every day business dealings. It includes riddles and marriage and
playfulness. In contrast, Venice exemplifies the tedious business dealings in life and
the fulfillment of the letter of the law (in the Duke's court). In Venice, daughters
betray their fathers; minorities are insulted; revenge is sought; and "justice" is
enacted (without genuine mercy). In Belmont, loose ends are tied up, new marriages move
past early misunderstandings, and the truth is
revealed.
Another contrast is, of course, the clash between
Shylock's worldview and the Venetians. Shakespeare uses this conflict to shed light on
the inequality of justice for certain groups of people versus the
elite.
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