The Character of Shylock in a Merchant of Venice.
The Character of Shylock in a Merchant of Venice. William Shakespeare wrote the play 'The Merchant of Venice' in the 16th Century. It was written at that time as a comedy for audiences of that time to enjoy. Shakespeare makes it obvious that the treatment of Jews in England was very harsh and the population was very anti-Semitic and viewed Christians as being superior to other races. The play of The Merchant of Venice is set in Venice because Jewish people were allowed to live in the city's outskirts, whereas Jews were not allowed to live in England at all. A 16th century audience would not only have tolerated the racism shown in the play towards Jews, but would have supported it and found it comical when a racist remark was made. A modern audience of the late 20th and 21st century would find it shocking to have such racism included in the play because of political correctness and also because of the Holocaust, which opened people's eyes to how far racism can go; far enough to want to rid a country of, or exterminate, an entire race. In Act 1, Scene 3 we get our first impression of Shylock, a rich Jewish man who lends money to people with interest. Shakespeare introduces Shylock as a man of business but also a very proud man, who shows his distaste for Christians with his devious attitude, using chapters and stories from the Old Testament to show that Christians are lowly
I think the passages demonstrate negative feelings and attitudes between the two religions, Judaism and Christianity.
I think the passages demonstrate negative feelings and attitudes between the two religions, Judaism and Christianity. I think this is because of the history of Jews living in the Christian community, which dates back many years. In medieval England, the money lender or usurer was a sinner therefore you can imagine how Shylock was treated by the Christian community in Venice, the Christian Church was openly abusive to Jews, calling the Jews money making criminals. Many people depended on ShylockÆs loans for help although no one really accepted interest which they had to pay back along with the sum of the money, which was borrowed. Shylock gained success in his money lending. Shylock made it clear that his relationship with Christians was strictly business, Shylock said: "I will buy with you, sell with you, talk with you, walk with you, and so following; but will not eat with you, drink with you, nor pray with you." This passage tells us that Shylock was willing to offer his profit-making services to Christians but was not prepared to socialise with them. One person who also depended on ShylockÆs loan was Antonio. Shylock agreed to give Antonio the three thousand ducats he required but did not charge interest instead he said if Antonio could not pay him back he would have his bond, which was one pound of flesh of AntonioÆs, one pound of flesh would virtually kill Antonio.
The Merchant of Venice
Shakespeare's compelling and exhilarating play shows us the victimisation of Jews in his time. Shylock, the avaricious, manipulative, sinister Jew is renowned for his outstanding desire to avenge his enemies. Shakespeare's character is one who wants vengeance and is extremely discourteous. Although Shylock's popularity is not as much as the Christians', the villainous acts he commits is a mere response to the treatment he has endured from the Christians. The revenge he acts out motivates him in a mental and physical manner. The fact that he is willing to take up "my bond," on the basis that there is a slight chance Antonio's tied up ships may be plagued, proves the point that he will do anything at any cost to relieve the anguish and humiliation he has been put through. Shylock's alteration in the play from being villain then victim shows the vengeful mindset induced on Shylock by prejudice and discrimination. Shylock continues to be a villain as long as it is he who is in control. His procrastinating, calculating and menacing talk is full of boring, meagre language. The fact that he does something banned to the Christians, is the only reason he has this opportunity to take Antonio's life. When in need of sympathy, Shylock receives it with a high price but Shylock gives no such mercy back causing him problems. Whether victim or villain in our eyes, Shylock was always to be a
Shylock is an ambivalent portrait: Discuss with some reference to the cultural background, how an audience might respond to him throughout the play.'The Merchant of Venice'.
Shylock is an ambivalent portrait: Discuss with some reference to the cultural background, how an audience might respond to him throughout the play. Throughout 'The Merchant of Venice', Shylock is a character with a strong impact on the audience. The response of the audience changes throughout the play, varying from pity to dislike. His Jewish background and persecution provide a case for the audience liking the character and giving him pity, whereas his obsessions with money and his desire to kill Antonio gives the audience a bad impression. The influence he has on the audience has varied over the years, from the Elizabethan times when he first appeared, who saw persecution of Jews everyday, to the modern audience who will dislike characters who are prejudiced. Shylock first appears in Act 1 Scene 1. For the audience, first impressions are vital. His first line when Bassanio offers him the bond is 'Three Thousand ducats - well' (Act 1 Scene 3 Line 1). To any audience this gives the impression that he is very concerned about money, especially when he repeats 'three thousand ducats' throughout the scene. Throughout the scene, there is a repetition of the word 'three', e.g. 'three thousand ducats', 'three months', 'three thousand ducats for three months' etc. This repletion not only emphasises Shylock's obsession with money (as he is still pondering over the bond) but
Examine how Shylock is presented in The Merchant of Venice.
Amna Abdelrahim October 2005 Examine how Shylock is presented in The Merchant of Venice. Shakespeare's play The Merchant of Venice, one of his romantic comedies, was written in 1596. It deals with a dispute between Shylock, a wealthy Jewish moneylender, and Antonio, a Venetian citizen. The play begins in Venice, where Antonia's friend, Bassanio, needs a loan of 3,000 ducats so that he can court a wealthy heiress named Portia. Not being able to raise the funds himself, Bassanio asks Antonio for a loan. Unfortunately Antonio's wealth is invested in merchant ships that are presently at sea. Despite his wealth being tied up at sea, Antonio agrees to ask for a short term loan of the money from Shylock, a Jewish usurer. Shylock has a deep seated hate of Antonio because of the insulting treatment that Antonio has shown Shylock in the past. Although he is reluctant at first, Shylock agrees to lend the money on the basis that if the 3,000 ducats are not repaid within three months, Shylock will take a pound of Antonio's flesh. Despite the harsh terms, Antonio agrees to the contract, confident that his ships, and his wealth, will return before the date of repayment. Just before the wedding of Bassanio and Portia, Shylock discovers to his horror that Jessica, his only daughter, has eloped with a Christian, taking a great deal of his wealth with her. Jessica's husband is
How helpful is it to call the 'Merchant of Venice' a comedy?
How helpful is it to call the 'Merchant of Venice' a comedy? By Jeffrey Li The term 'comedy' is a story that ends in a happy resolution, often in marriage. Since the 'Merchant of Venice' is classed as a romantic comedy, it also involves an engaging heroine. The comedy usually involves a struggle but towards the end, all pieces are supposed to fall into place. "The characters and their discomfitures engage our pleasurable attention rather than out profound concern" - M.H. Abhram (i.e. rather than feeling sympathetic for the misfortunes of characters on stage, we respond to them in a positive and amusing manner). One typical characteristic of a comedy is that it usually contains humour in one way or another. The 'Merchant of Venice' is definitely a play which contains plenty of humours scenes. In fact, in the second scene of the play; a lighter humorous tone is introduced. In this scene, Portia describes the male characters using national stereotypes in quite an amusing manner. "He bought his doublet in Italy, hose in France, and his behaviour everywhere." (L61). Portia also jokes and exaggerates her negative opinions of the gentlemen who want her hand in marriage "God defend me from these two!" (L44). The fact that this casual scene is written in prose rather than blank verse also suggests that the tone is less serious. Another comical scene is II.ii where Lancelot,
Is 'The Merchant of Venice' a racist play?
Is 'The Merchant of Venice' a racist play? Throughout the text 'The Merchant of Venice' presents a main them of anti Semitic racism both anti Jewish and anti Christian. The play is set in Venice, an ancient civic republic and not a nation ruled by a king or queen. However it reflects London in the late 1500's. Venice was also a trading centre of great importance. It presents a father daughter relationship where she will not be accepted to love a Christian. This shows strong racism within the community. However racism is ever present in today's society in many forms. The play centres on the two main characters, Antonio an extremely wealthy merchant and shylock a very wealthy Jew. Here there are negative feelings and attitudes between the two characters. This is mainly to do with the different religions. During the late 1500's in Venice racism was a strong and dramatic issue. The Jews were treated as an inferior race. Harsh laws were passed against them. These stopped the Jews from marriage between non-Jews and Jews. Jews were thought to be bad and were sent to special areas called 'Jewish Ghetto's' or were humiliated or maltreated in public. The conditions in the 'Jewish Ghetto's' were horrific. There was also a Jewish 'synagogue' within the 'Ghetto's'. Curfews were placed and a lack of freedom was given. They could only have a few professions. Shylock is a usurer, a person
to what extent can the Merchant of Venice be seen as a fairytale
To what extent can ' The Merchant of Venice ' be described as a fairytale? Throughout 'The Merchant of Venice' Shakespeare uses many underlying structures reminiscent of fairytales. Fairytales were stories originally passed down orally to children to entertain or instruct. Most fairytales had similar characteristics such as having repeated elements that aid the audience to remember the story and help teach about moral issues. Shakespeare's comedies also have common elements such as love and deceit, usually involving marriage for unmarried characters and mistaken identities. Shakespeare's audience was wide, both intellectually and socially; his plays have storylines that usually deal with moral and family values, but all his comedies have a dilemma or dilemmas which are resolved with a happy ending. The play has two main settings which vary from each other considerably. Shakespeare never describes the locations but from the characters and scenes that happen there we can tell what kind of atmosphere and setting it has. One setting is the cosmopolitan city of Venice, where many businessmen live in a commerce and law driven world. The people there are unhappy, unkind and greedy. In the Elizabethan era Venice was renowned for its wealth and diversity of cultures, being in the middle of the East and West it was a great trading city. Shakespeare portrays Venice as the
"Shylock is a two dimensional villain who does not deserve our sympathy" To what degree do you agree with the statement?
"Shylock is a two dimensional villain who does not deserve our sympathy" To what degree do you agree with the statement? The above statement makes two main assumptions about Shylock. One is that Shylock is a two-dimensional villain, a man who is a stereotypical, one-sided man with no true motive for his actions. This assumption also implies that Shylock is extremely superficial, an supposition that we strongly disagree. The second assumption is that Shylock does not deserve our sympathy as although he is not superficial, what he has done has outweighed all senses of morality. In this, we agree to a certain extent only. Pertaining to the first assumption, Shylock is not a one-sided, superficial villain but has actually two sides: one of a comic villain that invokes our dislike, and the other as the helpless victim of the Christians. Most of the time, Shakespeare portrays Shylock as cruel and mean, the most striking example being Shylock's reaction after his discovery of Jessica's eloping with an enemy and the theft of his belongings. His seemingly pure hatred of his daughter can be seen from `"I would my daughter were dead at my foot and the jewels in her ear!" Act 3, Scene 1. This portrayal of a Jew for Christians and readers to rightfully ridicule and hate is further emphasized when Shylock laments about his money along with his daughter, as can be seen from `My daughter!
Does Shakespeare’S Presentation of the Character of Shylock Encourage Us To View Him As a Victim or a Villain?
DOES SHAKESPEARE'S PRESENTATION OF THE CHARACTER OF SHYLOCK ENCOURAGE US TO VIEW HIM AS A VICTIM OR A VILLAIN? In the Shakespearean era, the majority of audiences would have been Christian, and therefore would carry with them contemporary views concerning Jews. At the time that the play was written, Jews had been exiled from England for around three hundred years, although some continued to inhabit the main cities such as London, forced to make a shady secret of their race and religion. Jews had traditionally been usurers, and most Christians despised this, (most probably because of the high interest rates charged by the Jews,) describing it as: " ugly, detestable and hurtful sin". (Thomas Wilson 1572) Jews, however, often had no choice in their profession. They were forbidden to own land or engage in trade within England, and usury was the only lucrative business option available to them. It was a similar story in Venice, where the play was set, as the Venetians forbade Jews to own land. They were forced by the government to rent segregated areas of the city, now commonly known as Ghettos. Consequently Shylock, as a Jew, was predominantly viewed as a villain by Shakespeare's audiences right up until the 18th century. There are plenty of valid arguments throughout 'The Merchant of Venice' that could be used to argue that those audiences who viewed the play pre-18th century