Theme Of Revenge In The Merchant Of Venice

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Recommended: Differences and similarities between Christianity and Judaism

The Jews in The Merchant of Venice are “the wealthy money lender Shylock, his daughter Jessica, and his wealthy friend Tubal. None are likeable. Jessica is disloyal and ruthless, stealing her father’s money and a ring her dead mother had given him. Tubal fans Shylock’s desire for revenge. As for Shylock himself, Shakespeare is most explicit in having him say: I hate him for he is a Christian; / But more for that in low simplicity / He lends our money gratis, and brings down / The rate of usance here with us in Venice” (Opie 1-2). These three Jews play a significant role in the play to help influence the idea of a Christian versus Jew conflict. I will focus more on Shylock and Jessica from The Merchant of Venice. “In contrast with the …show more content…

Articles tell the emotions of hatred that Shylock has for Christians; “Is Shylock acting the part of the cruel Jew because that is what he is, or because he has been mistreated so much that now he has become hardened or seeks revenge” (Wonnacott 7). Shylock, as described in this sentence, might be acting cruel because that is what he is, or because is it because he is being mistreated. I believe that Shylock is acting rude because he has been mistreated. There have been multiple causes for him to want to show revenge to the Christians, not only for taking away his religion, but also for his daughter who ran away to be with a Christian. Through the play, however, there are a few lines that Shylock speaks that relate to God creating everyone equal, the purpose behind Shakespeare writing this text was to put the emphasis on equality rights during that time. “Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions - fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to the same diseases, healed by the same means, warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a Christian is?” (Act 3;1, 49-53). This is an important quote to take from the play because Shakespeare is trying to get the readers, or an audience to understand that despite religion everyone is equal. We have the same organs, we live in the same places, we eat the same, we all get sick, and there are multiple other ways that make everyone

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