How The Merchant of Venice drew on Daniel
A documented line of influence: William Shakespeare demonstrably engaged Daniel’s work. The commentary below is Gröblé’s, verbatim from each work’s page.
The source
Daniel
Daniel · c. 165 BCE
BibleThe influenced
The Merchant of Venice
William Shakespeare · c. 1596
ShakespeareRelevance
8/10
On The Merchant of Venice’s page
- The trial scene runs on the Book of Daniel: Shylock cries "A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel!" the moment the verdict seems his
- Portia, the wise young judge who reverses the case, takes Daniel's own Babylonian name — Balthasar
- The model is Daniel rescuing Susanna by cross-examination — knowing that scene sharpens the bitter irony of who's quoting it
On Daniel’s page
- Daniel judging Susanna — the wise young judge who turns a trial inside out — is the figure Shakespeare summons for the Merchant of Venice courtroom
- Shylock hails Portia twice: "A Daniel come to judgment! Yea, a Daniel! O wise young judge"
- Portia even tries the case under Daniel's Babylonian name, Balthasar — the borrowing runs that deep