The Merchant of Venice: The Value of Rings

The Value of Rings
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The Value of Rings
Rings in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare have little monetary value compared to their thematic, emotional and metaphoric value. The rings considered here are Shylock’s turquoise ring and Portia’s ring. Before Jessica elopes with Lorenzo, she takes a ton of her father’s gold and steals the turquoise ring. It later turns out that the turquoise ring is one of Shylock’s most prized possessions. In his description of the Shylocks reaction to the elopement of Jessica and the theft of his gold, Solanio makes fun of Shylock imitating his probable words, “My daughter! O my ducats! O, my daughter! / Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!" (II.vii.15-16). The outburst shows Shylock as unstable and a bad father who only values his money above his daughter. However, a different side of Shylock is revealed when he speaks to his friend Tubal about Jessica’s theft of his ring, “Out upon her!...