"Dirty Dancing" and "The Merchant of Venice"

Some people -- for example, movie reviewer Roger Ebert -- have compared the movie Dirty Dancing with William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. The main idea here seems to be that the Jewish parents of Baby Houseman (i.e. Juliet Capulet) would disapprove of her romantic relationship with Christian Johnny Castle (i.e. Romeo Montegue), and so the relationship must be hidden and cannot develop naturally.

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Dirty Dancing should be compared rather, however, to Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice. There, the relevant young couple is:

* Jessica, the daughter of the Jewish money-lender Shylock (i.e. Baby)

* Lorenzo, Jessica's Christian boyfriend (i.e. Johnny)

Jessica violates her father's expectation that she will marry a Jewish man and will remain within the Jewish faith. Jessica tricks her father out of a large amount of money and elopes with Lorenzo.

Jessica falls in love with Lorenzo because he is a brilliant poet who performs his poems beautifully. Jessica loves Lorenzo for his artistry just as Baby admires Johnny for his artistry.

Because Jessica's love for Lorenzo is forbidden by her father, Jessica and Lorenzo meet secretly on many occasions.

Jessica's father Shylock trusts Jessica, believing that she never would deceive him. However, she lies to his face so that she can take his money and give it to Lorenzo. She lies to her father so that she can escape from their home and run away with Lorenzo.

When Shylock discovers Jessica's lies, she blames him.

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The story of Jessica, Lorenzo and Shylock is a subplot within the play's larger story, which involves a failing business. Antonio -- The Merchant of Venice -- has become successful in the shipping business, but now some of his ships, full of cargo, have sunk. Furthermore, Antonio has borrowed a lot of money that he will not be able to repay.

In that regard, Antonio is similar to Max Kellerman, whose hotel business is descending irrevocably into bankruptcy.

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The Merchant of Venice culminates in a trial, where there is a debate about the punishment of Antonio for his failure to pay a large debt. Antonio is accused by the businessman Shylock and is defended by a girlfriend Portia (Bassanio's girlfriend), who wins an acquittal.

Dirty Dancing culminates in an employer's accusation, where there is a debate about the punishment of Johnny for stealing a hotel guest's wallet. Johnny is accused by the businessman Max Kellerman and is defended by his girlfriend Baby, who wins his exoneration.

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At the end of The Merchant of Venice, the father Shylock is compelled to approve the romantic relationship of his daughter Jessica with Lorenzo.

At the end of Dirty Dancing, the father Jake Houseman is compelled to approve the romantic relationship of his daughter Baby with Johnny.

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