The Merchant of Venice

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The Merchant of Venice

Shylock is one of the most confusing characters in all of Shakespeare's plays. On the surface, he is a villain only concerned about money and revenge. You could argue that Shakespeare takes this "stereotypical" Jew much further, making him a complex character whose sufferings at the hands of racists motivate his anger. While Shakespeare gives no definitive answer as to how Shylock should be viewed, he does make you feel sympathy for him throughout the play but at other times he also makes out that shylock is very much the baddie of the play.

At the beginning of the play, (Act 1, Scene 3) when Bassanio is trying to persuade the Jew to lend Antonio three thousand ducats, Shylock sets the boundaries when he is asked to eat with the Christians. I sympathise with Shylock because he feels insulted as he doesn't eat pork and he does not trust Bassanio. This is because he says "yes, to smell pork, I will not eat with you, drink with you nor pray with you". Antonio insults shylock when he recalls a story from the bible. He says "the devil can cite scripture for his purpose, an evil soul, producing holy witness, is like a villain with a smiling cheek, a goodly apple rotten at the heart." I empathise with Shylock because Antonia is implying that he is the like the devil and that he is evil. Shylock tells Antonio why he hates him and how he has treated him. I sympathise with Shylock because he is a proud man and he reveals that Antonio has religiously insulted him, he has spat at him, called him a dog and kicked him. This is because it says "you call me misbeliever, you spit upon my Jewish gaberdine, and foot me as you spurn a stranger cur, it appears you need my help." This shows that Shylock is deeply grieved. He is bitterly sarcastic about Antonio asking to borrow money. He says "hath a dog money, fair sir, you spat on me on Wednesday last; you spurn'd me such a day; another time you call'd me dog- and for these courtesies I'll lend you thus much moneys'?". I feel compassion for Shylock as he has taken all the abuse and insults from Antonio and he refuses to apologise to the Jew and says he would do it all again. This is because Antonio says "I am as like to call thee so again, to spit on thee again, to spurn thee to". Shylock then makes a deal with Antonio, so if he cannot repay the sum within three months then he will take a pound of Antonio's flesh. This is because Shylock says "if you repay me not, let the forfeit be a pound of your fair flesh". I don't sympathise with Shylock because he is tricky and devious by acting calm and reasonable, pretending the forfeit is just a joke.
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In Act 3 Scene 1, Solanio and Salerio confirm that Antonio's ship has sunk. They then make fun of Shylock for his predicament of losing his daughter. Shylock then laments of his monetary loss to another Jew, Tubal, yet rejoices that Antonio is sure to default on his loan.

When shylock hears of Antonio's loss, I don't quite sympathise with him because he is almost going mad and vindictive. This is shown because he says "a bankrupt, a prodigal, a beggar, that was used to come so smug upon the mart. Let him look to his bond!" ...

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