The Element of Disguise in Shakespeare's Plays

Truth Revealed in the Works of Shakespeare

Jul 5, 2009

In The Merchant of Venice, and The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare shadows the theme of human falseness with physical disguise.

Shakespeare often follows the motif of falseness or the inner truth. In his plays The Taming of the Shrew and The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare’s characters disguise themselves physically, representing the underlying theme of looking beyond appearances into one's true spirit, with the element of disguise reflecting this theme.

Religious Themes Expressed Through Metaphor

In The Merchant of Venice one can see a reflection of the hypocrisy that lies within religious groups. Similar to other Shakespearean plays, this one deals with Christian beliefs in a subtle way. People often fail to see the good in other groups and their beliefs. For example, Antonio’s true self is giving and Shylock is a little selfish, but Shylock states “I hate him for he is a Christian” (I.II.38). Thus, revealing his close minded nature.

Shakespeare often reveals his ideas in a discrete way through metaphor and symbols. For example, Lorenzo gives a speech to Shylock’s daughter, Jessica, about the “floor of heaven…inlaid with patens of gold” (V, I, 58-59). Lorenzo also compares the stars to Christian bread. And Jessica says this to Lorenzo as they lay beneath the stars; “Did young Lorenzo swear he loved her well, / Steeling her soul with many vows of faith” (V.I.9-20) which emphasizes the importance of ones soul and seeing beneath the surface of ones disguise, which – in her case – is a Jew.

The Physical Disguise used to Reveal the True Self

Disguise also represents a way for one to obtain who or what they want. For example, Jessica disguises herself as a boy, and sneaks out to be with Lorenzo, as she was forbidden to see him. Similarly, In The Taming of the Shrew, Hortensio and Lucentio both disguise themselves as tutors who court Bianca. All of the disguises were derived to achieve someone or something they truly wanted.

Portia used her disguise and great rhetoric to save Antonio. She tells Shylock it is against the law to take more than what he has bet, so if he takes more than “one pound of flesh” he is doomed (IV.I.306-10). The significance of this is that Portia felt she had to disguise herself as a man to gain respect and power, but she clearly has power already. Furthermore, the exchanging of clothing between Tranio and his master Lucentio highlights the idea that clothing seems to define a person.

The Taming of the Shrew and the Merchant

Shylock appears to have very strict views for himself and his daughter, and resents Antonio for loaning without interest. Shylock, however, is changed at the end of the play. He has been enlightened by the words of Portia to see the pointless hate he had for Antonio before. This change of heart in Shylock is clear when he says “I take this offer then. Pay the bond thrice / And let the Christian go” (IV.I.317-18). Thus, not only now seeing people spiritually, but he is a changed man.

Katherina appears to everyone as a shrew in the beginning, while her sister is described as sweet and lovely. Grumio’s response to the idea of finding a husband for Kate is “A husband? A devil!” (I.I.120). Ironically, Petruchio seems to be a sort of Devil as he rages at Kate and deprives her from things she needs like food and clothing (IV, III). Along with clothing, disguise provokes the idea that people are not always who they seem.

Kate becomes sweet and agreeable by the end of the play. Petruchio insists that there is a moon in mid-day, and Kate argues that it is the sun, but then she says: “Then God be blessed, it is the blessed sun / But sun it is not when you say it is not, / And the moon changes even as your mind.” (IV.V.18-21). In Contrast, Bianca’s inner shrew is now showing as she yells at Lucentio (3.2.249). This highlights Bianca’s falseness and her inner spirit.

Money as a Symbol of Truth

Money contributes to the motif of truth. One significant moment is when Petruchio says “tis the mind that makes the body rich” (IV.III.69). It is interesting that Petruchio in the beginning asks Baptista about Kate’s dowry (II.I.120), and now he makes this statement about beauty on the inside. Petruchio has fallen in love with his project, Kate.

The issue of Money also plays a large role in The Merchant of Venice as the story is about a merchant. Antonio is the merchant who begins the play by expressing his worry and sadness. He insists however, that he is not worried about money (I.I.45). Also, money seems to be the most important thing to Shylock who resents Antonio for being generous.

Portia’s father left three caskets made of gold, silver and led for her future suitors to choose. If a man chose the wrong case he must vow to remain unmarried forever. The gold casket was engraved “who chooseth me shall gain what many men desire” (II.IV.37), meaning wealth. The led case is engraved with “Who chooseth me must give and hazard all he hath” (II.VII.16). This message relays the importance of sacrifice in love and rewarded that suitor a great dowry, but more importantly, Portia as a wife.

In conclusion, the physical disguise of characters shadows the theme that people are not always as they seem, and the importance of the inner spirit. Portia, disguised as a man, helps Shylock become an enlightened Christian. Bianca reveals her inner shrew, while Kate becomes sweet and lovely, and Petruchio finds true love. In this process of change characters go through, Shakespeare uses physical disguise as a metaphor of the spiritual disguise some people possess, and provides the reader with an enlightened mind as well.

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