Explore how Shakespeare influences audience opinion of Shylock in the play 'The Merchant of Venice'

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Explore how Shakespeare influences audience opinion of Shylock in the play ‘The Merchant of Venice’

“Merchant of Venice” was written by Shakespeare in the sixteenth century. The action of the play takes place in Venice and in Belmont. Belmont is imaginary, but Venice is real. In the sixteenth century, Venice was the centre for international trade, importing goods from different corners of the earth, and exporting them in the same way. Jews were often forbidden to own land or to trade; therefore the only lacerative profession open to them was money-lending. There were not many Jews in England, but in the middle ages English Christians hated the Jews. The Elizabethans also hated the traditional Jewish profession of usury. If we are prejudice, we may dislike someone for no other reason than they are a different colour, race, nationality or social class to us. In England today there are laws that attempt to control the effects of prejudice. If an employer refuses to give an applicant a job simply because they are coloured, female or Jewish then they are breaking the law. Therefore this play is not relevant to today’s audience as their responses to Shylock would be different compared to the Elizabethan audiences. Shylock, the money-lender is hated because he’s a Jew and a usurer; explains how prejudice works. Shakespeare influences the audiences’ opinion of Shylock by using a range of techniques. The variety of techniques used are: The Comparison of Shylock to Antonio, Shylock’s treatment of his daughter, Shylock’s relationships with other characters in the play, Trial scene, Shylock’s character, Judgement of Shylock by others, Language, Scene structures, and Costume.

        

There are two main characters in the play: Shylock and Antonio. Antonio is a merchant, Christian, and is a very generous/good man. This is in contrast to Shylock who is a money lender and who is hated for his greed and because he is a Jew. Shylock starts from a double disadvantage, as far as an Elizabethan audience was concerned. Shylock first appears as the cautious businessman, thinking carefully before he invests his 3000 ducats. Antonio promises to pay Shylock the money borrowed or else allow Shylock to cut off a pound of his flesh. He reveals his character mainly in his generosity to his friend and in his hatred of the Jew. Although Shylock and Antonio are two very different characters, they have their similarities. Each try to overcome a sense of isolation by making a noble gesture. In Act 1 Scene 3, when Antonio and Bassanio approach Shylock, he feels like an outcast Jew. To overcome the separation, Shylock tries to offer friendship through the interest they have in common, his ducats. “I would be friends with you, and have your love”. Act 1 Scene 3 almost gives the impression that Shylock want to be part of the community, wants to be a friend, but he turns back and seeks revenge. Shylock tries to be reasonable, “you don’t need to go against your religion and pay interest, just give me a pound of your flesh”. Shakespeare writes in the stage directions “Enter Bassanio with Shylock the Jew”.

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Shakespeare influences the audiences’ opinion of Shylock by separating him from the rest of the characters. By making Shylock into an outsider the modern audiences may pity him. However the Elizabethan audiences would have considered the separation a good thing, as they despise Jews. Antonio is also a stranger. He is a stranger in a world of young lovers. To overcome it, he is willing to offer his flesh, as proof of his love. Both Shylock and Antonio equate their property with their life. Antonio says “sweet lady, you have given me life and living”. The differences between Shylock and ...

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