“You call me misbeliever, cut-throat dog,
And spit upon my Jewish gaberdine.” (Line 108-110)
“You did that void your rheum upon my beard.” (Line 114)
In Shakespeare’s time this would have been accepted but I think this is a strong insight into Shylock as the victim. Antonio has treated him unfairly and then admits to Shylock that he is happy to do the same again and has no remorse.
“I am as like to call thee so again,
To spit on thee again, to spurn thee too.” (Line 127-128)
I find it intriguing that in this scene Antonio is asking Shylock to lend him money and yet his behaviour towards Shylock is intolerable. This shows firstly, Antonio’s cruel nature towards Shylock and also the view that Jew’s did not need to be treated with the same respect as everybody else.
Shylock’s relationship with his daughter Jessica is a very distant one. Jessica deceives Shylock when she runs away with Lorenzo and Launcelot Gobbo helps with her trickery. These are the two people in the play who you would expect to be the closest to Shylock. Launcelot Gobbo was Shylock’s servant but in changing his loyalties we see that Shylock is in fact a very susceptible character. Jessica’s plan to escape is quite selfish and presents Shylock as a weak, defenceless father. Essentially, in Act 2 Scene 5 Jessica and Launcelot Gobbo openly lie to Shylock. Gobbo is telling Jessica the plan of escape while Shylock overhears bits of it. When he asks what it is about Jessica just dismisses him.
“What says that fool of Hagar’s offspring? Ha?”
“His words were, “Farewell, mistress”; nothing else.” (Line 43-44)
This betrayal shows Shylock as a victim in his own family. He knows that Jessica and Launcelot Gobbo are planning something but he is helpless.
At the end of the court scene, Act 4 Scene 1, Shylock is deliberately victimised. Shakespeare shows him break down because of Antonio’s spite. Shylock’s wealth has been taken away from him and it is obvious that he is in a bad mental state but Antonio proceeds to take away his dignity.
“Two things provided more: that for his favour
He presently become a Christian;
The other, that he do record a gift,
Here in the court, of all he dies possessed
Unto his son Lorenzo and his daughter.” (Line 384-387)
This is taking away the two things that Shylock has left, his dignity and his religion. Antonio purposely taunts him with the fact that Jessica has run away and then heartlessly strips him of his faith. Shakespeare presents Shylock here as if he is too weak to protest.
“I pray you give me leave to go from hence;
I am not well; send the deed after me,
And I will sign it.” (Line 392-394)
The court scene shows different aspects of Shylock’s character. Shakespeare shows him as a victim at the end of the scene but at the beginning of the scene he is depicted as a villain. Shylock is offered twice the original amount of money but still refuses to accept the offer. He shows no mercy to Antonio and is intent on harming him. This extreme condition of revenge is a trait to be found in a villain. Even after Bassanio has begged Portia to forfeit the bond and Portia has asked Shylock to be merciful he still remains to be menacing and hostile and refuses to withdraw the bond.
“An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven –
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.” (Line 226-228)
“There is no power in the tongue of man
To alter me. I stay here on my bond.” (Line 239-240)
When Portia announces that Antonio must prepare to have a pound of flesh cut Shylock rejoices and Shakespeare shows this evil happiness by repeating the same words.
“O noble judge! O excellent young man!” (Line 243)
“Most rightful judge!” (Line 299)
Shylock was content with killing Antonio and was only stopped by the fact that Portia had found a loop hole in the bond. Shakespeare wants the audience to think that Portia has just thought of the “jot of blood” idea but it may be the case that she was knowingly waiting to trap Shylock in his own bond. This could be seen as a way of victimising him.
In Act 3 Scene 1 Shakespeare presents to the audience a ruthless and selfish side of Shylock. He tries to justify his revenge as “Christian example” and then is more worried about his wealth than his daughter. At first it seems as if he is truly worried about Jessica but he then explains the true reason that he wants his daughter back.
“I would my 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.” (Line 83-86)
Shakespeare shows the audience that Shylock is in fact a very cold-hearted man who values money more than his own daughter. Then in Act 3 Scene 2 Shylock is shown to be delighted because of the sinking of Antonio’s ships.
“I thank thee, good Tubal; good news, good news:
ha ha! heard in Genoa!” (Line 99-100)
Anti-Semitism is one of the main themes in the Merchant Of Venice and Shakespeare shows that it as an important part of the plot of the play. However, this is not the only religious hatred suffered. In Act 1 Scene 3 when Antonio enters Shylock’s first words to him are cruel and vindictive.
“How like a fawning publican he looks!
I hate him for he is Christian.” (Line 38-39)
Shylock’s hatred of Antonio is based on his religion. Shylock could therefore be called a hypocrite as he tells people not to judge him because he is a Jew. This action immediately arouses anger in the situation and affects the plot. Shylock can see that he is in control of the situation and so he can be as malicious as he wants. He starts to thrive in his power and uses the fact that Antonio wants to borrow money as an excuse to be callous.
The scenes in the Merchant Of Venice that portray Shylock as a villain are much more prominent and dramatic than the scenes that present Shylock as a victim. This may be why my first instinct was to say that Shylock was a villain. After looking more closely at the play, I can conclude that Shakespeare presents him as a villain but audiences of today see him as a victim. Audiences in Shakespeare’s time may have missed subtle things that Shakespeare wrote which could abbreviate Shylock as a victim.
