Biblical Allusions in The Merchant Of Venice

Biblical Allusions in The Merchant of Venice
Book read: The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, the four Gospels
I read all four gospels in the bible, although only one was required, as I felt that this would give me a better-rounded insight into the religious allusions made in The Merchant of Venice. After reading the gospels, I felt that doing so helped me to understand the text better. Although I am a Christian, I do not profess to have a thorough knowledge of the Bible, so certain religious allusions in the text escaped me. It was only after reading the gospels that I fully understood the meaning behind certain lines. Also, understanding the allusions in the play helped me to appreciate the play better.
One good example of this is in Act 1, scene i, lines 98-99, “If they should speak, would almost dam those ears Which, hearing them, would call their brothers fools.” These lines are spoken by Gratiano, in his “Let me play the fool” speech. He i...