Shylock, Victim or Villain?

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Shylock, Victim or Villain?

by Tom Durkin

A happy conclusion for the leading characters is essential for a romantic comedy such as The Merchant of Venice. However, one very important character is left out of the general rejoicing in Act 5. Shylock has been defeated in his bond, robbed of his ducats, and deserted by his daughter; he is even compelled to give up his religion, and become one of the Christians he so much hates. Does he deserve this fate? Is The Merchant of Venice a comedy for all the other characters, but a tragedy for Shylock? In my essay, I am going to attempt to answer the question 'Shylock victim or villain?' however undergoing such a task will not be easy as there have been many conflicting views on the portrayal of Shylock ever since the debut performance at the Globe theatre in Stratford, ranging for the villain to more modern interpretations of a victim.

ACT I

Bassanio puts when we first meet shylock the proposal for a loan forward for 3000 ducats. Shylock wisely, carefully considers this offer knowing perfectly well that all of Antonio's assets are engaged in foreign dealings putting Antonio's wealth at risk he even suggest that the loan of 3000 ducats through a friend is foolish thing to do. Antonio then appears beginning Shylock on a deep description about Antonio as a religious and business fraud showing for the first time his deep-seated hatred of the Christians and all their business.

However, it seems for shylock that business rivalry takes precedence to religious difference and when he is asked to dinner he replies that he will talk, trade and walk Christians but will have nothing to do with them when it comes to dining. Again, Shylock thinks cautiously about the loan asking them why he should when he has been insulted, spat on and even kicked when out on the streets of Venice, in reply to this Antonio affirms the fact that he will not stop tormenting Shylock and will not pay any kind of interest on the loan.
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Eventually a deal is decided that if Antonio does not pay back the loan in three months Shylock is entitled to a pound of his flesh.

ACT II

The beginning of act two scene 2 opens with Lancelot Gobbo using a familiar misuse of the English language describing his master as a 'fiend'. He does this because of the way Shylock treats him first tempting him by calling him "Good Lancelot" only to assign him an impossible, boring or highly tedious tasks also, it is clear from the description in lines 95-96 about his gaunt ...

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