Shylock - Villain or Victim? Examine the language and behaviour towards others, as well as the way he is treated both personally and as a Jew.
Rachel Searle Shylock - Villain or Victim? Examine the language and behaviour towards others, as well as the way he is treated both personally and as a Jew. Shylock is portrayed as both a villain and a victim throughout the Merchant of Venice. This could be because of the way he is treated as a Jew or just because he feels bitter as a person. In the play Shylock is a wealthy businessman. As a moneylender he deals with both Jews and Christians. As a Jew, Shylock can charge interest on the money he lends, unlike Christians who have to lend 'money gratis' Even before we meet Shylock, his reputation is shown to us in Act 1 Scene 2, when Antonio suggests his name to Bassanio as a man who will be able to lend him 'Three thousand ducats.' (Act 1 Scene 3 line 1) He is obviously a successful professional moneylender. We meet Shylock in the play in Act 1 Scene 3. Bassanio, a Christian is asking Shylock, a Jew, for the loan, using Antonio's name as a guarantee that the money will be repaid. Shylock decides to take revenge if the loan is unpaid. As part of the legal bond, he will take 'an equal pound Of your fair flesh' (line 146) from Antonio, a close friend of Bassanio, a rich Christian merchant. In Act 1 Scene 3 line 36 Shylock has given two reasons for hating Antonio, 'I hate him for he is a Christian; But more, for that low simplicity He lends out money
‘I am content.’ Consider these words spoken by Shylock in Act IV. Write an essay discussing whether or not you believe these words to be true.
'I am content.' Consider these words spoken by Shylock in Act IV. Write an essay discussing whether or not you believe these words to be true. In this essay I will discuss whether or not I believe Shylock's words in Act IV to be a true reflection of his feelings. He is one of the main, if not the main character in The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare. He is a Jew, and loathed by most of the other characters in the play. Shakespeare portrayed him as the stereotypical Jew. He has a hatred of Christians and lends money with interest with the sole purpose of making profit. He lives in Venice with his daughter Jessica. There is no mention of a wife, but we later learn that she has died a few years back. Bassanio, a Christian needs money to fund a journey overseas to Belmont where he attempts to win beautiful Portia's hand in marriage. He asks his friend Antonio for a loan but all his wealth is tied up in ships. Together they go to Shylock for money. He agrees to lend them three thousand ducats, to be paid in three months time when Antonio's ships come in. If they fail to pay back the money then Shylock will be eligible to one pound of Antonio's flesh, cut nearest to his heart. When, after the three months are up, Antonio cannot pay back the loan, Shylock demands his forfeiture. Antonio takes the matter to the Venetian court. The judge allows Shylock to have what is
Examine how Shylock is presented in The Merchant of Venice.
Examine how Shylock is presented in The Merchant of Venice. The Merchant of Venice is about the conflict between a Jew and a Christian. This is not between one Jew and one Christian but between Shylock, who stands as a representative of the Jewish tribe, and between groups of Christians who greatly outnumber the Jew. The conflict between Jews and Christians is a historical one. The Christians hated the Jews because they made money from usury; this was completely against the Christian beliefs of that time. However, this hate was not one-sided as the Jews also hated the Christians because the Christians treated them very badly; the Jews were "alien" to the Venetian society and thus were treated as a second class race. This is not exactly what the whole play is about, the play also involves Antonio and his best friend, Bassanio as he goes to meet Portia his future wife. Thus we can see that this play arouses many issues such as prejudice, racism, law and the nature of love and friendship. The first time we meet Shylock is in Act 1, Scene 3. Shylocks first words are "three thousand ducats". From this we can see that Shakespeare has already presented Shylocks character as a miser with a callous and materialistic mind, as his first words are regarding his money. As Bassanio goes over the facts of the "bond", Shylock answers him in a way that repeats what has just been said and
Comment on the conflict within Venetian society focusing on Act IV scene 1.
Comment on the conflict within Venetian society focusing on Act IV scene 1. The Merchant of Venice written by Shakespeare during the late sixteenth century. The play is based on different conflicts: Christians and Jews, father and Daughter and patriarchal system. The main plot of the play is the flesh bond between Shylock and Antonio. The sub plots are the three caskets, the ring plot and Jessica and Lorenzo. Antonio is a merchant of Venice, who takes money from Shylock the Jew, for his friend Bassanio. Bassanio needed the money to go to Belmont to get married to wealthy Portia to become wealthy. Antonio fails to pay back the money to Shylock. Antonio is bought to court to pay the bond to Shylock. Shylock ignores the many pleas to spear Antonio's life and calls for trial to decide it. The Duke of Venice shows sympathy to Shylock, he announces that he has sent for a lawyer, it turns out to be Portia dressed as a man. Portia asks Shylock to show mercy to Antonio but Shylock disagrees to it because it belongs to him in law. Bassanio offers Shylock twice the amount of money but he insists on collecting the bond. Portia then examines the contract and declares it legal that Shylock is entitled to the bond. Shylock ecstatically praises her wisdom, but as he is on the verge of collecting his due, Portia reminds him that he must do so without causing Antonio to bleed, as the
Discuss Shylock as either victim or villain, with reference to his performance in the Merchant of Venice.
Discuss Shylock as either victim or villain, with reference to his performance in the æMerchant of VeniceÆ æThe Merchant of VeniceÆ was written by William Shakespeare in the Elizabethan period .The play is a tragi-comedy written in his second period. It is set in Venice in the late 15th century. Venice is situated in the north-east of Italy and is known as ôQueen of the Adriaticö for its strong naval power. The play is about ShylockÆ a Jewish money lenderÆ trying to make a living and survive in a country that despises him and alienates him. In this period England was a Christian country, all children would be baptised soon after they were born, and were taught the essentials of the Christian faith at an early age. Attendance at church was compulsory; if you failed to go without a good medical reason you would most definitely be fined. Before the plot even starts, Shylock is condemned by the audience for being a Jew, and a moneylender. At this time in England the Christians hated the Jews, because of their profession of lending money, which the Christians by religion are unable to do. Jews were often forbidden to own land or engage in trade in England so the only occupation open to them was money lending which they exploited to the full. There was a great opposition between Christians and Jews in Venice, it was for example the centre of the Venetian community was
Why we feel sympathy for Shylock
Shylock Essay ‘The Merchant of Venice’ by William Shakespeare is about a man called Shylock, he is Jewish. Throughout the play he is subject to severe racial hatred from the Christian people of Venice, Venice was primarily a Christian state so being of a different religious background, being a Jew was frowned upon. Shylock was a usurer which in fact added to his problems, a usurer is someone who loans money and takes back interest. A Christian participating in this in Venice would have been considered an abomination in their faith; it was acceptable in the Jewish faith however the Christians hated Shylock for it. I feel sympathy towards Shylock before the court case because he was terrorised for being Jewish. The play begins with Antonio, the merchant, feeling very depressed. He struggles to understand why he is feeling this way but immediately cheers up when Bassanio returns. Bassanio is very careless with money and is said to be in a tough financial position: “I have disabled mine estate” Bassanio wants to borrow money and use it to go and court the fair lady Portia. Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan of money but Antonio does not have any money because it is all on his ships. The pair are good friends and no one else would lend Bassanio the money because of his poor name financially. Antonio wants to help his friend Bassanio so tells him to borrow money under his
How does Shakespeare make this passage from Act 3 Scene 1 dramatic and powerful for the audience?
How does Shakespeare make this passage in the play dramatic and powerful for the audience? Shakespeare creates a very powerful and dramatic for the audience in this passage. By using repetition, tri-colons and rhetorical question Shakespeare is able to make this passage both striking and intense for the audience. Shakespeare is able to convey Shylock’s emotions about what he is feeling when he is abused by Salarino and Solanio but also is able to show the first showings of his feelings about his daughter’s elopement and the destruction of Antonio’s fleet. The opening to the passage immediately begins with a deadly and angry serious point made by Shylock which immediately draws the attention of the audience and creates the beginnings of a build-up to Shylock’s dramatic speech by using repetition to reinforce Shylocks anger. “I say my daughter is my flesh and my blood” and Salarino in response to this says, “There is more difference between thy flesh and hers than between jet and ivory; more between your bloods that there is between red wine and Rhenish.” Shylock here argues that “flesh and blood” are the true measure of kinship. Shakespeare emphasises the word “my” and repeats it three times in this short section again to try to reinforce the ownership Shylock has over her but also perhaps the feelings of love and dependence Shylock has for her as
The merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice was written by William Shakespeare in 1594-16th century. This play was set in Venice, which is a very old city. This play deals with the problems of usury, the difficulties of repaying debts of love, Law + Justice, and racism. The plot revolves around the main character Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, who is devout (very religious), and lives by his religious rules. In the sixteenth Century there was injustice towards the Jewish race. Jews were rarely if ever seen in England. Jews were viewed as devils by Elizabethan audiences. Old stories portrayed them as "blood-thirsty murders" that poised wells and killed Christian children for their bizarre Passover rituals. These were the stereotypes which Shakespeare's audience held in regard to Jews. Jews had to live in separate areas called ghettos and They were made to wear individual clothes in order to be recognized, and citizens of Venice could treat Jews in any way they want. The Christian church also taught that Jews should be despised for their rejection of Jesus and that money lending was morally wrong. The Jewish people were also not allowed to work in the government, military or guilds. This meant that their lifestyles were difficult. 'Certainly the Jew is the very devil incarnation.' This is generally how the Jewish race was stereotyped at the time, and throughout the 'Merchant of Venice,' they
The Merchant of Venice
The Merchant of Venice The Merchant of Venice is a play full of different relationships ranging from love and friendships to hate. These relationships are affected by gossips and rumours, which due to the close community are flying around all the time. Money is involved in everything in the play; it is at the centre of work, relationships and rumours. It also holds together and makes the main tension of the play. There are many relationships in The Merchant of Venice. The most common one is friendship. The friendships cross sex, age, race, and class boundaries. And range from very strong ones such as between Antonio and Bassanio to mere acquantancies such as the one between Solanio and Antonio. There are many friendships, which link all of the characters together. The one between Bassanio and Antonio is the most obvious, and you feel that they are so close, they could be brothers. This is how Antonio was described when Bassanio left to find Portia. "And even there, his eye being big with tears, turning his face he put his hand behind him" But even in such a close relationship, money is still involved, as Antonio lends money to Bassanio, which has to be paid back. Another friendship is the one between Solanio and Solerio, they are very useful characters, because they are gossips and so can keep us informed on what is happening. Generally there is a quite tight knit
the merchant of venice
The Merchant of Venice Assignment b Q. Do you sympathise with shylock? Consider the presentation of his character and the way he is treated by Venetian society. I think shylock is a very shrewd, crafty business man. At the start he says "Well", Three times. This tells me he's thinking very carefully about what to say as he doesn't jump in right away to give an answer. The relationship between shylock and Antonio is total hatred. They despite each other and when Antonio asks to borrow three thousand ducats from shylock, shylock hesitates but eventually says yes. Shylock sees this as revenge, if only he can get Antonio to sign a contract signing away his life and then his revenge will be complete. Antonio tells shylock "I am as like to call thee so again, to spite on thee again" He also says, "Lend it not as to thy friend, lend thee as enemy" Like Antonio the Christians disliked shylock as he was a Jew. Jews were allowed the jobs that Christians hated like skinning animals. Their education was separated. I know that shylock and Antonio hate each other as shylock tricks Antonio into signing the contract. At the end of the agreement they both get what they want as shylock tricks Antonio and Antonio gets his money. This scene opens with salerio and solanio teasing shylock. We know that they don't like shylock because they address him as "Devil." In Elizabeth