William Shakespeare Was a Gospel Scholar

Oct 2010 Issue

By Danielle Ellis
I began teaching sixth grade at American Heritage Academy this year. The scholars had a summer assignment to read the Charles & Mary Lamb version of The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare. Armed with some colored pencils for highlighting and some note paper, I picked up my first Shakespeare play in more than two decades.

My first clue to the subtext of the play was that one character was specifically referred to as a Jew, while another was specifically referred to as a Christian. Pretty soon, the themes of Mercy and Justice were introduced. Recalling a great sermon from the Book of Mormon on mercy and justice, I thought perhaps I should keep digging.

What unfolded before me as I laid the text out next to my scriptures was nothing less than the most sublime presentation of the gospel I have ever seen. Shakespeare lays out the twin concepts of mercy and justice, inviting us to understand exactly how mercy operates, and why we need it. He sets this all into a framework of the Law of Moses, personified by
Shylock, the Jew, versus the Gospel of Jesus Christ, personified by Portia.

His protagonists Antonio and Portia illuminate the various roles of the Father and the Son, in sacrificing for us, interceding between us and justice, preparing a mansion which we may inherit, providing faithful friendship and more.

Bassanio, the handsome young man who represents Christians, is most illuminating to me. His role in the play is to cause all the trouble, just as Adam fell, introducing death into the world. He asks his friend Antonio to help him, which he does, just as God always helps us when we ask. Bassanio chooses wisely to covenant with Portia, which represents our covenant with Christ.

In making this covenant, Bassanio inherits her father’s mansion and money. Likewise, when we wisely choose Jesus Christ, then make and keep sacred covenants, we inherit “all the Father hath.” Bassanio does nothing of himself except make wise choices, yet he ends the play with the best spouse, a sizeable estate, money, joy, and blessings. Just as we are nothing of ourselves, we may covenant with Jesus Christ, and He provides us with eternal wealth and a mansion he has prepared for us.

I remember from my high school years that Shakespeare was called “the bard.” What I didn’t know until now is that title was shortened from “The Bard of the Bible.” For hundreds of years, Shakespeare’s plays were studied and remembered for their exquisite, and never preachy, portrayals of the gospel in action. Yet we now neglect him, since we don’t like tripping over his unfamiliar language. We have lost so much.

If you’re looking for some new reading material, why not grab something old? Tales from Shakespeare, by Charles and Mary Lamb, is widely available. The plays are simplified into a narrative story and can be read in under an hour. Pick a play and see what you find. I’d love to hear!