Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
There have been many variations over the hundreds of years in how the
character Shylock has been played in productions of “The Merchant of
Venice” by William Shakespeare. Shylock is often noted as the most
important character in the play, so the way he is performed can change
how people interpret the play itself.
Shylock can be interpreted as the villain or the victim of the play.
Sometimes in productions the audiences’ sympathies can swing first
one-way then another, the actor will portray Shylock as a consistent
character however; certain scenes create sympathy for him.
Racism is a key issue in the play. Both the Christians and the Jew
(Shylock) indulge in racist acts towards each other. Shylock admits at
his first appearance that he hates Antonio because of his beliefs, “I
hate him for he is a Christian” this is not a valid reason to hate
someone and would illustrate Shylock as a villain. In some people’s
view Shakespeare has created philosophical characters, Shylock - evil,
Bassanio - loving and Antonio- self-sacrificing. Antonio was in some
ways willing to sacrifice his life so that his best friend could have
a happy one. This is an allegory with Christianity, Jesus laying down
his life, reinforcing the Christian message. However there are many
incidences where Shylock is the victim of racial banter e.g. puns of
gentile. “If you prick us do we not bleed… if you poison us do we not
die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?” Here Shylock is
saying that Christians and Jews are both human and deserve to be
treated the same. In the scene of Antonio’s trial, the Duke, who
should be impartial is very obviously biased towards Antonio and
doesn’t feel the need to conceal this. We do not feel pity for Shylock
here because he is causing so much pain due to his hatred of the
Christians this makes us perceive Shylock as a villain.
The way characters behave shows what they are really thinking.
still a common view of Jews is for them to be penny pinching, both in
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice "The Merchant of Venice" by William Shakespeare features, Shylock a very controversial character due to his religion, profession and personal traits. Professionally Shylock lends money to people in debt, in order to gain interest and profit. Although, this is very much central to our modern way of life, in the Elizabethan period, money lending was not accepted as an acceptable profession. Throughout "The Merchant of Venice" Shylock is portrayed as menacing, inhumane and slightly eccentric, yet at times misunderstood and induces sympathy from the reader.
we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us,
the Christians for no reason except that he was a Jew and he did not
During this scene, when Antonio and Shylock appear before the court and Shylock is asked to bestow mercy upon Antonio, it is apparent that he cannot do so. He is so overwhelmed with negative emotion around Antonio, that his quote is a actually an elongated explanation of why he cannot put his visceral reaction to him aside and calmly explain or justify his hatred. The closest he comes to doing so is by personifying his rage into a "mistress of passion" who can toy with an individual's likes and dislikes. He is unable to analyze his emotional state any more that others are able to analyze their negative emotional reactions to certain animals or musical tones. His quote does express a range...
be lost at sea, so it looked as if Antonio would not be able to repay
Shylock as a Villian or Victim in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare The Merchant Of Venice is the story of Antonio, a merchant, borrowing money from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, in order to fund his best friend Bassanio’s romantic ambitions. Like the majority of the habitants of Venice, Antonio is Christian. At the time of the play, the sixteenth century, there was a huge abhorrence against those who were not Christian. As Antonio needed money quickly he had no alternative to borrowing from Shylock; Jewish moneylenders made profit from charging interests. Christians were resentful towards Jews as they were very successful with their businesses.
It is evident in both plays by William Shakespeare that ambition and pride seem to be the
things he has called him and for all the many times he has spat on him
"If you prick us do we not bleed? If you tickle us do we not laugh? If
‘In Belmont is a lady richly left, / And she is fair and, fairer than
flesh and blood, hates him so much that she robs him and runs away to
of why he hates Antonio is because he is a Christian. (I. iii. 43) This to the
The Trial Scene in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Written between 1596 and 1598 "The Merchant of Venice" is not one of. the most performed plays written by William Shakespeare and most productions often use modern times and dress. A modern day audience would be less sympathetic than the audience of that period towards the Jew, Shylock. The play is one of the sixteen comedy plays. The issues being raised in the play would have been understood by the audience.
William Shakespeare shows how two tradesmen can have completely different lives when others view them differently in the play The Merchant of Venice. In the play, Bassanio, Antonio’s friend, needs money to pursue his love. They seek a loan from Shylock, a Jewish moneylender in Antonio’s name. The contract is for three times the value of the bond in three months or else Shylock cuts off a pound of flesh from Antonio. While all this is happening, there are love plots going on. One of which is for Shylock’s daughter to elope with Lorenzo, a Christian. Later on, Antonio’s source of money, his ship, is reported sunken in the English Channel, dooming him to the loss of one pound of his flesh. There is a trial on the bond, and when it seems sure that Antonio will die, Portia, disguised as a doctor of laws legally gets Antonio out of the situation and Shylock recieves harsh penalties. Antonio and Shylock, two similar businessmen of Venice, are viewed differently and are treated oppositely to heighten the drama of the play and mold a more interesting plot.