Shylock hated Antonio because of his faith. We can see where this is evident when shylock declines an invitation to dinner, “I hate him for he is a Christian.” Also, he just doesn’t have hatred him for this reason. Shylock like many other Jews was a usurer although in this Venetian period Jews could only accumulate money this way. Shylock lent money but, with high interest rates on the other hand however, Antonio lent money with no interest causing shylock to lose business.
We can see shylocks further dislike towards Antonio and Christians because they helped his daughter run away. His daughter also stole many precious jewels and thousands of ducats from him. Shylock shows more consideration for his wealth rather than the well-being of his daughter Jessica. “And the jewels, two stones, two rich and precious stones, Stol’n by my daughter! Justice! Find the girl! When his daughter left him he was only upset that she stole his money and his precious gems. “I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the jewels in her ear.” Shylock would not care if his daughter was dead and laying in front of him as long as she still had the ducats and the jewels in her possession. From this we can see that shylock cares more about his wealth rather than his love and affection towards his daughter. In this effect shylock is wise in his wealth but lacks to show feelings and love for Jessica.
Shylock, the Jew, is portrayed as a fiend who wants revenge against a Christian. Shylock wants a piece of Antonio’s flesh due to a forfeited bond. Bassanio, Antonio’s friend offers to pay off the debt and even too give extra money on top. Shylock refuses and poses the question to Bassanio; he asks whether he would free his slaves and Bassanio says no explaining they are his. Shylock reaffirms this by saying he wants his flesh, he bound to have a pound of his flesh and wants it. “You will answer ‘The slaves are ours’. So do I answer you. The pound of flesh which I demand of him is clearly bought. Tis mine, and I will have it”. Bassanio offers shylock six thousand ducats, “For thy three thousand ducats here is six.” Shylock does not take his offer into consideration and simply wants to show Antonio his malice and how unsympathetic he is. This is the quality of his character. Throughout the play shylock is only referred to by name thre times and is often modified with derogatory terms such as, “dog jew” and “currish jew”. He is dehumanised and his religious identity ignored.
Shakespeare’s book is defiantly anti-semitic and written for an Elizabethan audience where anti-smitism was widespread. Shakespeare made his play anti-semitic because in this time no one really cared about jews. Jews were treated harshly and differently from Christians. Rules for Christians and jews were not the same. Jews were harassed all through Venetian history and made scapegoats because jews were made money lenders and excluded from many things. Often jews were forced to convert or, leave the country.
Shakespeare created shylock against a cultural and historical backdrop that was intensely hostile to jews. Given this social context and historical tradition, it is not unanticipated that some antagonism should appear in Shakespeare’s work. He was a commercial writer and needed to contemplate public conventions.
2) Witty, beautiful and wealthy, Portia embodies the virtues that are typical of shakespeare’s heroines- it does not surprise that she emerges as the solution to shylock’s malice. At the beginning of the play we don’t see her initiative for resorcefulness, as she is almost a prisoner showing she is constrained and almost dictated in her marriage by her dead father but, has not gone against his will. During the trial portia prevails over shylock by setting more rigid standard than shylock by, agreeing that his contact entitles him to a pound of flesh however, not allowing any loss of blood. This shows anyone could bend the rules but, her effectiveness and intellectuality allows her to make the law work for her. Here we can see how much power Portia had to use at no expense whilst she was dressed as a man and how society’s attitude towards women, and jews were at the time. Also, we can see the similarities between shylock and Portia where shylock is fully aware of Venetian law, “I stand here for law” and how he is abiding by it. However, Portia arises to show her intellect by putting shylock into a predicament. These two characters also have great wealth and are both mindful of it but ironically a bond of money being shylock’s downfall whereby, he is forced to convert to Christ; this is where we see the nature of anti-semitism. We know both characters experience strong feelings. Shylock shows his consideration for his daughter in act2 scene5 also we know of portia’s feelings towards Bassanio as she calls for music to be played which creates atmosphere and sets the mood for Bassanio’s decision showing how much consideration she has for him.
