Shylock, a character in the play The Merchant Of Venice by William Shakespeare is a character of many emotions. Throughout the whole story Shylock is bitter towards all of the other characters. However, this spite and hatred is not undeserving, the other characters ridicule him without a good motive. Shylock puts himself in a position where he is able to be the antagonist and the protagonist of the situation throughout the whole story. By putting himself in this position he causes the other characters, specifically Antonio and Bassanio, even more trouble than they had before. Shylocks goal is not for him to succeed but for every other person around him to make their own demise. Shylock sets himself up to be both the antagonist and the protagonist through causing people to react to his very selfish actions, which ultimately cause his downfall.
Shylock, without even realizing what he is doing makes himself the antagonist and the protagonist by using his wealth. He is the savior of the whole play when he gives Bassanio a loan of three thousand ducats so he can have the opportunity to marry the stunning princess Portia. The agreement the men come to if the debt is not repaid is “let the forfeit be nominated for an equal pound of your fair flesh” (Shakespeare, I, iii,). At this point in time shylock controls the situation of most every key character in the play with the exception of Portia. Although Antonio and Bassanio do not like the agreement because they are nearly positive that Antonio will not pay they do not have a choice to accept these terms. Also, at the end of the play, Shylock controls every main character when they are in the courthouse. He is planning to kill Antonio if Antonio’s friends make even the simplest of mista...
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...ingly leaves the Christians alone. When Shylock overcomplicates thing he ruins every chance that he has to be successful by being selfish.
Although he is the character subject to the most internal and external issues, Shylock does not make any of his bad situations better for himself. First Shylock could have tried to make friends with the Christians but instead he retaliates to their comments and they end up being in a sort of religious war. Next when Shylock loses his daughter Jessica he does not try to find her but wishes she would go to hell for the pain she has caused him. He has many opportunities to make the most of the situations he is given but, shylock being the self-centered man he is, hurts himself in a poorly thought out plan to benefit him self. The reason Shylock becomes the sad, lonely old man that he is cannot be blamed on any one but himself.
One way that Shylock is classified as the other was by being stripped of his name. Throughout the play, Shylock was very seldom referred to by name; in the trial scene, the Duke identifies him by name twice, and Portia does so once. During the rest of the play, Shylock is usually referred to as "the Jew", "dog Jew" (II, viii, 14), and "currish Jew" (IV, i, 292)
When the play was written the audience would have immediately disliked Shylock on the basis of his religion and occupation, however nowadays when religious prejudice is not nearly as strong we still find him an unpleasant character. One of the main things which makes him seem unpleasant is his greed and love of money. His first words are actually “Three thousand ducats; well”, perhaps a method of Shakespeare’s to show the audience immediately what is most important to Shylock. Later on in the first scene, when Antonio enters to talk to him about lending Bassanio money Shylock says to himself;
While engendering the bond in the inciting force of the play, Antonio says to Shylock – the antagonist – “Content in faith. I’ll seal to such a bond, / And say there is much kindness in the Jew” (1.3.149-150) which reveals how Antonio sees such positive terms in the deal. Although the terms may seem simples to follow, Antonio will still face the consequences of putting his life on the line for his dear friend, Bassanio. This bond portion of the play establishes relationships through the rivals and also gives background information about characters, which show the elements of dramatic significance. Subsequently, Shylock’s possessions are at stake during their trial after Antonio fails to pay him back because his argosies were abolished. Shylock’s punishment for attempting to
The Merchant of Venice is a play that deals with an assortment of issues that range from politics to racial views of the Jewish people. An embodiment of these two issues can be best attributed to the character of Shylock. In a 2004 production of The Merchant of Venice, by Michael Radford, we see the character of Shylock is portrayed in a different light than that of Shakespeare's 1594 villainous Jew. Both productions pose a series of questions in comparison. An understanding of the era that these plays were written in and the audience’s perception of the production attribute greatly to a true analysis. Another aspect of these productions asks who Shylock was to Shakespeare and who he has developed into for Al Pacino and Michael Radford.
In many plays there are two types of characters, good and evil. Then there are those few who could be on either side of the fence. The character could have both good and evil aspects, creating a complex personality. In The Merchant of Venice, by William Shakespeare, there is an example of one of those characters. Shylock could be one of the most controversial characters ever created. Some people believe he is a victim, while others say he is a villain.
Portia then goes onto speak about why Shylock could show mercy and for what reason but with0out pressuring him into this act. He declines the offer. He states that he "Shylock: . . . I crave the law
Shylock in William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice Shylock has been very badly treated by certain Christians and he
Shylock is an unsettling character; his heartfelt speeches make it hard for me to label him as a natural villain, on the other hand Shylock’s cold attempt at revenge by murdering his persecutor, Antonio, prevents me from viewing him in a positive light. For moments, Shakespeare offers us glimpses of an unmistakably human Shylock but he often steers me against him as well, portraying him as a cruel, bitter figure.
“I am a jew?”-Shylock the merchant. The Merchant of venice is a play from William Shakespeare, in which a merchant called Antonio gets a loan from Shylock to pay for Bassanio's trip. Through a string of unfortunate events lead to a angry Shylock nearly killing Antonio, but that is narrowly averted. Shylock in the play “The Merchant of Venice” can be seen as a victim due to the hostile prejudice towards his kind, unfair treatment of him, and the random events that cause him misery.
Antonio and Shylock are both successful entrepreneurs in Venice but they both have different attitudes and experiences. When Antonio is asking Shylock for the loan he says, “Within these two months – that’s a month before this bond expires – I do expect, return of thrice times the value of this bond.” (1.3.169-170). Antonio and Shylock both are well off and successful businessmen. Antonio, being a man who is treats everyone nicely, lends his good name to Bassanio to woo Portia. Shylock on the other hand, could never do that and is a very greedy man who asks for three times the value of the loan. Also, Antonio is a risk taker and thinks things will always go the right way for him and his success will continue, which is shown when he accepts the high interest rate and the bizarre payment if the money isn’t received. Shylock handles his business straightforward and charges interest because it is his job, although being a very high amount and if it isn’t carried out, Shylock gets his payment of one pound of flesh. Shylock is depicted as the greedy businessman while Antonio is the nice man who tries his luck.
Antonio recognizes the futility of opposing Shylock's passion with reason. "He seems the depository of the vengeance of his race" (Goddard 11). Antonio consequently appears as a charitable Christian who lends money freely, in contrast to the miserly an...
The Duke then tries to change the tone of the conversation by appealing to the small amount of humanity that Shylock has left. His words are in stark contrast to the true nature of Shylock. The Duke makes a desperate plea by saying. But his belief lacks a sense of reality, as Shylock has repeatedly suggested that he wants nothing more than a pound of Antonio’s flesh, and has also never shown any sign of mercy or forgiveness. In this speech, the Duke tries relentlessly to persuade Shylock himself that these feelings do in fact exist, and Shylock should, therefore, act reasonably in his decision of whether or not to seek the proper forfeiture of his bond. The Duke also asks Shylock to step out of the stereotype of the alienated Jew. He begs: Shylock’s response to this request falls directly in line with Antonio’s notion of his character. Shylock states:. In asking for his “due,” Shylock implies that there is justice to be handed down here, not realizing or not caring about the clear injustice of taking a bout of...
All of us who have read this play please do not continue to praise Antonio and accuse Shylock. Our society needs to develop noble sentiment, moreover needs our sympathy and inspiration to the weak. It is shameful to look on their pitiful destiny but not to stretch out aids, or even exert serious persecution to them. This can only arouse revolt from the weak. Everybody are born equal, human value and dignity overweight everything, why not everyone of us treat each other with equality, peaceful heart and mutual respect as well as show our love?
During the discussion of the bond, Shylock says to Antonio “ I would be friends with you and have your love” and “this kindness will I show”. He pretends to be Antonio’s friend, but he has an ulterior motive, which is to take a pound of Antonio’s flesh from whatever part of his body he pleases. The underlying meaning is to kill him, and thus, although Shylock seems good-hearted, he is in truth, harbouring deceit. Shylock is manipulative and crafty as he tries to put up a show to deceive Antonio. He sounds generous about offering the three thousand ducats without “usance for my moneys”, thus winning Antonio’s trust. This was done to divert Antonio’s attention from his actual intentions. However, Shylock proposes a flesh bond as a “merry sport”, in substitution for not charging interest. The bond, although an unusual forfeit, is a serious matter, because Antonio may be killed from accepting its terms and conditions. Shylock is a brilliant strategist, and even the perceptive businessman, Antonio, has fallen for it. Shylock is a vindictive and unforgiving man, whose hatred for Christians has driven him to want to kill Antonio. We know that Shylock has suffered emotionally and physically because of how Antonio has kicked, spat and rated him many a times. Thus he deserves some of our pity, as taking revenge on your enemy is only natural.
Shylock lends Antonio a sum of money, that Antonio intends to pay back when his merchant ships arrive in Venice, one month before the debt would be forfeited. When Bassarnio arranges the sum of money, Shylock befriends them, only to stand aside and utter to him self, "I hate him for he is a Christian... If I catch him once upon the hip, I will feed my ancient grudge I bear him," Act 1, Scene 3. Shortly after saying, "But ships are but boards, sailors but men... the perils of waters, winds, and rocks...Three thousand ducats; I think I may take his bond." Shylock is setting his trap here. Shylocks terms of the debt are a pound of Antonios flesh from closets his heart if it be forfeited.