Shylock, addressing the audience about Antonio, says “I will feed fat the ancient grudge I bear him”. Here he is saying that he has an old rivalry with Antonio and wants to gain revenge for what has happened in past encounters between the two. He doesn’t go into much detail about what has happened previously but does conclude by saying “Cursèd be my tribe if I forgive him”. He says he will never forgive Antonio no matter what will transpire between them.
When agreeing the terms of the contract for the borrowing of the money Antonio speaks “Shylock albeit I neither lend nor borrow by taking nor by giving of excess”. Here he is saying that normally he doesn’t pay nor receive interest but as he is desperate for the money he will this time. Antonio feels that charging interest is immoral but Shylock is quick to reply. “The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose” He says that the devil can justify his actions from the bible. This shows that Shylock is an intelligent man with an understanding of many things. His response is also rapid, which shows he is able to think quickly.
Shylock takes a while contemplating whether or not to lend the money to Antonio. Antonio tells him not to lend the money to his friend “but lend it rather to thine enemy”. He is not asking for Shylock’s friendship but come to him purely with business in mind. Shylock needs a clause in the contract to assure him compensation if Antonio is unable to pay him back. Shylock is unable to think of one so jokingly says that if Antonio doesn’t return the loan he will take “an equal pound of your fair flesh to be cut off and taken in what part of the body pleaseth me”. Shylock says this wittingly, with no intention of taking Antonio’s flesh and Antonio keeps reassuring Shylock he will definitely receive the money on the agreed date. I feel that Antonio is rather naïve to agree to this stipulation, as he knows Shylock loathes him.
Throughout the play we see characters speaking of Shylock sardonically. Lancelot, Shylock’s houseboy, says Shylock is a “fiend” and “the devil himself”. Referring to another as the devil is an obvious sign of hatred and the devil is the most evil thing known to man so Shylock must be very villainous. Another example of Lancelot’s insolence is exposed when asked to give Shylock a present. “My master’s a very Jew, Give him a present? Give him a halter!” He says he would rather give Shylock, the devil, an implement used for strangling than a present; he would be exultant with the death of Shylock. Lancelot is very much victimising Shylock.
Shylock’s wife, Leah, has died before the play begins. He is very much in love and adoration of her. You really see his devotion to her when he talks about the ring she gave him before they were married. Shylock says he would not give it up for “a wilderness of monkeys”. He is saying that he would not give it up for all the riches of the world. This shows that he is not materialistic and does have a heart.
Shylock and Leah had a daughter, Jessica, who lives with Shylock at the beginning of the play. She doesn’t like or respect her father, however. She tells others “our house is hell”. It seems that like Lancelot she feels that her father has somewhat of a resemblance to the devil. Jessica falls in love with a Christian and decides to elope with him. This brings great shame on Shylock as she has betrayed him and not married a Jewish boy. Jessica shows nothing but odium to Shylock saying “But though I am a daughter to his blood, I am not to his manners”. She thinks her father is sinful and his actions are immoral. When Jessica is eloping she gives instructions to Lancelot to help her escape without Shylock’s knowledge or intervention. Lancelot tells us she has taken “gold and jewels”. These are Shylock’s possessions, which she has stolen from him. Among the jewellery taken is the ring Leah gave Shylock.
William Shakespeare made a very interesting decision by omitting the scene in which Shylock discovers that Jessica has left along with a vast amount of his wealth. Instead he has put in a scene in which the audience find out his reaction via a conversation between Salerino and Salanio. This account of what happened is unreliable as it is told by two prejudice men. Also, the scene was left out to make sure the audience do not feel pity and sympathy for Shylock. Salerino and Salanio both laugh at Shylock’s misfortune saying “my daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter…my ducats and my daughter!” mockingly. They claim he cares more that the money is gone compared with Jessica. There is a lot of laughter in this scene as Shylock is being victimised by other characters.
Shylock’s wrath is demonstrated in Act III, Scene iii. He says that Jessica’s treachery “will feed my revenge.” Shylock speaks of Antonio with despise “he hath disgraced
me…laughed at my losses… scorned my nation”. It is obvious that Shylock will take out his anger on Antonio, as he has failed to pay him back. Shylock’s rage is further publicized when he questions why Jews are treated differently to Christians. “Hath not a Jew hands, organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions?” He says that they are the same as Christians physically and emotionally. “If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die?” Shylock is outraged his people are treated differently as they are part of the common humanity. Shakespeare gives Shylock a monologue here and what he says is a clear indication that he is a victim to the scornfulness of other Venetians. It is not common to let the villain of the play speak out to the audience with such a strong case of being tyrannized.
However as Shylock continues his speech his iniquitous side shows more. He warns the audience of Antonio’s fate by telling us “The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it shall go hard but I will better the instruction”. He claims that when a Jew commits an act of misconduct he is punished severely so he will take the Christian example and carry it out upon them. His will be more austere than what he has ever seen a Christian do to a Jew, though. This speech shows Shylock justifying the revenge he is seeking, a very despicable yet understandable thing to do.
Shylock is not happy with Jessica and in fact wants her to suffer what she has done to him. The worst thing she did was stealing his precious ring and he angrily shouts out “it was my turquoise”. It is the only physical object we know he has to remind him of his departed wife Leah. This causes him to become angrier and Shylock says “I will have the heart of him if he forfeit”. If Antonio is unable to repay Shylock then a pound of flesh close to the heart will be taken.
When the court scene begins Shylock addresses the Duke by saying “tell me not of mercy”. He knows that what he wants is immoral but he doesn’t care as it is part of the contract Antonio agreed to. It must be noted that the Duke is a good acquaintance of Antonio and will dislike Shylock, as he is a Jew. The Christians in court refer to Shylock simply as “the Jew”. The adjectives they used to describe him are “stony, cold and inhuman”. This is pure prejudice and shows Shylock stands a real challenge if he is to win.
Shylock stands in court sharpening his knife, ready to take his pound of flesh from Antonio. Balthasar, Portia in disguise, is acting as Antonio’s lawyer. She asks Shylock why he doesn’t have a doctor present. He replies by saying there is no mentioning of this in the agreed bond so he is not obliged to have one present. Portia then understands that Shylock is cunningly doing anything that is agreed in the bond and what is not mentioned is not done. She then tells Shylock that he is unable to shed a drop of blood, as it is not in the bond. Shylock eventually surrenders as he knows that the Christians will show no mercy upon him if he does decide to take Antonio’s flesh. Portia goes on to say Shylock will not receive a penny as he refused it earlier and instead will be stripped of all of his land and wealth. Shylock is being victimised by the people of the courts here. Antonio shows mercy towards Shylock and lets him keep half of his wealth and giving the rest to Jessica, providing he becomes a Jew. This is by no means mercy as Antonio knows how much worse this is for Shylock compared with being poor. Shylock is forced to agree but is far from content with the outcome of the trial.
In conclusion, Shylock is definitely intended to be William Shakespeare’s villain. He is a vengeful character whose is vindictive towards everyone else, in particular Antonio and Jessica, his own daughter. However, Shylock is victimised by many unfairly. This is mainly due to the fact that he is a Jew. Shylock possesses many stereotypical characteristics for a villain, such as being evil and vengeful but unlike most villains he does not step outside the law. The only reason he wants to kill Antonio is because he could legally. Through Shylock, Shakespeare explores the way in which the line between the oppressed and the oppressor can become blurred. It seems to me that when Shylock is villainous when becomes victimised; when Shylock is shown as a victim it results in him becoming villainous.
