Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice

Shakespeare's Presentation of Shylock in the Merchant of Venice

In the Merchant of Venice, Shylock is continually involved in the bond

plot. This plot is probably the most intense story-line in this

Shakespeare play. Bassanio borrows money from Shylock in Antonio's

name in order to impress Portia, however after a tragic incident

involving all of Antonio's ships crashing; the money has failed to be

returned. According to their bargain Antonio must now give Shylock a

pound of his flesh. Shakespeare uses Shylock is this play in order to

provoke feelings of sympathy but also of hatred towards the villain in

this play- the Jew.

However you can't help but feel compassion for his situation as he is

always going to be treated as a miscreant. Shylock is demonstrated as

an Elizabethan caricature of a Jew and is therefore treated as one. He

has a hatred of Christians and lends money out of interest (this is

something that Elizabethans had unacceptable views on). Shylock in

this play does suffer wrongs and has some valid points on Christian

failings but he will always be seen as the rogue because of his

constant greed and hatred towards Antonio- one of the most popular

members of the play because of his generosity and affection.

In Act 1 Scene 3 we meet Shylock for the first time, throughout the

play there are times when we feel understanding for Shylock, however

this is not one of them. The most obvious observation of this scene is

the hatred of Antonio and dislike of Shylock. Shylock summarises his

approach to Christians when he explains what he will do with

Christians and what he won't ('I will buy with you…I will not eat with

you')....

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...we not bleed?' However, essentially audience compassion is turned

away from Shylock by his hatred of Antonio, to the extent of murder

and the ruthless pursuit of profit. The Elizabethan audience would

have seen him as a stereotypical monster of greed and in the

nineteenth century there was a tradition of presenting him as a

villain, followed by another tradition of Shylock as a noble victim.

Shakespeare is, however, more balanced and subtle than any of these.

Shakespeare uses situations to provoke feelings of condolence towards

Shylock because he is the victim of Christian hate (which proves to be

very non-Christian). Nevertheless Shylock will always be the villain

of the play as he is in contrast to Antonio and surely no victim would

seek death of any fellow human being or care only for his money and

not his daughter.