Do you consider Shylock to be a villain or victim
Do you consider Shylock to be a villain or victim? Shylock is a Jewish money lender living in Venice in the 1600s. He is a widower and has a daughter who he does not care about. In Venice Jews were discriminated against because of their religion, they were forced to live in separate places and were spat on. The definition of a victim is someone who is picked on. A villain is someone who discriminates about people. Venice was a trading city with ships coming in and out. My first point is about how Shylock is a victim. He is a victim because he encounters a lot of racial abuse, verbal and physical. Walking along the street it was common for Jews to be attacked by the Christian Venetians. They were forced to wear a red hat and a yellow badge. They lived in the ghetto which was locked up at night. We see this in the play when Shylock says: ` you called me misbeliever, cut throat dog and spat upon my Jewish gabardine.' Shylock is called a dog, and is often called a lower class animal by Christians, so they were seen at the bottom of the hierarchy. I do feel sympathy for Shylock because I would not like to be discriminated against because of my beliefs. We are given lots hints by Shakespeare about how Antonio and the others refer to Shylock. Shylock is often called `the devil' or `the dog Jew'. He is seen as a completely evil person and opposite to the
How can Shakespeare's view on Judaism and Christianity be represented through the characters in Act 1 Scene 3, Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 4 Scene 1 of 'The Merchant of Venice'
How can Shakespeare's view on Judaism and Christianity be represented through the characters in Act 1 Scene 3, Act 3 Scene 1 and Act 4 Scene 1 of 'The Merchant of Venice' "The merchant of Venice" is a play written by William Shakespeare before the duration 1958 and most probably in 1596. The play is set in the Capital city of Venice in Italy. Two characters dominate the main issues of this play Shylock and Antonio, at first we are introduced to the protagonist Shylock. Shylock is a Jew his character is stereotypically as evil and manipulative. Shakespeare has done this as throughout history and even within the Elizabethan period Jews were loathed, feared and branded Christ killers. Which form the barriers between the Jews and Christians in the play. The second character is Antonio who is a Christian and is not seen as a victim of anti-semitism like Shylock but when contrasted he is presented to be superior. The themes and issues explored in this play by the two characters interrelate injustice, power and racism. In this essay I hope to show how Shakespeare's view on Judaism and Christianity is represented through the characters in the different scenes that I will be exploring. In Act 1 Scene 3 introduces Shylock in a street where Bassanio seeks him to borrow money in Antonio's name to pursue his love. The loan is for three thousand ducats, three times the
Compare and contrast Portia's three suitors, examining their characters attitudes, actions and language and explaining the reasons for their choice of caskets - How does Shakespeare influence the audience's attitude to each of the three men?
Compare and contrast Portia's three suitors, examining their characters attitudes, actions and language and explaining the reasons for their choice of caskets. How does Shakespeare influence the audience's attitude to each of the three men? Portia's three suitors are each different, as are her attitudes towards each of them. She is detached towards the first two suitors as they are foreign and she is quick to judge. She has met Bassanio prior to the visit from the first suitor and liked him very much. This creates tension as she does not want the other suitors to pick the correct casket. The first suitor is the prince of Morocco. He is given no other name, just referred to as Morocco. This is perhaps symbolic of the racial issues brought forward in the play. Portia is herself prejudiced against Morocco's dark complexion and he senses it; "Mislike me not for my complexion," Morocco, line 1, Act II Scene I Morocco is eager to please Portia by boasting about his strength and enters with a flourish of cornets, as if attempting to compensate for his skin tone. He is at the same time quite pompous and extravagant in his actions. Morocco speaks in prose showing his inferiority. Portia however is abrupt in her language towards him and carries a blasé attitude, not enjoying his presence and silently hoping he picks the incorrect casket. Morocco conducts a long speech when
Consider Shylock's character. How much has he been influenced by the environment in which he lives?
Consider Shylock's character. How much has he been influenced by the environment in which he lives? Elizabethan times had a practised dislike and disrespect towards the Jews, which was based on a misunderstanding of the Christian story. It was thought that Jews killed Christ and were therefore unforgivable. They were also money lenders which was going against the law of the Bible. Whilst Christians were happy to borrow money from Jews, they were quick to reject repayment so this made the Jews a target for dislike. Their own religion and the way it was practised was not understood, and this also led to people being suspicious of Jews. Their diet was seen as strange, they did not eat pork for example which was to be found in the basic diet of the ordinary non Jewish person. Any differences that people in general saw were regarded as something to fear or a cause for suspicion. As a consequence of these facts any Jewish group was isolated. They could not mix or intermarry with non Jews therefore they never could be seen as integrating with their host country, and so the differences were tolerated but visible. Shakespeare's portrayal of the Jew Shylock was based not on what he saw daily because Jews had been overtaxed and banished from England but from hearsay and old ideas of what Jews were. Shakespeare's Shylock is that of a stereotypical Jewish money-lender. Shylock
How should we best understand Shylock- villain or victim?
MERCHANT OF VENICE ESSAY QUESTION: - How should we best understand Shylock- villain or victim? The Merchant of Venice, a tragic- comedy written in the late 16th century by the greatest known English author, William Shakespeare. This is a tale set in the heart of Venice, amongst the Venetian Christians and Jews. The history of the Jews is marked by terrible hardship and atrocities; Jewish people kept up their customs and religion formed tight knit communities and became known for their intelligent hard work and business expertise. These qualities sometimes led to them being mistrusted and resented in the community of Venice in those times. This was especially the case in Christian countries, where there were strong anti- Semitic feelings. The greatest suffering for the Jews was endured during the Nazi domination of Europe during the Second World War and some time before. Six million Jews lost their lives during this terrible time; a period of history known as the Holocaust. This appalling cruelty began with the casual everyday racism, which Shylock also has to endure from the Christians of Venice. Due to the terrible atrocities Jewish people suffered during World War Two and centuries of persecution before that, modern-day pragmatics are very sensitive to language usage that perpetuates the construction of Jewish identity that could incite anti- Semitism; hence Shylock's
"Is 'The Merchant of Venice 'a tragedy for Shylock and a comedy for all the other characters? Discuss this statement using detailed reference to the text".
"Is 'The Merchant of Venice 'a tragedy for Shylock and a comedy for all the other characters? Discuss this statement using detailed reference to the text" 'The Merchant of Venice' is a play written by William Shakespeare during medieval time. It is a romantic comedy because there is a successful conclusion. Whilst living in modern time it is easy to relate to them. This gives us a better understanding into life and we can make our own conclusions. Its focus is on the wrongs and rights of usury. Most people, who have reached a level of adulthood, consider themselves worthy of making their own choices. Whether they are right or wrong the saying goes as, 'You learn from your mistakes.' Shakespeare shows us how Shylock is deprived the chance to choose what his destiny should be. Portia uses her intelligence to influence the Duke into stopping Shylock from getting the pound of flesh. She says, 'And lawfully by this the Jew may claim a pound of flesh' (IVi lines224-5) She says this because she wants to make ensure that Shylock gains his confidence. She intentionally wants Shylock to think he is doing the right thing, by asking for his pound of flesh. She continues to beg him for mercy and mislead him. Upon hearing what she says, he gains confidence. He says, 'Most learned judge! A sentence! Come, prepare! (IVi line297) The response he has given shows that he is
Did Shylock get the result he was hoping for when he took his case to court
Did Shylock get the result he was hoping for when he took his case to court? The terms of the contract were simple. Antonio borrowed some money from the Jewish money lender Shylock. The agreement was that if the money was not paid back in two months then Shylock was entitled to a pound of flesh off Antonio's body. Antonio did not pay him back so Shylock went to court over the matter. In the court scene a judge came called 'Dr Balthazar'. Dr Balthazar was actually Portia dressed a man so she was doing her best to change Shylock's mind. She managed to overturn the conditions and turn the tables on Shylock in three main ways. Firstly she said that the contract clearly said that he could clearly have his flesh but it did not say he could take one drop of blood. She also told him that he could not take more or less than exactly one pound of Antonio's flesh. Portia tells Shylock to go ahead and take his flesh but he may not break either of these rules. Portia says that if he does break one of then rules then all his lands and goods will be confiscated. The final charge she presses on Shylock is that as he is Jewish he is not allowed to kill a Venetian citizen. As there is practically no chance of him not successfully taking his flesh he is now the one begging for mercy. After Shylock realised that he wasn't going to get his way, he asked for the sum of money. By this time it was
How has the love plot been developed in Acts 1 and 2?
Sidra Sohail 10T March 2005 How has the love plot been developed in Acts 1 and 2? The Merchant of Venice is a play of both love and hate. The love plot begins to develop in Acts 1 and 2, as we are introduced to the leading characters of the play. Bassanio is a friend of Antonio, who is the merchant of the play's title. Bassanio is a young man, and in the beginning of the play we are introduced his infantile character. We learn that he has spent all of his own money and aspires to regain his fortune by marrying the heiress, Portia. "...she is fair, and- fairer than that word- of wondrous virtues...Her name is Portia, nothing undervalued..." He needs to borrow ducats to present himself to Portia as an eligible suitor. Consequently, he turns to his friend Antonio for the money; however, Antonio has invested all his money in his ships at sea but still offers to borrow money for him, from Shylock. This shows the bond of friendship that lies between Antonio and Bassanio, and in this scene we are introduced to the love of friendship that they both hold. In the second scene of Act 1, we are introduced to Portia, whom we have heard little of from the first scene. In the second scene she is longing to finally find her future husband. We learn of a test that Portia's father had devised before his death,
Shylock, hero or villain?
Shylock, hero or villain? I think that Shylock is a villain in the story and he is also very evil minded and he only cares for himself and his money. This is proven in almost every time he makes an appearance. In his first scene we see that Shylock is a clever man and knows how to take control of a situation. He has Bassanio easily wrapped around his little finger. However, Antonio is not so easily fooled. In this scene we also learn that Shylock is a strict orthodox Jew; "Yes, to smell pork, to eat of the habitation which your prophet the Nazarite conjured the devil into." Jews do not eat pork and do not believe in Jesus so Shylock didn't say Jesus, but called him a "Nazarite prophet"(Nazarite meaning someone from Nazareth, which is where Jesus was born). We also find that he detests Christians. When he meets Antonio the first time when he says; "I hate him for he is a Christian" and find that he hates Antonio even more because he lends out money with no interest charge which puts people who do charge interest like Shylock, out of business; "he lends out money gratis(free), and brings down the rate of usance here with us in Venice" and because Antonio mocks on him in public he says that his "tribe" will be "cursed" if he forgives him. Shylock takes his time with the bargain slowly repeating and asking the price and conditions as if to keep Antonio and Bassanio on edge.
How does Antonio persuade Sebastian to betray Alonso in Act 2 Scene 1 of the Tempest? Discuss the dramatic impact of Antonio’s language in lines 191 to 289.
How does Antonio persuade Sebastian to betray Alonso in Act 2 Scene 1 of the Tempest? Discuss the dramatic impact of Antonio's language in lines 191 to 289. In act 2 scene 1, we witness a crucial part of the play. The king Alonso and his courtyards have mysteriously fallen asleep. Strangely, only Sebastian, the king's brother and the treacherous Antonio are left awake. This is where Antonio begins his persuasion of Sebastian. Antonio begins with a very subtle attempt to persuade Sebastian, "Worthy Sebastian? O, what might? No more."(Line 197) Using the word "Worthy" in his sentence is the first step in Antonio's persuasion of Sebastian. This word is used to make Sebastian feel comfortable and also special. This may have also been said as a way of preparing Sebastian for what he will say next. In addition it also intrigues the audience, as they will want to also find out what Antonio means. The next attempt of persuasion is not as subtle. This is when Antonio states, "My strong imagination sees a crown Dropping upon thy head."(Line 200) In this statement Antonio is almost saying he wants Sebastian to be king. What this line suggests, is that Antonio is supportive of Sebastian. When he says "strong imagination", it is like he is foretelling the future. Using these words also allow Sebastian to paint his own picture in his head. This will make him feel as if he is in