The Merchant of Veniceとその材源 : 「中心」と「周縁」のダイナミズム

概要

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In The Merchant of Venice the relation between the Christians and the Jews is regarded as the one between the "centre" and the "margin." The "centre" and the "margin" are in a cultural dynamic relation. The former holds the dominant position by excluding the latter, and at the same time establishes its identity by differentiating itself from the "margin." But the "margin" threatens the "centre" by transgressing its code, especially when the order of the "centre" is unstable. In Il Pecorone, the main source of The Merchant of Venice, the difference between the "centre" and the "margin" is undoubtedly clear. The Christian hero, Giannetto, is described as a virtuous character, while the Jew is a nameless villain. In this case the "margin" works as a scapegoat to justify the "centre." Compared with Il Pecorone, Shakespeare does not always make the difference clear. The Jew, Shylock is too tragic, while the Christians' virtue is somewhat doubtful. In this drama the "margin" deconstructs the "centre" and its code. The relation between the "centre" and the "margin" reflects the ideology of the time. The transgressiveness of the "margin" in The Merchant of Venice suggests the tension of the transitional period of England.
英米文化学会の論文
1995-03-31