In relation to the play, The Merchant of Venice there has been much critical discussion of the character of Shylock, often revolving around whether or not he is a victim or a villain.
The Merchant of Venice
In relation to the play, 'The Merchant of Venice' there has been much critical discussion of the character of Shylock, often revolving around whether or not he is a victim or a villain. Some people argue that he is seen as a villain because of what he was planning to do to Antonio and also because his selfish, ruthless and what may seem evil characteristic throughout the play may cast him as a villain in the reader's mind. On the other hand, there is an alternative view. It can be shown that he is a victim as he has also suffered throughout the play.
'The Merchant of Venice' centres predominantly on Shylock. The action begins when Bassanio wants to borrow money from Antonio in order to travel to Belmont and meet Portia so he can win her hand in marriage. However, Antonio does not have the money to lend him as it is all tied up in goods on his ship. Antonio suggests that Bassanio should use his name to secure a loan. In Belmont, Portia and her maid Nerissa discuss the fact that Portia's father has left a will stating that suitors must choose from gold, silver and lead caskets to win her hand in marriage. Meanwhile, Bassanio and Antonio persuade Shylock to lend three thousand ducats to Bassanio for three months. Shylock agrees to lend the ducats to Bassanio, but if payment is not made in time then Shylock can claim one pound worth of Antonio's flesh as his bond. In Belmont Morocco picks a casket so he can marry Portia, but he picks the wrong casket and therefore he cannot marry Portia.
Jessica leaves her father, Shylock, and marries Lorenzo, also adapting the Christian faith. Bassanio, meanwhile, arrives in Belmont and he chooses the correct casket and wins Portia's hand in marriage. While this is happening Grazianio, Bassanio's friends falls in love with Nerissa (Portia's maid) and we here of bad news about Antonio's ships: they do not return on time and now Shylock demands his bond in court threatening to kill Antonio. Portia and Bassanio now get married and decide to go to Venice to save Antonio's life. Nerissa and Portia also go to court to help Antonio but no-one knows who they are because they are disguised as a male lawyer and his male Clark in court. Despite Portia's efforts, Shylock keeps arguing that he will not break his bond. However, Portia states he cannot in law take more then one pound of flesh and not shed a single drop of blood. This of course is impossible. Therefore, in the end Shylock loses his bond.
Shylock can be seen as an evil villain sometimes who is prejudiced against Antonio because of his religion. The words "I hate him for he is a Christian" portray Shylock's attitude towards Christians and reveal his hatred towards Antonio. This also reflects and is evidence of how much hatred there was between Christians and Jews. Furthermore, Shylock's attitude towards the animosity between Christians and Jews reflects the conflict during Shakespeare's era. More specifically, though, Shylock tells us that Antonio 'spat' on him and this show of contempt, motivated by Antonio's obvious prejudice towards Jews, clearly - in Shylock's ...
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Shylock can be seen as an evil villain sometimes who is prejudiced against Antonio because of his religion. The words "I hate him for he is a Christian" portray Shylock's attitude towards Christians and reveal his hatred towards Antonio. This also reflects and is evidence of how much hatred there was between Christians and Jews. Furthermore, Shylock's attitude towards the animosity between Christians and Jews reflects the conflict during Shakespeare's era. More specifically, though, Shylock tells us that Antonio 'spat' on him and this show of contempt, motivated by Antonio's obvious prejudice towards Jews, clearly - in Shylock's view- justifies his desire for revenge as it encapsulates the basis of his hatred for Antonio. We may regard this as Shylock pre-judging Antonio and therefore unjust, but it seems from Antonio's despicable treatment of him.
Further, in the play, there is evidence that Shylock has the attributes of a villain, such as when he is talking about his daughter, Jessica and his precious ducats:
"I would my daughter were dead daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear! Would she were hearsed at my foot and the ducats in her coffin!"
This shows that Shylock is very angry at his daughter as Jessica has run away with Lorenzo and taken her father's money. Furthermore, Lorenzo is a Christian which intensifies Shylock's anger and he is deeply annoyed at his daughter. Here it seems that Shylock despises Christians and only cares about his money, suggesting he loves money more than he loves his daughter. This makes him selfish, greedy and evil. Shylock's powerful words about his daughter illustrate him as a villain.
Clearly, Shylock may have said to been portrayed as a villain because he wants Antonio dead. He likes to see him suffer which reveals how much he dislikes him. "I'll plague him I'll torture him. I am glad of it". This illustrates to us how brutal Shylock can be. He wants Antonio killed in the most evil and brutal manner which reveals how much hatred he has towards him and how deep the need for revenge is. It suggests that he is an inhumane and evil man, confirming him a villain.
Shylock's own powerful words portray him as a villain. He states that Antonio is a fool and tries to make the Gaoler believe him in court and let him have his bond:
"Gaoler, look at him. Tell not of mercy. This is a fool that lent out money gratis Gaoler".
Shylock is bringing up the past to put his point across. He is looking for any excuses to put Antonio down. The evidence reveals again to the readers that he can't bear Antonio.
Another point which may convince us that Shylock is a villain is when he doesn't want to break his bond:
"By my soul I swear there is no power in the tongue of man to alter me. I stay here on my bond".
This reveals that he will not give up his bond for any-one, no matter what happens and he will keep his bond and tolerate no disagreements. However, we sense that Shylock is aware that he is in the wrong and has nothing to say except keeping to his bond. He is, in these urgent tones, trying to prove to the court that he is right. Shylock has no money to live on at this point but he is being arrogant and he does not care. He just wants Antonio dead and in his mind he wants his daughter back. Also he wants to accept Antonio's terms but he won't because of his reputation which he has to keep. When he realises that he cannot shed a drop of Antonio's blood, he is dumbstruck, as Portia observes:
"Why doth a Jew pause?"
Shylock's reaction is instant. He is almost beaten and so demands- "give me my principal and let me go". There is no actual remorse in him, only selfishness.
On the other hand, throughout the play, Shakespeare also portrays Shylock as a victim as well as a villain because spiteful words have been said directly to Shylock by Antonio and Antonio's friends. As he points out in act one, "You call me misbeliever, cut-throat, dog and spit upon my Jewish gabardine, and all for use of that which is mine own". These words clearly show Shylock being portrayed as a victim: We know that Shylock has been called cruel names for many years and not just once. Shylock is trying to reveal that he is being insulted by Antonio when he hasn't done anything wrong. While they call him these names they still expect him to lend them money, such is the hypocrisy of the Christen community.
Another point which reveals Shylock is a victim is when Shylock has lost his ducats and his daughter, Jessica. In act two, scene seven, Shylock cries about his daughter and his ducats. "My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter"; this emphasises how Shylock is feeling and reveals his broken spirit. He is feeling sorry for himself and we have sympathy for Shylock at this point. This illustrates that he has suffered greatly and has nothing left and we are drawn to feel sympathy for him in this.
Shylock is now shown as an innocent victim. He explains that he is a Jew and as a man, is just the same as a Christian. He is trying to explain that there is nothing different about him:
"I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses affections, passions..."
He is clarifying that he is a Jew and is proud of it but also that, as a Jew, he suffers pain and insult like any other man, regardless of religion. Shylock gives pride to his words because he wants others to feel sorry for him. During Shakespeare's era the law was very different, Jewish people had few rights and not much say in the world. For this reason Shylock is depicted as trying to persuade the audience and the Duke that he is right. Shakespeare is dramatising a powerful statement about religious prejudice and racial conflict.
In the courtroom, Portia is disguised as a Lawyer and saves Antonio's life. There Shylock may once again be seen as a victim.
"You take my house when you do take the prop that doth sustain my house".
Here Shylock states he has lost everything he owns and has no opportunity to find a new position, he is destitute. Shylock doesn't know what to do now; he feels trapped and does not have anything left. Shylock wants simply to take the money because he has lost his bond. However, he cannot take the money because he decided not to take it at the beginning. Christen law has defeated him. At this point shylock is deeply upset and disappointed: he is virtually crushed.
Shylock now has got nothing left and has been portrayed as a victim once again because Antonio suggests that he is now a Christian, as determined by the laws. Antonio quotes "he presently become a Christian". The law forces Shylock to convert to a Christian, at a time when Shylock is now vulnerable. At this point Shylock has no wealth and nothing to live on. He also does not have anything to keep him alive which makes it difficult for him. We begin to feel sorry for Shylock and have empathy towards him. What Antonio has said relates to his race which is unfair and would hurt shylock's feelings. He would rather die then live at this moment. All he can say is "I am content". In reality, he has lost everything and begs pathetically,
"I pray you, give me leave to go from hence, I am not well".
Once again this illustrates him as a victim and we can identify
with, in part, his pain.
In conclusion, I think Shylock has been seen as a victim because he has been discriminated against for being a Jew by Antonio and his friends. Also he has suffered abuse from them causing us to have sympathy for him. Shylock loses everything he has had, his wealth and his daughter, Jessica, which makes him suffer in sorrow. However, Shylock in addition is depicted as a villain at the beginning of the play because he was being clearly sly and deceitful and wanted Antonio dead. However, thorough analysis of the play has revealed that Shylock only wanted Antonio dead because Antonio mistreated him. Moreover, Shylock has even lost his pride to a certain extent as Antonio demands "he presently become a Christian". Shylock's daughter leaving him, too, has caused him sorrow and upset. To make the situation worse he has lost his money. Shylock has no option but to beg for Antonio's forgiveness because his other option is to die. Admittedly, Shylock to a certain extent can also be portrayed as a villain and there is a lot of evidence for this, but I think Shylock has suffered enough for his evil acts. Shylock seems to suffer more than anybody else and overall I would conclude that Shylock is a victim more than a villain.
