"Shylock is arguably Shakespeare's most evil creation"
"Shylock is arguably Shakespeare's most evil creation"
In the light of this statement do you condemn or pity Shylock, comment on the dramatic effectiveness of this character.
Although there are various sub plots in the Merchant of Venice, Shylock plays a very central role, interacting with almost all of the other characters to some degree.
I believe that Shakespeare has carefully crafted the character of Shylock in great detail. He makes Shylock both a Jew and a money lender, both of these things were despised by many Christians at the time this was written. Shylock is introduced to the audience as a controversial character. All his traits and characteristics are very deliberate.
The character of Shylock is frequently used by Shakespeare to build sympathy from the audience, which he quickly removes again. This helps to keep the audience thinking about him and it helps to keep the audience interested in the plot.
Shylock first appears as a cautious business man who lets us know how badly he has been treated by Antonio, but we become aware that there is also professional rivalry between the two.
When we first hear of Jessica leaving, we are told by Solanio. The situation is bad for Shylock, he has lost his daughter, some money, some jewels and all to a Christian, we should feel a great deal of pity for Shylock at this point, but Shakespeare avoids this by not having Shylock present on stage at this point and by having Solanio make light of the situation, implying that his grief for his ducats may even surpass his grief for his daughter.
"My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!
Fled with a Christian! ...
This is a preview of the whole essay
When we first hear of Jessica leaving, we are told by Solanio. The situation is bad for Shylock, he has lost his daughter, some money, some jewels and all to a Christian, we should feel a great deal of pity for Shylock at this point, but Shakespeare avoids this by not having Shylock present on stage at this point and by having Solanio make light of the situation, implying that his grief for his ducats may even surpass his grief for his daughter.
"My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter!
Fled with a Christian! O my Christian ducats!
When Shylock does appear his passion has subdued and been overtaken by bitterness therefore are sympathies are reduced.
One of Shakespeare's best known speeches is Shylocks powerful speech after his daughter has abandoned him and unconfirmed news of Antonio's losses at sea are heard. He talks of all the times he feels he has been wronged by Antonio and states bluntly the reason for this is he is a Jew he goes on to say;
"Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands, organs,
Dimensions, senses, affections, passion? Fed with the
Same food, hurt with the same weapons, subject to
The same diseases, healed by the same means,
Warmed and cooled by the same winter and summer as a
Christian is? If you prick us, do we not bleed?
If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison
Us do we not die?"
These rhetorical questions asked of the audience while they require no answer it is almost impossible to disagree with anything said. Shakespeare uses this speech to give us something in common with shylock, to bond us to him to sympathise with him. Shylocks speech makes the plight of the Jews personal, he makes a direct comparison of Jews and Christians as people. This emotive speech builds up a lot of sympathy towards Shylock, the audience begin to feel sorry for him, but he then goes on to say;
"The villainy you teach me I will execute, and it
shall go hard but I will better the instruction."
This tirade shows Shylocks bitter, vengeful side again losing him much of the sympathy he has gained.
Before the trial the Duke describes Shylock as "an inhuman wretch." He shows no mercy despite many pleas for it.
"If every ducat in six thousand ducats
Were in six parts, and every part of a ducat,
I would not draw them. I would have my bond."
He reveals in his position of strength over Antonio. The image of shylock sharpening his knife on his shoe is a strong one which implies anticipation and enjoyment of what is to come.
It is ironic that shylocks position of strength lies in his insistence that the letter of the law be followed, "I stand here for law" as this is in fact what leads to his downfall.
I think I feel some pity for Shylock. Prejudice is more unacceptable today than in Shakespeare's time, therefore to dislike someone for their religion is also unacceptable
Shylock is often the victim, shunned for his religion and his profession and is the eventual loser in the deal with Antonio. The "heroes" of the play never repent their prejudice and indeed benefit from it. Shylock loses his bond, his ducats, his daughter, his birthright and his religion. The Merchant of Venice is considered to be a romantic comedy but for shylock it is a tragedy.
The complexity of this character makes him very real, no one is all good or all bad. Shylocks affection for his late wife is evident when he is distressed that Jessica has parted with her mothers ring, a thing most precious to Shylock, for a monkey! This shows a deep and tender side of Shylock, we wonder if it is the way life has treated him that has made him bitter, or if it is simply in his nature.
"It was my turquoise; I had it of Leah when I was a
bachelor: I would not have given it for a wilderness
Of monkey."
This shows he is upset about the ring leaving him feeling bitter about Jessica.
"I would my daughter were dead at my foot, and the
Jewels in hr ear! Would she be hearse at my foot, an the
ducats in her coffin!"
Shakespeare shows us on the one hand the prejudice which Shylock is faced with but on the other hand, we see how bitter and twisted he can be, his revenge knows no boundaries. Much of Shylocks behaviour merits condemnation, but we hold back because of the prejudice he has to endure.
Much of the sympathy built up in the play for Shylock is knocked down by his behaviour and attitude immediately after, but he stands alone and turns out to be his own worst enemy, so I pity him.