Christian allegory in the Merchant of Venice

Beyond anything else, this paper is intended to be an affirmation of the unity of The Merchant of Venice. It should be seen, after a detailed investigation of the spiritual planes of meaning which run parallel to the natural story, that the allegory organizes the total work and demonstrates its fundamental unity. The allegorical level is maintained throughout by the use of metaphors, conceits, exempla, imagery by word and narrative, symbolic characterization, and references to the Bible, both direct and indirect.