How does Shakespeare present Shylock in "the Merchant of Venice" with particular focus n Act 3, scene 1?

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Sophie Maple 10D miss mason

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How does Shakespeare present Shylock in “the Merchant of Venice” with particular focus n Act 3, scene 1?

During Shakespeare’s day, people’s attitude towards Jews was extremely different from today; there were not that many Jews in Shakespeare’s day. In 1272, Edward I had banished all Jews from England. Any Jews in London could practice their religion but only in private. Furthermore, the prejudice against Jews was fulfilled by rumours of Jews who lived in a distant place all ate Christian babies. The only Jew that was known was a Portuguese Jew called Rodrigo Lopez who was wrongly accused of plotting to poison queen Elizabeth II. In literature and drama at the time, Jews were despised are wore red curly wigs and bulbous noses, consequently an audience in Shakespeare’s day would hold an inbuilt prejudice towards them. A usurer was regarded as a sin according to the bible. The character shylock was a Jew and also a usurer for that reason he was regarded as a sinner. A usurer was to lend money when asked, then to ask for it backs also gaining a little bit more. The English nobles were used to living an extravagant life, to sustain this they would have to borrow money, this resulted in the nobles being scared of the usurer as they could take away their life style. In Shakespeare's time money lending was regarded as being friendly. Friendship was regarded as important renaissance quality; you lend money as a friend not to gain a profit. In Shakespeare's day Shylock was not only hated because he was a Jew but also because of being a usurer. The audience are first introduced to Shylock in the middle of a conversation, his entrance is delayed until the third scene, he is introduced after Antonio and Portia, Shakespeare could therefore imply that Shylock is not worth the audience’s consideration. Linguistically Shylock uses repetitive language, he repeats himself and the words of Bassanio “ Three thousand ducats for three months, well”

He speaks in prose unlike Antonio who speaks in verse and has figurative language. “ A stage when everyman may play his part” (act 1 scene 1 line 1) Shakespeare therefore might be implying that Shylock lacks imagination, Shylock seems to be obsessed with money and judges Antonio to be a good man, but not because of his human qualities but because of his wealth. However Shakespeare allows Shylock to justify his usurer by means of a bible story. Shylock lists the ways that Antonio has treated him, that Antonio has “hated him”, “spat on his Jewish gabardine” called him a “misbeliever” a “cut throat dog.” These accumulations of insults evoke sympathy, but then Shylock expresses a desire for revenge from the outer and is presented as to be full of hate, he is presented this way by saying such things as “ I hate him for he is a Christian” this remark would therefore crush any chance of sympathy Shylock was going to get. When Shylocks bond is finally outlined if Antonio cannot repay his debt shylock will cut one pound of flesh from his body. The audience wouldn’t react in a manner, which would not advantage Shylock; this would make Shylock out to be a bad person.

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In looking at the relationship between  and , we are again forced to walk a fine line between sympathizing with and despising Shylock. For all intents and purposes, the play should show how Shylock’s mistreatment by his own daughter as richly deserved. After all, he is spiteful, petty, and mean, and in most of his evil moments, it is hard to imagine why Jessica should stay. At other times, however, Jessica’s escape seems like another cruel circumstance inflicted on Shylock, and her behaviour offstage borders on heartless. Shylock is never more sympathetic than when he bemoans the fact that Jessica ...

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