Interfaith Marriage

Although Jessica is not nearly as famous as Shylock or Atticus Finch, her position
between Judiasm and Christianity is representative of a very real problem the prohibition of
interfaith marriage. Similar to the anti-Semitism of the venetians within the play, many countries
use interfaith marriage prohibitions to control the faith of their populations, and keep out those
that are undesirable. Burma is currently trying to push an interfaith marriage ban though in order
to curb their Muslim population. Although Jessicas conversion is ready and willing, her position
is representative of the problems that interfaith couples face one must convert for the other in
order to be married. Although within the play, Jessica is only a supporting character, her struggle
with faith conversion and family is a very real one that can be applied today to present
conditions, making her a representative figure in the problems we face today. Although her
conversion in the play seems peachy keen, by pulling Jessica out of the play and examining her
in terms of faith and reality, the audience can come to realize that her problems run much deeper
than Shakespeare lets on. Her conversion can be implied as incomplete, as people repeatedly
reference her blood as Jewish. By examining her situation against todays problems with
interfaith marraige, we can see that Jessicas conversion is not perfect there are still problems
with her blood and lineage, and questions of heredity and her own children. In examining
Jessicas position as juxtaposed onto todays society, we can see how despite Jessicas
conversion, her blood and faith stops her from being completely accepted. Although Jessica is
not as famous and prominent as her father, the fact that her conversion is essential in her
marriage to Lorenzo makes her a representative figure that illustrates a problem that has plagued
mankind to the present day.

Although Jessica readily converts, there is still a lot of debate and worry about her blood
and lineage. It is the jewish blood that defines Jessica and Shylock people always criticize
shylock for being the devil incarnate himself not through his actions, but only through his
blood. Through this, because Jessica has this blood she is included as well. The play, however,
seems to present religion as something malleable and easily changeable, rather than a set of
values that one grows up with and identifies by. The Moor in the beginning of the play seems to
think that he can easily change his skin color in order to have Portia be his. Shylock becomes a
Christian by his I am content. However, shylock does not seem to accept this whatsoever he
seems to be only doing this nominally. Also, Jessica herself seems to wrestle with her actions
and betrayal of her father and religion throughout the play also (insert quotes). The surface seems
peachy keen, but religious conversion is not so easy, especially in a place where they are the
religious minority. Lorenzo and Jessica joke about their fate as lovers, but this may be some
ominous foreshadowing. They are always hinting at the fact that conversion is not as easy as it
sounds, that despite the marriage and conversion; there may be trouble in the future despite
conversion, Jessica will not be so easily accept, to other people and to herself. Similar to this
conversion rule, Burma is trying to push a bill that forces men who marry Buddist women to
convert to Buddism. The couple would then have to get written consent from the brides parents
or guardians and subsequently prove compliance with these preconditions before local
authorities could register the marriage (Kashyap). Despite such a law that blatantly violate basic
human rights, even if the man decides to convert, there may be troubles in that the brides family
and community that cannot be soothe with only a conversion. In taking Jessicas role and
conversion out of the play, we can see that while she and Lorenzo may seem happy and content

with their marriage and conversion, there may be troubles in the future, where Jessica is not fully
accepted as a Christian woman.
In addition to the question of Jessicas lingering status as a Jew, her lineage itself and
heredity is also called into question. Lorenzo shows that he is worried about Jessicas status as a
Jew, because her blood is passed down through her lineage. Although she is a Christian by faith,
she is still a Jew by blood: (insert quote). Because she shares the same blood as her father, her
status cannot be completely done away with my own flesh and blood to rebel she is bound to
Shylock by her blood she can convert but her blood shall remain Jewish (insert quote act 3
scene 5). This also implies that Lorenzos children will carry the sins as Jessica his own lineage
will therefore be blemished. Jessica herself speaks of this lineage in her own ancestors (quote
about the ancestors). In that she shares the same blood as her father and ancestors tubal and
Chus Chus is cursed by god and all his descendants to so that they should be black and
loathesome. Although Jessica is described to have white skin, she is associated to these
countymen through her blood, as her father is their descendent. In this, Jessica implicates not
only her father in this curse, but herself as well, and her future children. Similarly, the Burmese
bill calls for men to convert for Buddist women this implies that they wish for the country to be
populated by Buddist people and the other religions must be curbed. With having men marry
into his wifes Buddist religion, Burma is trying to create a situation where only more Buddists
are produced, just as Venice is trying to curb the population of Jewish people within the city.
Jessicas situation in The Merchant of Venice is representative of this discrimination
Shakespeare touched upon a huge deal in the play, a problem that has lasted through the years.
Jessicas conversion and this Burmese bill have cheapened religion it is no longer a set
of values to further human dignity and good. But rather, religion has become a political tool in

which the state can use to control its population. This is proved in Jessica herself she is raised
Jewish. Her father is very proud of his Jewish status (insert quote), so it is unlikely that Jessica
was brought up without regard for her religion. However, despite her upbringing, Jessica has no
faith. She cares neither for Jewish nor Christian god. Even when she marries Lorenzo, she thanks
Lorenzo for saving her, not a higher being (insert quote). Jessicas faith is malleable she has no
trouble changing it to suit her needs it is not an important part of her it is not her identity
her identity is separated from religion religion is simply the tool she uses to achieve her means.
We are starting to see this in countries like Burma, who is trying to push a bill through, and also
in countries like Indonesia, where the law is already in place. People change their religion
nominally, and still practice their own, or they forge ID cards that state their religion as that of
their fiancs. In both cases, religion is no longer a faith it is a political tool a matter of
convernience. Controlling people via faith is not a viable solution, as people will just find ways
around it not only does it violate human rights, it sows discontent as forced converts may not
be fully accepted.