Was Shylock, in the Merchant Of Venice, an unattractive character?

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Was Shylock, in the Merchant Of Venice, an unattractive character?

No, I disagree with the above statement to a large extent.

The above statement suggests two assumptions. Firstly, that Shylock is an unattractive character in the play. I agree with this assumption, but only to a certain extent. Secondly, the statement assumes that all the other characters in The Merchant of Venice are not unattractive, but kind and good. I disagree with this statement to a large extent.

This essay will put forward reasons why I agree and disagree with respective assumptions, as well as why I disagree with the question overall. It will also consider arguments supporting or opposing earlier assumptions.

It is true that Shylock is an unattractive character, the villain of the play, because he sought to kill Antonio in order to avenge himself. Therefore, I agree with this assumption.

Firstly, Shylock was taunting Antonio, and luring Antonio into a trap as he said, "O would be friends with you and have your love,/ Forget the shames that you have stained me with,/ Supply your present wants, and take no doit/ Of usance for my moneys, and you'll not hear me./ This is kind I offer." (1.3) He also continued to explain, "A pound of man's flesh taken from a man/ Is not so estimable, profitable neither,/ As flesh of muttons, beefs or goats." (1.3.160-2) Antonio, having been convinced by Shylock, agreed to the bond.

He was bloodthirsty as well. When he heard that Antonio's ships had sunk, Shylock said, "I am very glad of it. I'll plague him; I'll torture him. I am glad of it." (3.1.108-9) The quote shows his viciousness and his thirst to kill. During Act 4 Scene 1, Bassanio asked Shylock, "Why dost thou whet thy knife/ so earnestly?" Shylock was confident of victory, and he was going to enjoy cutting of Antonio's flesh.

Next, he was bent on seeking revenge. Even when faced with money and the great merchants of Venice, he refused to budge. "Twenty merchants,/ The Duke himself, and the magnificoes/ Of greatest port have all persuaded with him,/ But none can drive him from the envious plea/ Of forfeiture, of justice, and his bond." (Solanio/3.2.280) "If every ducat in six thousand ducats/ Were in six parts, and every part a ducat,/ I would not draw them. I would have my bond." (Shylock/1.3.110-8)

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Furthermore, he himself swore on his religion that he would have his bond. "And by our holy Sabbath have I sworn/ To have the due and forfeit of my bond." (Shylock/4.1.36-7) However, when Portia tried to plead with his religion by saying, "We do pray for mercy,/ And that same prayer doth teach us all to render/ The deeds of mercy." (4.1.99-101), he would not budge. In this way, the adamant Jew was going against his own religion, because in the seeking of revenge, he was breaking a Jewish law, and further supports that he is an unattractive character.

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