Whether Shylock is a villan or victim has been disputed for centuries and many people have different opinions so there is no clear answer however Shylocks first line in the play is “Three thousand ducats”. This can be seen in two ways, as a man making a living at one of the very few occupations he was allowed to do because he is a Jew, or a greedy man. I think he fits the greedy character more.
The audience sympathises with shylock (and understandably so) at various points in the play, in act 1 scene 3 he is without a doubt the victim of outrageous Christian actions: “You Spat on me…” “Called Me Cut throat dog..” Clearly The Christians in general and Antonio in particular showed him to be inhuman. After all he was only participating in the only career available to him.
Shylock’s first words in the play is "3000 ducats." This Shows him to be greedy, even though this the only career he can pursue which he has the right to pursue. Shakespeare trys to make him out as a “greedy Jew. The villain side of Shylock strikes again in the beginning of act 1 scene 3 as he deviously makes Antonio and Bassanio wait longer. Shylock pretends to have forgot the amount they wanted to borrow, he does this because he likes to be in control of the situation. He likes that Antonio is asking him for help and we wants to use this to his advantage.
In Act 4, scene 1 the trial scene Shakespeare portrays shylock as a villain when Shylock says "I crave the law." Shylock believes the law is on his side and refuses to show mercy. Antonio is ready and is refused that a surgeon be present to stop the bleeding otherwise Antonio would probably die, because as shylock says "Tis not in the bond" which just shows how determined shylock is to get his bond which in time, will be the very thing that destroys him.
Shylock is left alone with no family, as Jessica, his daughter, elopes with Lorenzo, a friend of Bassanios. Shylock earns pity from the audience when he tells Bassanio that, “My daughter is my flesh and blood”, meaning that with her gone it is as if a part of him has been taken too. But he is made out as a villain when he screams in rage showing his emotions and strong views “My daughter! O my ducats! O my daughter! Fled with a Christian! Only Christian ducats” This shows his hate for Christians, that his property has more value to him than his daughters life.
He is shown as a villain when he lends money to bassanio and demands that if Antonio doesn’t pay back the loan in time then shylock is allowed to take a pound of his flesh. But at the same time he is shown as a victim when we learn that Antonio spits on shylock, ridicules him in public and shylock stills
In Act three, Scene Five Shakespeare shows him as a victim. “What is his reason? I am a Jew. Hath not a Jew eyes? Hath not a Jew hands organs, dimensions, senses, affections, passions fed with the same food, hurt with the same weapons” I think that Shylock is trying to say that we are all the same as one another, but just have different religions in that speech.
Antonio has gone bankrupt, as all his wealth was invested in his ships which have been sunk out at sea. Shylocks demands his rightful pound of flesh under Venetian law. Shylock is represented as a villain, in the court scene in Act Four, Scene One. The court scene is Shylocks only chance for some justice, if not in the bond then as a way of revenge for how he has been treated all his life. The court is very one sided from the minute Shylock is ordered in by the judge. “Go on, and call the Jew into the court” This shows the judge as being biased against Jews and Shylock, even before they start. It is obvious that this is not going to be a fair trial and shylock cannot win because he is being judged in a Christian court, not a court of law.
Shylock wants his form of justice in his bond he made with Antonio, who is known as the merchant of Venice, which is where the title of the play comes from. Shylock lent Bassanio three thousand ducats which was secured by Antonio .The bond was that a pound of flesh could be taken if the money was not paid. Antonio assumed this was a sure thing that his ships carrying goods would come into port with valuable goods and he would have more than enough money to clear the loan with shylock.
During Act 4, Scene 1, the trial Shylock loses the sympathy of the audience, by the way he is acts. He takes out his blade and starts sharpening it showing that he will not show mercy. He is ready to cut into Antonio’s flesh when Portia stops him (discised as a lawyer) on a point of law.
Portia reveals that there is a flaw in the bond. Shylock is allowed his pound of flesh but not a drop of blood, which would surely come if he enters his skin. “If thou doest shed one drop of Christian blood, thy lands and goods are, by the laws of Venice, confiscated unto the state of Venice”. The bond that Shylock had created has ruined his plan for revenge. The one thing that Shylock cares for more than anything will now be taken from him if he takes his pound of flesh.
The tables are now turned, with Venetian law saying that a penalty must be paid by an alien attempting to murder a Venetian. Still Shylock is classed as an alien in his home because he is a Jew. Shylocks possessions are confiscated because of the attempted murder of Antonio. Antonio now makes two conditions if shylock wants to keep his life, firstly he must become Christian, and secondly he must make a will leaving all his belongings to Jessica and Lorenzo.
Not only has Shylock been converted to a Christian and humiliated in court, but friend his another Jew, walked out on him as he very nearly carved a pound of flesh from Antonio. (As shown in the film) At the sight of this his only friend left him .So without his revenge, wealth, and his daughter, now he is alienated from his fellow Jews. Ironically he is left alone with nothing but what ruined him; his new found Christianity. Shylock can be seen as both comic and tragic because of his quick-witted responses, almost playing with the insults that are thrown at him from day to day. And tragic because of the loss of his daughter, friend and possessions. I think because he has been driven to the edge of insanity, from the torment and prejudice pushed on him throughout his life by his own Venetian community. That has led him to such misfortune and bitterness.
