Another example of Shylock mistreating people concerns his daughter Jessica. She talks to Lancelot Gobbo about her life with her father (2:3:1-2), describing it as "Hell" living with Shylock.
Later in Scene 5, Lorenzo tells to Salarino and Gratiano that if Shylock is ever let into heaven " It will be for his gentle daughter's sake." (2:5:33-34), Shakespeare has purposely put the word gentle in the comment. He has done this to make it a play on words, we know mean gentle means kind, but also it has a deeper meaning as the word 'gentile', which means a non-Jewish person. What we dedce from this is that Jessica, being more like a Christian would enter heaven whereas her father, Shylock, would not.
Jessica then decides to elope with her secret lover Lorenzo, convert to Christianity, and leave her father, Shylock. When Shylock finds out that Jessica has run away he is ashamed and angry, not because Jessica has run away but because she has stolen all his money. Shylock has no concern for his daughter, but he is only concerned about his money Jessica has stolen.
In act three there is more verbal bullying but this time it is not racial. (3:1:17-18). Where Solanio refurs to Shylock as the devil.
Another point is when Shylock confronts Antonio and asks why he has treated him so badly in the past in the form of questions. This seems to suggest that Shylock is a victim, but in fact he is masking the real point entirely. Actually what Shylock is really saying is whatever you do I can do too. Shylock is now referring to all the times Antonio has mocked and insulted him about his religion. He is using this to justify taking revenge on Antonio "The villainy you teach, I will conduct." (3:1:56)!
Later on in Act 3 we see again the anger and frustration within Shylock. He say's "The curse has never fell upon our nation until now". He is saying this because something bad is happening to him personally.
When Shylock is speaking to another person he seens to purposely dominatesthe conversation in order to ensure the other person can't reply. When they do reply Shylock ignores them. The only time Shylock is willing to listen is when, for example Antonio is begging for something or when he has a misfortune (3:1:83-84).
Hatred towards Antonio is shown again, Antonio himself knows why Shylock hates him so much (3:3:21-24). That reason is that Antonio does not charge interest, but Shylock does. Antonio is helping people pay back Shylock so they can avoid paying interest. Without interest Shylock's business is in jeopardy.
Later on in Act 4, Shylock admits that he hates Antonio so much that he would rather have Antonio's flesh then his money when he doesn't answer Antonio's question about it (4:1:40-42).
Lastly Gratanio calls Shylock "bloody, starved and ravenous." This comment is one example of how other people view him.
As we can see, Shylock is seen as a villain by many people, but on the other hand Shylock is a victim as well. We can see this by examining and understanding the following evidence.
In Act One Shylock extends his friendship to Antonio, but Antonio rejects Shylocks offer (1:3:161), Christian people do not want to be friends with Shylock 'The Jew', and Shylock, as a Jew living in Venice is a victim of racist isolation.
Another point is that when Shylock tries to explain a point further by referring to the Bible to help Antonio understand, Antonio replies by saying "The devil can cite scriptures for his purpose. An evil soul producing holy witnesses. is like a villain with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart." (1:[1]:90-93), Antonio hear goes to far.
Shylock tell Antonio of all the times he has mistreated him and racially abused him (1:3:98-120). Shylock is a victim of long term, constant racial abuse.
Again Shylock is referred to as a "dog" and called a "misbeliever" by Antonio, Antonio called him this because Shylock doesn't believe in Christianity, and because of this he is evil (1:3:103-104). Also in these lines Antonio mentally bullies Shylock because he wears different clothes to Christians. In act two Lancelot reefers to Shylock as "master Jew" (2:2:1) instead of using his name. This shows that Christians look down of Jews as if they ore not of the same social class, like a "dog". When Lancelot decides to leave Shylock he calls him "a kind of devil" (2:2:18) and also says "For I am a Jew, if I serve the Jew any longer." (2:2:91), he uses racist abuse to describe living with Shylock.
Again Lancelot starts gossiping about Shylock by saying "...is the devil himself. Certainly the Jew is the very incarnation." (2:8:15-21) In act three, straight away solanio uses racist comments against Shylock (3:1:17-18) "Let me say 'amen' betimes, lest the devil cross my prayer, for here he comes in the likeness of a Jew."
Also Shylock confronts Antonio later and reminds him of all the times that Antonio has mistreated Shylock in the past, racially and mentally. Also he tells Antonio that Jews and Christians are the same. (3:1:42-53)
Shylock is hurt by Jessica when he hears that she has sold her mother's ring for a monkey (3:1:93-94). This ring had a lot of sentimental value to Shylock and Shylock says "I would have not given it for a wilderness of monkeys." (3:1:96-97)
Shylock thinks Tubal is just being helpful when he tells him about the ring, but actually he is taunting him by telling him about it.
As well as Tubal taunting Shylock, Salarino and Salanio also taunt Shylock co-incidently about his daughter. (3:1:19-25) At this part of the play Shylock is searching Venice for his daughter. Salarino and Salanio taunt Shylock about her where abouts.
In Act Four we can see another example of Shylock been abused, this time it is by Bassanio when he calls Shylock "Thou unfeeling man," (4:1:63). This is just one example of Shylock being abused throughout the play by a Christian. Antonio then says (4:1:80) shylocks heart is hard, but instead of just saying that, he refers to Shylocks heart as "His Jewish heart". This is unnecessary and inappropriate at the time.
Another point is when the Duke is talking to Antonio he calls Shylock "A stony Adversary, An inhuman wretch, incapable of pity, void and empty from any dram of mercy." (4:1:4-5), The Duke is biased against Shylock. straight away we can see that Shylock is not going to get a fair trial.
Again Shylock is abused, this time by Gratanio when he saySs "Infused itself in thee; for thy desires, Are wolfish, bloody, starved and ravenous." (4:1:128-138) Gratanio viciously insults Shylock even more, by as well as calling him a dog he is now took it further and called him a wolf.
Also in this section of the speech Gratanio also mentions that Shylock should be hanged on the gallows (4:1;134-135)
Lastly the Duke regards all non-Jewish people as the same, and requires a non-Jewish answer to a question he asks or a gentile answer (4:1:31-34).
As we can see there is not a convincing amount of evidence on one side to say that Shylock is either a villain or a victim. He remains a very compelling and complex character throughout the play and one suggestion is that Shakespeare used him to underline the hatred surounding the Jewish people at that time.
Since 'The Merchant of Venice' was written there has always been a great deal of controversy surrounding Shylock. He's portrayed to many as a villain who enjoys making misery for Christians who have abused and corrupted him in the past. I same stage versions he comes across in the play as a comical and harmful character who receives the downfall he is due.
However he is a family man who is godly and law abiding but who is driven to revenge by constant racial abuse and jealousy.
In my opinion, Shylock is partly victim and partly villain.
